Going to School and Staying Sane (at the same time)
Keep your goal in mind. When things seem overwhelming remember that this phase is temporary. Visualize success.
Pace yourself. Dedicate regular blocks of time throughout the week to studying. Mark these on the calendar and stick with them.
Use your daytimer and write all projects, exams, due dates, social activities and appointments in it. Be careful not to overbook yourself.
Make a "to do" list. Take 10 minutes every night and write down everything you would like to accomplish the next day - then prioritize and commit to working on your most important items first.
Break large tasks into manageable chunks. It is less stressful and more beneficial for learning to read 10 pages per day for five days than to read 50 pages in one night.
Create a study area. Having a specific area that you always use for studying (or two areas - one at home and one at school) is important both practically and psychologically. Use that area just for studying and it will help with concentration and focus.
Be here now. If you are at school focus on the lecture; if you are spending time with your family focus on them. Work on keeping out thoughts of what else you "should/could" be doing.
Take regular breaks from studying. The 50-10 method is the most effective study method for most students. Study 50 minutes and rest (stretch, get a drink of water …) for 10 minutes. Then move to a different subject and repeat.
Set limits. Learn to say NO. Look at your goals and decide what activities are important to meet these. Work on eliminating or reducing the rest.
Learn relaxation techniques. Be aware of what triggers your stress and experiment with different techniques for managing it. (Music, deep breathing, muscle relaxation, exercise, talking over problems …). Make an appointment with a counsellor if you want specific help to deal with stress.
Create a support network. It is important to have people at school and outside of school that are supportive.
Plan something that you can look forward to every week. Laughing and having fun actually enhance your ability to concentrate and learn.