I. Block Out Time

Plan out your time in advance to help you mentally prepare for multiple tasks. This can reduce getting overwhelmed and provide you with a sense of control over your responsibilities. Make a schedule and stick to it, tackle one step at a time.
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II. Break It Down

1. Prioritize in a way that is functional (if it's not going to work for your schedule or your personality, then it's not going to work, period).
    

2. Have a 10 minute review session every day (you will have a better chance of remembering that information than if you only look at it the days you have class).
    

3. Repetition increases retention (go over material multiple times, in bite-size pieces, in various settings e.g. while waiting in line, on the bus, and in a study space).
    

4. Break down process for writing papers (spend time every day on a piece of the project e.g. set aside the first day to brainstorm, the second day to write a solid thesis, the third day to outline your paper, and the fourth day to write it). If you have a general idea to of what to write about, but cannot think of a good introduction, start from the middle, free-wrote, and work backward to polish up a final product.

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III. Make Information Your Own

Find a way to see how the material relates to your future goals and discuss the material with people from your courses.
 

Try the SQ4R method:

• Survey: Get an overview of the material. For example, read the title, subheadings and if it's a textbook, the questions at the end of the chapter.
   

• Question: As you survey the information, think of the subheadings and objectives as questions. You can rephrase them in your head or on paper.
   

• Read: Be selective about what you read and create meaningful associations between different sections of the content.
   

• Recite: Put the ideas into your own words. (Doing this with a tutor, classmate, or instructor can confirm that you're on the mark).
   

• Write: Make connections or maps of interconnected ideas and trip down the information. Large concepts are much easier to recall than facts alone.
   

• Review: Go over the information in a way that helps you remember it. Some students use flash cards or cut information into smaller, digestible bits and review them frequently.

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IV. Address Stress

1. Figure out what aspects of a project make you nervous. If the idea of working in groups stresses you out, make sure "everyone is clear on the expectations" at the beginning.
    

2. Schedule time for relaxation. This might seem as counter-intuitive, but you need to let go of some stress. Designate a specific time for relaxing so you don't skip it or take a break that turns into hours of lost time.
    

3. Get enough sleep and do not schedule every hour of every day.
    

4. Be proactive and focus on what you want and need to learn. The more engaged you are in the process, the more success you'll have when it comes time to demonstrate your knowledge.