CREATING A TIMETABLE

Writing a thesis can seem like an enormous and intimidating process. Be proactive about the task in front of you by creating a writing schedule that maps out when you'll have each stage or chapter of your work complete.
Most students agree that you should begin your preliminary reading during the summer before your senior year, and that you should count on reading right up until the time you finish your thesis. You obviously will want to get a good sense of the context for your thesis early on, but know that you will continue to find pertinent material throughout the entire time you are working on your thesis.
The calendar approach can be a useful way to keep on track. On a calendar, plot out a timetable for writing (for example, on Feb 15, you'll be done with the first draft of the first chapter). Be realistic but consistent in charting out the deadlines for each section: judge how long each section will take to write, and schedule accordingly.
This approach can also take a lot of the intimidation out of a long project. Viewing your thesis as a series of interconnected shorter essays allows you to grasp the work one stage at a time. You may have never written a 100-page essay before, but you've probably written several 10-20 page papers.  Looking at the thesis as five or six shorter,  linked essays can keep you motivated and on task.
If you are writing a thesis that depends on physical research and analysis, thoroughly discuss your timetable with your advisor. Things you may not consider, like equipment availability, may be out of your control and may dictate your timetable.

I found the following thesis planning calendar tool useful.
The dissertation time  Calculator from the university of Minnesota.