Commitments

After you've set up your awake time, you need to think about all the things you have to do or want to do on a regular basis. This includes the time you cannot use for studying. What you should start with are the anchors in your schedule that are immovable, such as your class times, work, and club meetings. These anchors are what you will build your schedule around. And one quick note: if you're taking online classes and don't need to be in a lecture, treat your online lectures the same way you would treat in-person classes. Watch them consistently at the same time every day; otherwise, your schedule will become chaotic.

Now that you know your anchors, you can start filling in the other activities you do on a regular basis. Start with meals and move towards activities such as a morning routine, workout, bedtime routine, napping, doing laundry, and anything else you do regularly. Being pessimistic with your time here is key. Can you really finish your meal in 20 minutes, or do you like to spend time with your friends talking over lunch and dinner? Your goal is to block out all the time you realistically cannot dedicate to studying. The equation is simple: if you think you have more free time than you do, you are likely to put off work until it's too late.