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Is it a Good Idea to Make To-Do Lists in College?

Written by College Cliffs Team At CollegeCliffs.com, our team, comprising seasoned educators and counselors, is committed to supporting students on their journey through graduate studies. Our advisors, holding advanced degrees in diverse fields, provide tailored guidance, current program details, and pragmatic tips on navigating application procedures.

Reviewed by Linda Weems I got started researching colleges and universities about 10 years ago while exploring a second career. While my second career ended up being exactly what I’m doing now, and I didn’t end up going to college, I try to put myself in your shoes every step of the way as I build out College Cliffs as a user-friendly resource for prospective students.

Updated: January 19, 2024, Reading time: 3 minutes

College can be a stressful and hectic place. With the pile of assignments and projects getting higher almost every second, it can be a challenge to organize your tasks while staying sane. There are plenty of ways to stay organized in college, but the best way is by making a to-do list or task planner.

Creating a To-Do List or adding tasks or appointments to a calendar can remind you that the following benefits can keep your life on the right track.

Don’t Take on Too Much

Doing too many things to do at once will only overload you. Being able to visualize your to-dos will allow you to see the magnitude of your current obligations. Saying “yes” might give you more experience/opportunities, but remember that you’re only human.

You do not have to fill your calendar with responsibilities to show the world that you’re hardworking or determined. Sometimes, quality trumps quantity.

Make Time for Activities That Actually Make You Happy

That tiny, empty space in the tiny timeframe of Wednesday will mean so much to you. Seeing a vacant area in your calendar can be equal to winning the lottery, especially if your schedule feels like it’s blowing up.

Even though college is naturally stress-inducing, that does not mean you cannot find ways to de-stress. Fill that white space with soul-relieving activities and go out with your girls or grab a coffee by yourself.

Know Your Free Times

Have too many things to do and don’t know when to do them? Planning your week (even your month) ahead can help. By doing so, you will see the days that have free hours, which you can then use to do other things, slowly clearing up the rest of the week.

You can also choose to procrastinate and do things that make you happy, but what’s the point of making a to-do list/planner, right?

Avoid Stressing Out or Panicking

If you don’t have a planner/to-do list, you will probably forget half of the things that you’re supposed to do. List them down so you don’t forget and so that you avoid panicking when you remember at the last minute that you have ten papers to write.

That way, you can slowly check them off the list, spreading the stress throughout the month/week instead of diving into the stress in one sitting.

Immediately writing down anything, like an oil change, tire rotation, or pharmacy pickup, will enable you to know that that task is now on paper, and you can relax. Trying to remember personal obligations along with college deadlines just in your head will add so much unnecessary stress to your life.

Don’t Miss Anything!

Trust me; you do not want to miss an exam or assignment in college. You only get one shot, and if you miss it, then get ready to say goodbye to that perfect grade. One thing you can do is highlight your exam reminders in bright colors like yellow and orange.

Color code personal obligations in a different color so that you can easily distinguish them from one another.

Added Bonus! The feeling you achieve from accomplishing a task and being able to mark it off your list is INVIGORATING! It actually gives you motivation to keep marking off your commitments as COMPLETED!


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