As a college student, there are few things that will benefit you more than keeping an up-to-date and functional planner. A planner keeps you informed about due dates, meetings, tests, and appointments; it also keeps you accountable for your time and how you spend it. Before I started keeping my planner, assignments would sneak up on me, I would waste my free time, and I was always more stressed than I needed to be. Here is a simple, fool-proof way to get a day planner started and to get in the habit of using it.

1. Find the right planner

Finding the perfect planner for your life and needs is the first step in this journey. The right format makes a world of difference. For most college students, a daily set-up with a notes section for each day is most useful. A monthly format is too broad, and an hourly format can be overwhelming. You can also personalize your planner in any way you desire; this will make it feel special and personal. Erin Condren makes planners with great formats, and you can choose from dozens of patterns and added details.

2. Fill in tests and major due dates

At the beginning of the semester, check the syllabus for each class you are taking and write all the test dates and major assignments in your planner. This will give you a good look at which weeks will be the busiest and how your semester will flow. Knowing these dates from day one will help you stay focussed on the major tasks ahead of you. You may even want to write these things in bold so that they stand out from everything else.

3. Keep your planner updated

Every time you learn of a new assignment, meeting, or any important activity, write it in the planner as soon as you can. If you wait, you may forget to add it in, and you will be more likely to forget about it entirely. Add everything you need to do, even if it is small or doesn't seem important. In my planner, I even schedule a time to grocery shop and do laundry every week so that I know where my time is going each day and so that I don't neglect anything.

4. Look at your planner daily

A planner can not work for you if you don't read it. So, you must set aside time each day to look at your planner and see what you need to do that day and in the days to come. You may want to do this while you eat breakfast or while waiting for class to start. This will soon become a part of your routine, and it won't take much effort. In fact, you will realize that this small act will take a lot of stress and pressure off your shoulders. You will know what you are facing for the day, and nothing will sneak up on you.

5. Don't take it too seriously

It is important to keep your planner organized and follow through with the tasks you plan to do. However, not everything in your planner is written in stone. If you had planned to do something, but don't get around to it that day, just move it to the next day or to a more convenient time. I advise you to not procrastinate whenever possible, but understand that life is complicated and not everything can be planned. Let your planner guide you, but do not let it control you.

College is a hectic, overwhelming, and incredibly busy time of your life. You may think that your mind is young and sharp, and you would never forget a due date, but it happens to everyone. Keeping a day planner will help you to never forget your work, and it will relieve some of the stress you face in your daily life. And who doesn't need that?