Don't let the due date be your 'do date'.

They say comparison is the thief of joy... Well, so is procrastinating, especially when it comes to completing assignments and studying for exams. While it might seem boring, consistency is the easiest way to become a high achiever with minimal stress.

It does take time. There are no shortcuts. As with everything in life, it's the small daily habits that make a big difference over time. The best way to avoid last-minute exam stress and "all-nighters" is to build a weekly study routine. With consistent practice, you may find that you don't even need to study for your exam at the end of the term! It's the same for assignments. Start on day 1, not the day it's due.

Okay, so you procrastinated, and you've got three days to learn a full term of work. What now?

1. Acceptance

   First, you need to accept that you created this situation, and you're in an unideal position. It's not impossible to come back from here, but it is difficult and it is stressful. Accept that, and then let it go. We need to protect your mental health and wellbeing. Stress is tied to your brain's ability to learn, and your health should always come first.

   
   

2. Create a study regime

   Make a daily schedule to optimise your study time. Ensure that you include rest breaks and activities that you enjoy throughout the day. This gives you something to look forward to, making it less likely that you'll get on your phone and procrastinate during your study time.

   
   

3. Whitelist/Blacklist apps and websites

   This works really well for some people. It never worked well for me, but it's definitely something you can try.

   
   

4. Work out how you study

   Do you retain information from writing out notes? Reading through materials? Teaching someone else? Listening to a podcast / audio recording? Watching videos? Working through problems?

   
   

   Maybe you study best using a combination of these. For example, you might combine note taking with working through problems and exam style questions. If you need to step away from the desk, you might go for a walk and listen to an audio recording of yourself reading your notes out loud.