I admit it. I am planning obsessed. At any given time, I will have a few notebooks and my planner on hand, ready to face the meticulously planned out day. I have had friends ask how I do it, so here is a glimpse into my world of time management and planning.
The Essentials
Plan to Plan
Set aside some time every week to figure out your life. Have a quiz on Thursday? Coffee date Saturday morning? Work on Monday? Take 15 to 30 minutes at the beginning of the week and go through your classes, jobs, and other commitments and jot them down in your planner or on your phone’s calendar.
- Em’s Pick: I use a ban.do planner, and I’m obsessed with it. They come with cute doodles by independent artists and stickers. Who doesn’t love stickers?!
Make Lists
Put all of your thoughts down on paper and create to-do lists. This will help clear your head and allow you to focus on all of the tasks of the day. Try organizing tasks by priority so that you will finish the important things first. Cross points off when you complete them, it will give you a sense of accomplishment.
- Em’s Pick: I picked up a pack of these notebooks for the purpose of making lists (to-do lists, shopping lists, packing lists, etc.). They are thin and compact, so you can throw them in just about any bag.
Always Be Ready
If you have a busy day, use the “in between” time to your advantage. If you have an awkward 45 minute break before your next class, head to a nearby coffee shop or grab a seat in a hallway to work on some of your work. This will reduce stress and give you more time to do whatever you want.
- Em’s Pick: I carry a Fjallraven Kanken Bag for my school supplies. It fits my laptop, notebooks, planners and anything else I may need for the day without looking awkwardly bulky. (http://www.fjallraven.us/products/kanken-backpack)
It’s All in the Details
Organize Go-To Outfits
It happens to the best of us. Hitting the snooze button is extremely tempting in the morning. When this happens, be prepared with a few easy outfits on hand. If there’s a sweater you always wear with the same pair of pants, or a dress and a pair of tights, hang the complete outfit on the same hanger. In your morning rush, just grab the outfit and go.
Don’t Forget Transportation
It is arguable that the only thing worse than oversleeping is undersleeping. By that, I mean the annoying circumstance when you get to class too early and have to wait outside of the classroom for what seems like an eternity. To avoid this, take some time to figure out the best way to get to class. I like to leave my dorm at a time when I can take the bus if I need to, but I still have time to walk to class, too.
Welcome Spontaneity
Being organized and having everything precisely planned-out may seem boring to some people, so prove them wrong! You can always reschedule your homework time, but you do not want to miss out on making memories with your friends.