Sunday Planner Time by Isabella

Sunday Planner Time by Isabella - February 2026 Scholarship Essay

A popular life habit many people participate in is a Sunday reset where they complete a number of tasks to set them up for success in the coming week. Typical examples are grocery shopping, meal prepping, laundry, and cleaning. I am a strong believer in a Sunday planner where I review the assignments and deadlines I have this week.

At the beginning of every semester I create a color coded google sheet with all the assignment deadlines per class. Each class has a designated color and I list all assignments plus recommended readings on the sheet which is sorted by date. Then every Sunday I take a written academic planner and write out my plan for the week of when I will complete each assignment making sure to account for exam study times, work schedule, extracurricular activities, and self care.

This method allows me to stay on top of the different dates and deadlines for various classes while making sure I have enough time to take care of myself and work to pay my expenses. I also take this time to look ahead at when I have a big exam, project, or paper due. Even if it is not due in the week I am making my schedule, I can set aside time to work on it or to work on assignments due the next week to give myself more time to study closer to the exam.

I have used this method since high school, in all of undergrad, and will continue to use it this May when I start nursing school. I would be completely overwhelmed if I did not take this hour each Sunday to plan out my studies and make sure I am aware of all class deadlines.