<p>How do you guys allocate your time, especially when you're taking multiple hard classes at once? And how do you stay focused and (relatively) not stressed?</p>
<p>I put everything in my Google calendar as soon as the date is set for projects, tests, classes, etc. When I study, I don’t study in my room, because I’m more likely to goof off. I go to an academic building, since the library’s often crowded.</p>
<p>For stress, I try to take time for myself at least once a week to just rest, not doing anything but focusing on being calm.</p>
<p>I also study in an academic building. I also try to study in the mornings because I’m well rested and I feel better for the rest of the day knowing, I’ve already practiced for an hour this morning and I’ll study for an hour between my class.
I relive stress by watching the Shaytards on Youtube everyday and by reading scriptures. I also take time to spend with my friends, even if that is going to dinner and then studying together for a few hours.</p>
<p>I would recommend doing work in chunks, if possible. I try to reserve one weekday a week to plow through work (and I mean, sit down for 6-8 hours and just work and work and work…problem sets, notes, mini essays, etc.). The week before a midterm/final, no partying, just pure studying. But…that means that also means that if an exam isn’t coming up and I did all my work earlier in the week, I will make a conscious effort to go out and get blasted…it may not sound effective, but it works! 3.92 this semester in the Ivy League :)</p>
<p>I try not to take two hard classes at the same time if I can help it. I know things like chemistry, physics, and calc will be hard for me so I made sure that I will never take them together. If I know a certain class within my major is well known for being very difficult (Genetics, for example) I’ll see what I can do to make sure I don’t take that class with anything I’m bad at so I can make sure I’ll have extra time for it.</p>
<p>At the start of each semester I like to go and make a schedule for each day. I’ll write down the times for my classes, work, and club first. Once I have that I’ll figure out about how much time I need to study for everything. The number of credits for the class times two is an okay way to figure this out. You can always change the hours you study for each class once you see the syllabus. Once I have this all worked out I then try to stick in the right amount of study session for each class into my schedule. I try to avoid studying late at night or too late into the evening and tend to put stuff in between classes. </p>
<p>You have to try to figure out the best study method for you. I try to keep my studying to short blocks (under an hour, usually for 45 minutes) and take a lot of of breaks (usually about 15 minutes each, half hour after three or four study blocks). It works well for me.</p>
<p>I study at home, I’m pretty good at just turning on some music and buckling down. If you are easily distracted try the library or study room around campus. I know at my school you could easy just go into an empty classroom to study if you wanted.</p>
<p>I try to stay ahead of the game whenever possible. I do little chunks of reading everyday so I don’t have nine million chapters to read the day before an exam. I try to start papers two or three weeks before they are due, usually it only means getting an outline and some research done but it’s still something. I study two or three weeks before the week of an exam so I can spend extra time on stuff if I need to.</p>
<p>Exercising is a great way to work past stress. I try to set aside an hour or so every other day so I can go running or whatever. </p>
<p>I don’t live in the dorms so I was able to get a pet guinea pig. The little guy has done wonders for my stress levels. It’s worth the $40 a month to me because being able to hold and play with my pig really helps calm me if I start to feel overwhelmed.</p>
<p>What do you bugs mean when you say academic building? Because certain departments wouldn’t randomly let you walk in and study there for hours. Also, what if you only have free time (between classes) in blocks? I want to figure out a way to plan my study times so that I don’t feel stressed towards the end of the day and try to cram everything in at night.</p>
<p>Certain majors and buildings most certainly will let you sit and work for hours on end. As a CS major, I get 24/7 access to the comp sci building and labs, so I go there or to the engineering center if the dorms are distracting.</p>
<p>As for time management and not getting stressed out… uh, yeah. I’m bad at that, probably because I tend to have all technical classes and no free time. 
I usually do coursework between classes (in a random building/alcove/outside), and then work as late as it takes to finish back in the dorms. I make an effort to avoid morning classes (mornings are gross), which means staying up til 4am once in a while doesn’t do too much damage the next day. Breaks are whatever days I have nothing due and don’t want to work ahead.</p>
<p>In terms of multiple hard classes, either do what’s most important or do what’s due first, and do your best to get everything done. Some semesters there’s simply not enough time for schedules and breaks, you just need to start doing problem sets and never stop.</p>
<p>It probably depends on your school but you certainly can just walk in and study in a classroom or whatever. Like Failure622 said, the CS labs at my school are open 24/7 (for the most part). I know my department building has special study rooms for students (as do several other buildings at my school). I’ve also nabbed classrooms to do things like play boardgames with friends. As long as it isn’t needed for a class no one will really care that you are in a room. Maybe not all departments will let you do it but there are plenty that will, it may just be a matter of poking around different buildings. </p>
<p>As for studying between class maybe try to pick a different class or two per day. Take all the stuff you will need to study for those two classes. If your break is long enough go sneak off to a study area. Bring headphones and have at it. You are likely still need to study in the evening but if you apply yourself to studying for a majority of your breaks you should be able to knock out a nice chunk of work.</p>
<p>Thanks 
All of your ideas were super helpful</p>