The comeback to school serie : #5 . discipline , planning and routines .
This is actually one of the longest blogs I’ve ever written. The first draft got deleted because I forgot to save and i freaked out. I had to rewrite everything from scratch, so I’d really appreciate it if you read it thank you 🧍🏻♀️
𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 :
Discipline is basically your ability to do what needs to be done even when you absolutely don’t want to and academic discipline is that same energy applied to your studies. It’s showing up to that 8am class , it’s choosing to write that essay instead of doom-scrolling for three hours... Discipline literally saved my academic life so here’s how it works : when the professor explains something that feels impossible and your instinct is to zone out, discipline makes you actually listen instead. It’s not about being some perfect student who never struggles it’s about recognizing the moment you want to give up and choosing to stay engaged anyway. Behind excellence is self-torturous discipline, not just occasionally waking up early, but maintaining your standards long-term. It’s killing the lazy version of yourself with your own hands.
It’s not your ability that determines ur destiny, it’s your decisions. I once kept failing history because I told myself “I’m just not into it,” but discipline forced me to sit with confusion, ask questions, and redo problems until they clicked. It’s not punishing yourself or grinding until burnout it’s building a new relationship with difficulty. Instead of seeing hard work as proof you’re not smart, you see it as a chance to learn. If you keep waiting for the perfect moment, your future will stay blank. But if you keep moving forward, every moment changes because of your efforts. Thinking creates problems, doing gives answers because academic discipline compounds: forcing yourself to read a lesson helps u understand more in class, which boosts confidence, which makes assignments less scary, creating an upward spiral. Procrastination isn’t laziness, it’s fear u avoid work not because you lack time but because you’re scared to fail. Discipline breaks that cycle by making you comfortable with being bad at things first, because that’s how learning works. Glory and dreams are everywhere, but real self-discipline and endurance are rare. If you can endure, you’ll stand out.
Persistence is exhausting okey ? effort never feels comfortable but you don’t persist because you already have hope, you see hope because you persisted. The uphill road is hard, but the view is beautiful. The peak isn’t the end u rest briefly, then keep climbing higher. Academic discipline saved my life because it taught me that my first reaction to difficulty doesn’t have to be my final one. Every time you do something you don’t want to, you rewire your brain to be stronger, more capable, and more confident.
𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 ❟ 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗿 ?
𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝘀𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝘀 ❟ 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘂𝗿 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀 ❟ 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻 ❟ 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 .
Here are my goal-setting methods that can help you build an academic goals program it explains everything! [ click here !! ]
there is a looooooot of way to plan so the best thing is to daily plan ! I will share my fav 7 method and I hooooope it help u no matter how ur schedule look like
The first is the BASIC METHOD where you simply list your to-do items either in the morning or the night before, and then check them off as you go. It’s the most minimal approach, perfect for those who already have strong self-discipline. Another method is based on the PARETO PRINCIPLE : divide tasks into high, medium, and low priorities, and focus 80% of your energy on the most important ones.
If you prefer to see the bigger picture, the WEEKLY PLAN METHOD IS useful it not only organizes your daily schedule but also gives you a preview of the week ahead. (this is useful when u will start to get along with school work ect so rn u can plan ur whole week )
There’s also THE THREE PART METHOD which breaks the day into morning, afternoon, and evening segments. By assigning tasks to each part, you can easily adjust depending on whether you have classes or other commitments, which helps prevent task buildup. For those who like tighter scheduling, the SPECIFIC TIME METHOD takes it further by assigning not just tasks but also exact time slots, which works especially well for tasks requiring long focus sessions.
If your life involves balancing multiple roles, the TASK CLASSIFICATION METHOD can be helpful u group tasks by type studying, work, personal, or miscellaneous so you can clearly see how different areas of your life fit together. Finally there’s the EASY CLASSIFICATION METHOD, a lighter version of the same idea. Instead of strict categories, you can simply jot down things like “to do,” “people to meet,” or “items to buy,” and adjust them in real time depending on your daily situation.
