College is one of the busiest and most stressful times in a person’s life. Between the classes, homework, meetings, clubs, work, etc… it’s no wonder that many people have trouble keeping their schedule organized! Luckily, I have ten tips that I know work that will keep you on track to having a great year!
1. Keep a Planner
Most people either keep a casual planner or don’t think that it is the thing for them. However, as cliché as it is, a planner really is the easiest way to keep track of everything that you need to do on a day-to- day basis. The best way to keep a planner is to write everything down at the beginning of the semester (or close to it) and add to it as pop-up assignments come along. Check each event off as you complete it to keep yourself on track
2. Make a spreadsheet
Planners are great, but most don’t have a visual layout so that you can see what you need to do in an hour-by-hour format. This is my favorite way to keep track of classes, meetings, and due dates.
3. Use a Corkboard
Corkboards are great for remembering long-term commitments. Instead of putting a reminder in a planner every week about the big project due at the end of a semester, put up the rubric or a brightly colored reminder so you don’t forget about the term paper or exams
4. Use post-it’s
Whether you use the traditional sticky notes, or the more modern computer notes, post it’s are a great way to keep track of the odd meetings and assignments that are not part of your regular routine, so might not have made it into your planner or corkboard.
5. Make a homework sheet
Not all assignments are one-day assignments, and not all assignments are two-month assignments. Making a homework sheet is a great way to prioritize your assignments and make sure that you get and stay ahead.
6. Have a routine
A routine is the easiest way to keep to your regular day-to-day schedule strait in your mind. I personally know that keeping a routine is important because most of my major classes are in the same building. Without a routine you might accidentally end up in the room your Tuesday/Thursday class is in instead of your Monday/Wednesday/Friday class where you are supposed to be
7. Plan Ahead
Putting your things out the day before is a great way to make sure that you don’t accidentally forget an assignment or textbook. Planning ahead allows you more time to think of things that you need to have the next day, and dramatically decreases the chance of forgetting something important.
8. Schedule Everything
Don’t just schedule classes and assignments! Schedule everything that you need to get done. Schedule laundry, cleaning, even time to sleep so that you don’t accidentally get busier than you want to be. In college you have to do your own chores and laundry, which takes time. Anything that is going to take you more than five to ten minuets should be scheduled.
9. Don’t be lazy!
If you have scheduled yourself to do homework, do it! It might be the last thing that you want to do at the time, but it is still important that it gets done at least a day ahead of time to ensure that it gets done right. It may not seem important now, but will be important when you procrastinate and end up with bad grades at the end of the semester.
And finally…
10. Get off the phone!
Technology is the easiest way to procrastinate, without even realizing that you are procrastinating. You might go to check your email, see that someone followed you on instagram, go to check that and see a screenshot of a snapchat, which reminds you to check your pinterest for any cool new pic’s. When you get there you will probably see a tumblr post, so you’ll go there to see what else you can find, and three hours later you have not done anything that you meant to do.
Getting off the grid, even for a few hours, can be a huge help in staying on track and getting everything done that needs to be done. So get off of your computer and do the homework that you’ve been procrastinating on!