Get Maximum Benefit From Your Assignment Book

If you are a student and struggle with organizational difficulties, or if you are the type who just seems to procrastinate, forget, or confuse tasks, dates, meetings, assignments, and appointments, then you will likely benefit from an assignment book.

The assignment book is a lifesaver and a sanity-saver to many people, fitting into one or more of the above categories. It is a great tool, and as well, is great device for motivating and rewarding yourself.

Tips on Organizing Your Assignment Book

Invest in an assignment book at the beginning of the semester. Try to find a good one that has both blank boxes for each day of each month and also has a section of blank lines for each month, or, preferably, each week. After the first week (or, at the latest, two), pull out the syllabi from your classes, along with your new assignment book and a good pen. You can use a different color pen for each class or course which would help flag your notes. Alternatively you can use red for really important notes or test notes or anything else that you need to catch your attention.

In the general monthly boxes, note each assignment due. At this point in the semester, you just have a vague/general note: January 30th, paper #1; February 4th, lab write-up, March 16th, history paper, etc..

When an assignment is given, write it down on the handout or in your notebook. Then, once you know the specifics of all the assignments for a week, first prioritize: which is due first? That will get a number one. Which is due next? That will get a number two. In your assignment book in the lines section, then, list each priority, one, two, three, through whatever number you have for the week.

Then, as you complete each assignment, cross it off the list with-if it helps-a colored marker. Or block it out altogether, so it is just a dark line you never have to look at again. At the end of the week, you can look at that list and be proud that it is all blocked off, that you have accomplished a great deal, on time, and in order.

Obviously, the idea is primarily to be organized, efficient, and at ease.as opposed to discombobulated, confused, slacking, and late with work due. But further, the assignment book, the listing method, and the reward of crossing off each completed task/assignment is empowering: it gives you freedom of structure and tells you how hard you have worked to succeed!