Make a weekly schedule

You can do this in your planner or on just a random piece of paper! Write down classes, work, meal time, gym time, anything that you can keep consistent from week to week. The best way to stay on track is to create a routine. You can plan your days down to when you shower and do laundry if you want—anything to stop the excuses you use when you’re not doing what you’re supposed to do. Put that schedule somewhere easily accessible so that you know what you’re doing and when it needs to be done.

Create a homework plan

Start keeping track of your assignments, but don’t just keep track of the due dates. That’s a sure-fire way to put off your homework until the last minute. Start making plans for your assignments. Figure out how long it will take (this includes revision time!), and set a date that you need to start it. Put that work time into your schedule or planner to be sure you get it done! This is a great way to avoid procrastination. Plus, if you do miss one of your personal deadlines, it’s a lot easier to fix than missing the professor’s deadline.

Buy your books and materials ASAP

I am 100% against buying books before you go to your first class (unless your professor tells you to buy it ahead of time!). Half the time, you don’t need the book. The other half of the time, the professor will tell you the first day of class some very important information. (E.g. You’ll need the book for the next class in the sequence, you can buy an older and cheaper edition, you’ll only need to rent it for two months instead of six). However, you should figure out all of that information in the first class and order your textbooks that same day! The last thing you need is to be behind on assignments the second week.

Drop classes that aren’t for you

I don’t recommend dropping classes just because they seem too hard or challenging, but sometimes you will have to drop classes, and it’s better to do that sooner rather than later. If you get to the first class and realize it’s not an environment where you can succeed, you may need to drop or transfer to a different class. Problems may include an apathetic professor, a heavy workload conflicting with other classes or obligations, or something else that makes you feel like this class won’t work out for you. If you sense a problem in the first week of classes, chances are that it’s going to bother you the rest of the semester. Talk to an advisor if possible before making irreversible decisions, and try not to mess with your ability to graduate on time, but do what you gotta do.

Label and color-code things

This may seem kind of silly, but I swear nothing will make you feel more driven than the illusion of organization. Label your folders, pick a different color pen for each class, find a notebook you love, and you’ll find productivity to be much easier. Even if it’s nerdy and dorky, being enthusiastic about learning is going to make your experience more enjoyable. Go ahead and get that fancy planner, too. You deserve something nice that’s also really useful. The more you enjoy your organization system, the more you’ll actually use it! Stick to those New Year resolutions!

Drink water

And finally, a universally applicable piece of advice: drink lots of water. Try to eat healthy and exercise, too, because being healthy is going to make you feel a lot more motivated, but don’t try to change your whole life all at once. You’ll never stick to a plan like that. You need to make one change at a time. Start small; stay hydrated.