No matter which method u choose the point is to create a structure that makes your goals manageable and ur days more intentional .
⑅𑂳⠀ᜓ ✉️ ᮫ 𝗺𝘆 𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 & 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺
As one of the busiest students i’ve spent years experimenting with planners, apps, and note systems n I’ve tried it all (never buy 293949 diff planning stuff cuz they will collect dust ) . over time I’ve developed a planning that actually works for me, and I want to share it with you y'all to have an idea how planning look like . The key is simplicity, flexibility, and reflection, and there are a few components you can mix and match based on your needs.
First, there’s my semester overview so we have two semester I plan for the first one until it finish them I plan for the 2 one , which I like to do on a single A4 SHEET METHOD. I fold it twice to create four blocks, each representing one of four key areas: study, health, life, and skills. I color-code each block for clarity and write the category titles in black pen. At the start of the semester, I set a main goal for each area, making them as specific and measurable as possible I link these goals with a plan-implement-check-action process, so the semester plan becomes a dynamic, living document. After a few weeks, I review and adjust if a task is too heavy, I lighten it if it’s too easy, I challenge myself more. This cycle ensures my goals stay realistic and achievable.
Next comes MY TWO-NOTEBOOK system. The first notebook is my daily brain dump, where I track essentials like exercise, study or reading accomplishments, highlights from the morning, afternoon, and evening, and a small free-writing space for ventingi also sometimes do morning pages . Reflection is key: I note what went well, what I could improve, what I learned, and my intention for tomorrow. Meals and a daily gratitude note are optional, but I find they help me stay grounded. The second notebook is my weekly command center, where I plan by week instead of stressing over daily to-do lists . I list “missions” for the week, track 5–6 key habits, and block my time using color coding: gray for sleep, yellow for deep focus/study, blue for classes, green for exercise/self-care, and red for social time. Every Sunday, I do a Weekly Reset Session: a brain dump, task categorization by urgency/importance, and time-blocking to see where I can actually focus. Simple symbols black circles for started tasks, empty circles for reviewed, and X’s for completed let me track progress without guilt .
Finally there’s my growth handbook, which is optional but highly effective if you want to combine planning with self-development . The purpose of a growth handbook is to enhance abilities in various aspects of life, find meaningful things to do, and treat life as a problem-solving process studying, reflecting, and learning from everyone and everything around you. You can learn from doubts by searching for practical solutions or, if you have no doubts, explore topics that interest you. For me, I focus on sociology, psychology, and literature to better understand myself and others while improving my expression. (It's like journaling)
The process is simple: LEARN, WRITE, REVIEW. When learning, ask “why” at every step: why they said or did something, and how I can use it. When writing, record methods, examples, and reasons clearly make excerpts for easy reference. Then, practice and review until the knowledge works for you otherwise, it stays theoretical. Reviewing involves three steps: what to solve (goal), why do it (motivation), and how to do it (practice + reflection). Over time, these insights can be organized into a personal knowledge base, something you can consult anytime. For note-taking, keep it clean and organized you can use just a black pen or add color, sticky notes, or highlighters. Any notebook works, even scrap paper the more you use it, the more valuable it becomes. And ofc I don't do this everyday cuz sometimes I don't have time so I do twice a week .
u can combine all three components the A4 semester plan, two notebooks, and growth handbook or use only what fits your life. The semester plan gives a big-picture view, the notebooks keep daily and weekly progress on track, and the growth handbook helps turn learning into real-life action. Together or separatelynthey help you stay organized, reflective, and moving forward without feeling overwhelmed.
Planning is about creating a structure that helps you learn, grow, and move forward. Keep experimenting adjust as you go .
u need three different routines because you're dealing with three different situations. Regular days, maintaining your sanity, and those "I'm cooked " days . Let me break it down for you (u can create more routines or less it's ur choice I'm just here to give u examples but those 3 are fundamental build them the way u want )
Your daily routine is your entire day mapped out so everything flows together without you having to think about it.
