Tips to Plan Out Your Term

Conceptualize Your Entire Term

If you’re already using a to-do list and a calendar or schedule, excellent! Those are great tools to help you accomplish tasks and manage your time. But do you have a comprehensive view of your entire term? If not, it’s time to add the Term at a Glance to your toolkit and elevate your organization and planning game. 

The Term-at-a-Glance gives you a clear overview of all the important dates and events for the term, including major assignments, midterms, finals, extracurricular activities, and other commitments. Having the big tasks for your term all in one place helps you see how everything stacks up and allows you to plan proactively. Knowing when you have pinch points and busy times, gives you the chance to plan ahead (or do some backwards planning).  

Working on the big tasks in smaller chunks over time, and building in some flex-time in case things don’t go as planned (flex-time offers you a buffer to catch up on work you didn't get to or had to push off for something else), can lower your stress levels and help the term go more smoothly.  

Term at a glance worksheet

7 Tips to Plan Out Your Term

  1. Start early. The best time to fill out a Term at a Glance is at the beginning of the term when you can see the rhythm of the next 11 weeks.  
  1. Gather the information. Collect all syllabi and the dates of your other big commitments – both academic and non-academic (holidays, events). 
  1. Add the big items. Add the names and dates of all your major time commitments and exams, as well as due dates for big writing or research projects. It doesn’t need to be comprehensive of every detailed assignment – just the big items.  
  1. Look for the pinch points. Identify busy periods so you can get started early and avoid stress. 
  1. Make it fun. Color-code and use symbols to make your planner enjoyable and effective. 
  1. Keep it close. Take a photo of your planner and set it as your lock screen or hang it up where you spend the most time.  
  1. Integrate it with your other tools. Make steady progress on your big tasks by adding small tasks to your daily to-do list or carving out time to get started early for those busy weeks.