With assignment deadlines and final exams coming up, getting yourself organized can save you a ton of unnecessary stress. Check out these awesome tips to help you stay organized (and hopefully less overwhelmed).
1) Use a planner or an agenda
This is my #1 suggestion for all students. There is no way I’d be able to get through school without my agenda—it’s literally my lifesaver. Write down everything: due dates, meetings, extracurricular activities, appointments, your work hours, and any other responsibilities you might have.
P.S. An agenda doesn’t have to be expensive! Walmart, Staples, and many other stores sell good quality agendas at a decent price. However, if you don’t mind spending a little more on an agenda with some extra features, I highly recommend Indigo’s selection of agendas. I personally have this ban.do agenda, and I love it! It’s colourful and bright, and makes writing in my agenda a lot more fun. Bonus: it comes with a bunch of cute stickers:
I find it easier to have everything written down on paper in a physical agenda, but if you think writing in an agenda isn’t your thing, you could always use your phone or laptop calendar too. Read on for more tips for computers!
2) Hang up a wall calendar in your room.
Even if you write in the calendar in your agenda, having an extra calendar helps—especially a large wall calendar. It makes it really easy to see what each month is going to look like, and having it on your wall makes it hard to ignore or forget things.
Check out this erasable calendar from the U of T Bookstore.
3) Download a free “Sticky Notes” computer app, where you can put virtual sticky notes on your computer desktop.
Since I’m on my computer so often, I find this really helpful. For each of my classes, I write down the things I need to get done for the week on these virtual sticky notes. Every time I open my laptop (which is pretty much every single day), I see these reminders and it forces me to face my responsibilities instead of ignoring them. Plus, finishing something and getting to delete or backspace the reminder is a great feeling! I hate my desktop being cluttered, so getting to delete a sticky note from my laptop once I finish (and having my desktop background look neat) is a great added incentive for me to finish my work.
I use the Simple Antnotes app from the App Store on my Mac, but there are tons of other similar apps for both Mac and Windows.
4) Make to-do lists.
Be realistic about your to-do lists. Don’t plan to do more than you can handle! Remember, there are only 24 hours in a day—and you also need time to eat, sleep, and relax. Set manageable deadlines, and if you find that you’re having trouble sticking to your plan, modify your list.
I also asked several other students what they do to stay organized. Here are some of the tips different students suggested:
- “Use Google Drive (it has spreadsheets, surveys, and documents that you can make and put into colour-coded folders) and Google Keep (it can send you reminders at certain times or days, and the notifications will show up on your phone or laptop). Also, if something will take you less than two minutes, do it immediately (i.e. sending an email, throwing away the nasty food in your bag, or even making a rough outline for an essay).” – Veronika Potylitsina, 3rd year student at the University of Toronto
- “I keep an agenda, make lists, and always have a plan for the week. And as of most recently, I’ve prioritized sleeping (and eating) above all else, because I do my best work while I’m healthy and taken care of—and I feel like lots of people forget that. I also remind myself that even if I fail something or don’t do well, I’m still a good person!” – Katy Czajkowski, 2nd year student at the University of Toronto
- “Make notes as you go throughout the semester, so that you’re not cramming to get all the material down right before the exam. It also helps to find study buddies or gym buddies to motivate you to actually show up and get things done.” – Anika Gurm, 3rd year student at Western University
- “Using a calendar, and writing down everything in that calendar helps me stay on track with my busy lifestyle.” – Alyssa Roman, 3rd year student at York University
Remember—what works for one person might not necessarily work for someone else. It’s important to find a planning/organization method that works for you, and fits your lifestyle and preferences!
Photo References
https://reinventingmyselfinto.wordpress.com/tag/sticky-notes/