Here are some tips that I have found that work for me.
Get a Planner
I love planners, especially cute ones. I got mine in the Target $ section. It's small, so easily portable, and it is a weekly view. When I receive my syllabus, I write down all of the exams, quizzes, and assignment due dates in the planner. I also like to write down what readings need to be read by that day. I use this planner as a way to see what assignments are coming up and what events are happening. It's just a simple look at the week planner, so I would go for a cheaper planner.
Now this next planner, you could splurge a little if you want. It's not an actual planner, I just use a notebook, but I like to get a really pretty notebook that stands out from my other notebooks. This one is my daily planner. I use it all of the time even when I'm not in school. Splurge can mean whatever you want it to mean. My first planner was a dollar and this second one was around the $10-$12 range, so it doesn't have to be too expensive. The first one I had was a composition notebook with a pretty cover, so it can be whatever works for you.
This is the one I have for this year. I just plan out my day in it. I like to schedule what assignments I'm going to work on for the day and usually add the time that I'll work on it. Writing down a time helps with procrastination and I feel like I have to do it. I've also used it to schedule workouts, as a food and water tracker, jotting down notes, planning outfits, shopping lists... It's nice to just have a blank full page that you can do anything with. I may try planning a day hour by hour.
Scheduling
A note to go along with the planner. If you're a procrastinator, try scheduling it. Like breaks. I'll procrastinate for this long and then I'll go do study.
Set a goal everyday. Setting a goal for each day will have you working towards something each day and you'll feel good when you accomplish it. It can be something as simple as getting to class on time to finishing a book or assignment. Write this down in your daily planner as something to get done that day.
Class Schedule
I like to take a picture of my schedule for the first day of school. Let's be honest, I keep looking at the time the class starts for at least the first two weeks of school. This way your classes, the time they start, and the room they're held in will be on your phone. So don't sweat if you forget the room number or like me the time. Is the class at 10:00 or 10:30??
Reward System
I made a list of things that I like to do and things that are relaxing. They can be used as incentive to finish your schoolwork, the daily goal, or as breaks in between working. A few rewards that I have listed that seem normal, but can be amazing after finishing an assignment or studying are netflix, youtube, going for a walk, listening to a podcast, dancing, even using cleaning as a break. Just picking things up from my floor gives a good break in between assignments.
You can create a point system and give yourself a certain amount of points for studying, accomplishing an assignment or goal and have a total of points that you need by the end of the month or semester. If you accumulate, say 5,000 points by the end of the semester, you give yourself a nice reward, like buying a game or shirt you've been eyeing.
