You should also create a personal timeline to help you meet the deadlines. Here's how to get started:
First
- List all of the major due dates
- Establish the goal that you need to achieve for each deadline (try working backward!)
- Your goal should be specific ("I will complete a working outline that has 3 headings and 2 subheadings" vs. "I will complete my EE outline")
Next
- Determine the specific steps you need to take to achieve each goal
- Think in mini-steps: To do [ ], I need to [ ].
- Determine the resources you need to achieve each step.
- When will you look for them? Be realistic. ("Saturday 10 a.m. 20 min exploring research databases" vs. "On Saturday")
- Where will you look for them? Help yourself out, find links etc. ahead of time to explore later!
Tips
Set aside specific blocks of time to complete your steps.
Example: 10 - 10:30 a.m. on Saturday VS. Saturday morning
Prepare the space for success: remove any distractions (things on your desk, irrelevant browser tabs)
Save yourself stress: prepare a list of people you can talk to if you run into mental roadblocks!
Below is an example of a personal timeline. Create your own using this template!