Some people are next level with this and do hardcore time blocking: "8am breakfast, 9am gym, 11am study block one, 1pm lunch..." If you can pull that off chapeau pour vous mademoiselle 👨🏻💼 . That's advanced stuff. But even if you're not there yet u still need some kind of structure to your day.
Your daily routine covers everything: when you wake up, when you eat, when you exercise, when you do homework, when you study for other subjects, and when you chill. It's about creating a balanced flow where you're not constantly deciding what to do next or feeling like you're behind on everything.
The study parts of your routine should include both your immediate stuff (homework due tomorrow) and your ongoing learning (reviewing notes, practicing problems, staying ahead). Don't just reactive-study where you only do what's due. Build in time for actually learning and reinforcing what you've covered.
ur routine becomes automatic cuz yk u will come home est do your homework have some extra reviews chill ect .. you don't waste mental energy deciding when to study or what to work on you already know because it's built into your day. Your routine carries you through even when you're not motivated, because you're just following the system AND U ARE TRYING TP BE DISCIPLINED , you've already set up for yourself.
Self-care It's literally maintaining yourself like you'd maintain anything else you depend on. Your phone needs cleaning, ur room is messy you need rest, food, and movement to function properly .
This routine is about creating non-negotiable boundaries around the things that keep you sane and healthy. Good sleep isn't optional when you're trying to learn complex stuff your brain consolidates memories while you sleep . Eating actual food instead of surviving on energy drinks . isn't being high-maintenance, it's being smart about your performance. (I've never tried energy drinks before they scare me tbh 🧍🏻♀️)
The biggest mistake students make is thinking they can skip self-care when things get busy NEVER SKIP SELF-CARE DAY POOKS . That's exactly backwards cuz when the pressure's on, that's when you need your self-care routine most. It's not time you're wasting it's time you're investing in being able to handle whatever comes next.
ur self-care routine should be as planned and intentional as your study routine it's what keeps you capable of doing everything else.
This is your emergency protocol THE STRICT ROUTINE U NEED when u feel absolutely cooked and there's no time left. Maybe you procrastinated, maybe life happened idk or maybe you just underestimated how much work something would take. Either way, you're here now and you need a plan that actually works under pressure.
ur crisis routine is completely different from your daily routine. It's not sustainable long-term, but it's designed to maximize what you can accomplish in a short time when stakes are high. This means cutting out everything that doesn't directly help and focusing only on what will actually matter for your grade. U SHOULD LOCK IN . The crucial thing about crisis routines is having them ready before you need them . When you're already panicking about an exam next week, that's not the time to figure out your strategy. You need to know exactly what you're going to do, what materials you need, and how you're going to manage your stress and energy ect ect it's up to u yk.
This routine should include your game plan for prioritizing topics, your review methods, and your strategy for staying calm under pressure. What subjects u need to put at important and work deep for them It's likeva backup plan that lets you handle academic emergencies without completely falling apart . The goal is to have reliable systems that work when you need them.
Your routines will evolve as you figure out what actually works for you, and that's totally normal. The important thing is starting somewhere and building the habit of having systems instead of just winging it every time . Cuz u can plan to to study for 3h everyday or review that material but u don't know when or how so that's why routines are IMPORTANT. Try to not copy someone else creat ur own YOUR OWN READ THAT AGAIN .
If you’re feeling exhausted or overwhelmed by school, remember this every early morning, every late night, every moment you push through confusion or fatigue, you’re building the foundation for your future. Don’t fear being tired or challenged no path to success is smooth, and no goal is reached without effort. Discipline, routines, and consistent action turn those ordinary, difficult days into confidence, growth, and freedom. Trust your own strength, value your progress, and keep moving forward, because even when it feels impossible, every step you take brings you closer to the life you’re working for. good luck 🍀
