Being organized is a necessity when tackling a new school year. Organization can help lessen stress in your life, increase productivity, and give you more free time to enjoy college instead of spending it trying to find your missing paper! However, far too many college students aren’t organized or on top of their daily tasks and feel the pressure and stress that results from this.
Conquer your messy room and messy life with the following tips on how to become better organized.
Step One >>> Use a Planner
Planners can be great organizational tools. I personally use two planners at school – one to keep track of my class assignments/exams and another to keep track of my daily to-do, like any meetings or events I have to attend. There are many different types of planners out there, so make sure to look around for what you believe suits your needs the best.
Try: Heidi Swapp Memory Planner Kit, Jo-Ann Fabrics & Crafts
Day Designer Weekly/Monthly Planner, Target
Academic Daily Planner, Bloom Planners
Create to-do lists <<< Step Two
Along with planners, creating to-do lists of what you need to accomplish every day is a great way to stay organized and motivated and to make sure you don’t forget anything important! Whether you decide to write these lists inside your planner, on a notepad, or as a Note on your phone is based on your personal preferences, any of the above or another option will work perfectly well!
Try: Pink Task Pads set of 3, Poppin
Step Three >>> Clear away the mess
The best way to be organized is to get rid of clutter! If you have things everywhere, it is definitely time to go through your mess, figure out what you don’t need, and get rid of it! Donate any unused items so that you can help other people while you are also helping yourself. Now that you’ve gotten rid of all of the things you don’t need, you can now refocus your energy and attention on organizing whatever is left! Learn more about donating to Goodwill here.
Have different notebooks/folders for classes <<< Step Four
You won’t be able to remember every assignment or take great notes if you don’t have separate notebooks/folder/binders for each of your classes! I highly recommend buying an accordion folder; that way everything is together but also separated! Resist the urge to take notes in class in whatever notebook you have handy. Instead, pack your backpack the night before so that you have everything you need before heading out. In addition, consider using organizing tabs or separators to further keep track of your individual papers.
Try: 6 pack Mead Spiral Notebooks College Ruled, Amazon
Staples Accel Durable Poly Cover 3 Subject Notebook, Staples
Smead Premium Accordion Expansion Wallets, Target
Step Five >>> Store things by type of use
When it comes to your dorm room/apartment, storage space is probably (unfortunately!) limited. This means you have to get creative over how you store things and where everything is organized. The best way to do this is to categorize your stuff by its use (kitchen, bathroom, etc) and store these categories into separate containers/spaces. This will ensure that when you are searching for something, you will know exactly where to go to look for it and save yourself a ton of time of searching in the process. Make sure to label everything so it’s even easier to find!
Try: Color Cube Storage Bin 2-pack, Dormco
Manage your time smarter <<< Step Six
One last way to become better organized is to learn how to manage your time in smarter ways. By using the tips above, you can take better command of your daily schedule and improve your productivity! With smarter time management, college will become easier for you to handle. With a little more organization, you will be able to focus and tackle classes and college life one moment at a time, exactly how you should.
