Did you know that 90% of students procrastinate? 25% of those are chronic procrastinators and are usually the ones who drop out of college. Keeping yourself organized is important to overcome procrastination. If you make it easier to study and do homework, you're much less likely to let things slide and you won't fall behind. Here's how:

Backpack:

• Keep it well stocked with items you use on a daily basis. These include:
• Highlighters in several colors
• Small stapler
• Post it notes
• Your calendar
• Calculator
• Pens in several colors
• Pencils with erasers

Calendar:

• It is especially important for students to get and use a daily calendar. Keep it with you at all times so while in class you can write down homework and other assignments and when they're due.
• At the very beginning of each semester, write down all the important dates including class meetings, sports games, study groups, library hours, etc. This way you'll have all the information you'll need for the entire semester.

Notebooks:

• You may find it more convenient to keep a separate spiral notebook for each subject, this way you'll feel less overwhelmed when studying.
• Take good notes while in class - the act of writing while listening helps to reinforce material and will help you study.

At home:

• Create a space for studying that you want to be in so you'll go there often.
• Keep it free of visual clutter so you can concentrate - do NOT have a television on nearby.
• When you come home from school always put your backpack there and nowhere else so you can find it when you sit down to do homework.

Time Management:

• Term paper due? Break it down into smaller tasks so you don't feel overwhelmed.
• Prioritize assignments - tackle them as they're due so you don't miss deadlines.
• Control distractions - learn how to say "no" to time wasting activities and don't over schedule yourself.
• Schedule something fun to reward yourself every time you accomplish an important task.

Learning and Studying:

• Know what kind of learner you are:
• Visual - use highlighters to reinforce what you read
• Audio - read your notes out loud
• Kinetic - rewrite your notes
• Review each day's notes when you get home - this helps relieve "test stress" because it helps move the material from short-term memory to long term memory, helping your recall and lessening last minute cramming.
• Create index cards by subject and carry them with you to read during down time.
• Set up a buddy system for study and discussion.
• Make the most out of class time - listen actively and always bring textbook, notebook, and pens to class.
• Never take tests in black ink - this makes it more difficult to see if you've left an answer blank.