Meeting Deadlines: Due vs. Do

Struggling to get all of your work turned in on time? I’ll show you one of my favorite strategies for keeping track of your deadlines and ensuring you meet them. No matter what type of organizer you’re using – electronic calendar, sticky notes on your desk, a paper planner, the notes app on your phone – all organizers should include a DUE section and a DO section.

Due vs. Do

  • Due – when an assignment must be turned in
  • Do – when you intend to complete the assignment

How to do it

  1. Write down all of your due dates for the week.
    • Keep all class due dates in one place. Color-code by class if you like. Don’t rely only on your Canvas calendar. Check the class syllabus and any electronic platforms (ALEKS, Panopto, Tophat, etc.) for due dates that may be posted elsewhere.
  2. Estimate how long each assignment will take to complete
    • Read the instructions for each assignment to make an accurate estimate. Look at how many questions you must answer. Always estimate on the longer side – overestimating is better than underestimating
  3. Determine when each assignment will be completed
    • Make daily to-do lists. If you have 5 assignments due Friday, determine what work you will need to complete on Monday, then Tuesday, then Wednesday, and then Thursday to meet all 5 deadlines. Each day should have it’s own to-do list.
    • Keep in mind how long each assignment will take. If you have 5 hours of work, you might want to spread it out over several days instead of doing it all in one setting.

Exam Tips

  • Add study blocks to your daily to-do lists
  • Make your study blocks specific. Detail exactly what you need to study and how you need to study each day. Ex: make flashcards for chapter 5 vocabulary
  • The more specific and detailed your study plan is, the more likely you will be to follow it

Essay Tips

  • Break your essay down into smaller tasks. Ex: find 3 citations, write body paragraph 1, etc.
  • Add these smaller tasks to your daily to-do lists. The more specific you are with what needs to be completed each day, the easier it will be to follow your plan
  • Plan to finish your essay a few days early so you can take it to the Undergraduate Writing Center or Professor Office Hours for revision. It’s better to have a professional check over your work before you submit it.

By Kiersten Guetlein
Kiersten Guetlein