stay ahead of your work, don't fall behind, have a plan, set goals/milestones along the way to completing the work, I don't know how chill your professor is, but my personal experience has been that they are really good with helping if you are stuck, or they might have assistants or tutors or something available - also remember that Google can be your friend (but copy/paste is NOT) - IFYKY

When I went to college and cared as I stopped caring in my third year.

I would do my assignments as soon as I got home.

When I stopped caring in year 3 because I couldn't even get to college anymore because they took your money if you when you turned 19 so I couldn't even afford a bus pass to get to college.

I left all my assignments to the very last minute and rushed them.

In order to do academic things easily is to use the methodology of science. Plus some social thoughts. Since it is a class somebody has made a plan on what and how to teach this. Try to find that plan in advance. Get to know that plan and you will know what the class will be about. Then you will know on what to focus.