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It’s the night before an exam and you’re cramming. Again. Last nursing school exam, you said that you wouldn’t procrastinate anymore, just like when you said that for the previous one. This used to be me. It worked when I was in high school, but in nursing school… My GPA is a reminder that cramming does not work. Not only is this ineffective because no information is being retained, but I was also setting myself up for unnecessary stress and anxiety that could’ve been prevented. I went into every exam feeling groggy and unprepared. I’d tell myself, “I don’t have time to read the textbook”, or “I’m too busy to study today”. But the truth is, you do have time. You just don’t know how to manage it effectively. Here are some tips to keep yourself from procrastinating:  

1. Put everything on the calendar of your phone. I am a huge fan of cute planners, and I buy myself one every year, but always end up never touching it again after a few months or misplacing it. I’ve switched over to using my phone’s calendar app and it’s a life changer. The day my professors upload their syllabi, I put in every exam and assignment I have due, including the chapters associated with that exam. I’ve set it so that I get an automatic reminder two days before an exam or assignment is due, an hour before clinicals start, and 30 minutes before class. I have never missed an assignment because I’m always being reminded, and since I bring my phone everywhere, there’s no way I’d forget.  
2. Set fake deadlines for yourself. You know that feeling you get when you realize you’ve procrastinated an assignment until the very last minute and you suddenly find yourself exhibiting symptoms of tachycardia and pyrexia? Manipulate it to your advantage by setting deadlines earlier than they actually are. When you see that deadline coming up, it tricks your brain into thinking you’ve procrastinated as much as you possibly could have, and now you’re forced to start. I’m a firm believer that the end to procrastination begins with starting. I find that this tip works best for assignments rather than for exams. 
3. Limit your time on social media. Key word here is limit. I am guilty of spending way too much time on social media. I used to be on my phone upwards of five hours a day, and most of that wasn’t productive. Remove distractions, especially when you’re studying, and you’ll find that you have a lot more time in your day. Use this extra time to study, hang out with friends and family, or pamper yourself—because self-care and finding balance is important. Remember, everything in moderation.  
4. Multitask. I used to spend two hours commuting to clinicals, and what did I do on the train? Waste my time playing Candy Crush and listening to music. Now, on my long commutes, I’ll download and listen to voice threads posted by my professor or listen to a nursing podcast. Usually I’ll look for something related to the content in class. Don’t have a long commute? Listen while you’re cooking, in the shower, working out, or even during your morning and nighttime skincare routine. It doesn’t matter if you’re not fully grasping the concepts, but it’s great to be exposed to some of the jargon before you attend the lecture for it. 
5. Wake up earlier. There can be more hours in the day, if you sleep less. On days when you have an early lecture, there’s no getting past early mornings. But on your free days, do you find yourself waking up mid-afternoon and feeling like your whole day has been wasted already? I wake up every day, yes every day, at 6 a.m. and commit to the same routine of getting ready, studying for 30 minutes, and then leaving for class/work/clinical. Now I won’t lie to you—waking up at 6 a.m. on a Sunday was absolutely dreadful when I first began this, but since my circadian rhythm has reset it’s become a lot easier. Waking up early (with the help of coffee) starts my day on a positive note and gives me motivation to do work. It’s also good practice for the long run when we’re doing 12-hour shifts as nurses! 
6. Change your mentality. Stop thinking of studying as such a dreadful task. I’ve found that if I read the textbook for pleasure, and not for the purpose of memorization, it’s actually a pretty interesting read.  You need to rewire your brain to think of reading the textbook as a leisure activity and not a homework assignment. Perception is everything. Think of doing practice problems as a game to mentally challenge yourself; or even better, turn it into an actual game with your friends. You got into nursing because you were passionate about science and learning. Channel that energy when you’re studying! 

Implementing these habits made me better at managing my time. I’m no longer scrambling to submit assignments before 11:59 p.m. I’m walking into exams feeling confident. Most importantly, I’m a lot happier and less stressed out. These tips helped me turn into a better student, and hopefully they’ll help you as well!