Everyone makes mistakes. Even the kid in your class who seems to get a 100 on absolutely everything. Here are a few mistakes people make and how to prevent them in the future.

Put an End to Procrastination

I know I’m preaching to the choir here, but this will always be a problem unless you actively try to do something about it. It’s not even that hard! You just have to make sure that, from the beginning of the semester on, you are always up to date or ahead of where you should be in your classes. In addition to simply getting all your work done immediately, though, you also need to mark down in your planner all the relevant dates in your syllabus. Granted, there may be things not included in a syllabus or classes that don’t even have them, but the point is to really get an idea about how your semester is going to play out so you can prepare for conflicts if you’ll have them. Because let’s face it; there will always be some sort of conflict or really stressed and busy time to deal with every semester as well as life in general. So prepare for them in advance, not just a couple days before, to avoid them.

Relax

I personally need to work on this more and I’m sure some of you do, too. While it’s a good idea to plan for at least a little bit of studying during the weekend, rest is also important, both physically and mentally. Don’t force yourself into a strict schedule, just let things be. If you’re worried, you can always do a little studying later. However, I also mean relaxing before a big exam or presentation. Your head may be bombarded with thoughts of failure and embarrassment, but it doesn’t have to be. Meditation is great for this but if that’s not your thing, taking some deep breaths and assure yourself that your presentation isn’t as daunting as you think it is or that your test grade does not reflect how much you should or shouldn’t be valued. Things will be fine afterward. Just remember that people don’t notice all the little things that you notice about yourself or take as a big deal. Keep calm.

Be Prepared

This technically applies to the first one, also. Even if you’re doing minimal to no procrastination, you still need to actively be prepared. This doesn’t have to be limited to exams; this concept applies to all aspects of life. Maybe it sounds like something that children do (though some hotshot business men claim success from this) but before bed you ought to set out what you’re wearing or what you’ll need to take to class. Also, it is wise to plan out your day before it happens so that you’re not walking around wondering what it was you needed to do today. This is another habit to add to the list, but it’s a worthwhile one. Additionally, be prepared for class. This means studying very minimally before every class so as to jog your memory on the current information being discussed, not solely before a quiz or exam. Even if the first one suggests that you will be on task, crises do happen and due dates can change. Staying on top of things help you be prepared for these situations, but you should have a backup plan in case things don’t work out. Panicking is bad. Don’t do that. It’ll be fine.