We’ve all been there: it’s the start of a new semester and you have your life together. Your room is clean, you have a daily schedule, and your sleep cycle is on fleek. And you even say to yourself, “I’m actually going to keep this up for the rest of the semester!” Flash forward to March and your socks are no longer in pairs, the snacks you stocked up on a few months ago have vanished into crumbs and empty bags, and your weeknights are lasting into the early A.M. It’s time for some mid-semester reorganization.
While things may look bad, there are ways to tame the messiness of mid-semester struggles, and re-establish the balance and organization you achieved after returning from Winter Break. Here are some simple steps you can take to get your life and your semester back on track!
1. Reorganize Your Clothes
The first thing we all do in the morning is put together the day’s outfit. So, make the first part of your day easy on yourself. Go through your drawers and establish a system for where to find your socks, sports bras, t-shirts, etc. This way, you will no longer have to dig through an indecipherable pile to find what you’re looking for every morning. Reorganize your closet by grouping items of clothing together such as pants, sweaters, and dresses. Once again, this will make finding your OOTD (Outfit of The Day) so much easier!
2. Start Using a Daily Planner
If you haven’t already invested in a daily planner or you just weren’t dedicated to using one, it’s never too late! Planners are great for keeping track of assignments, meetings, or even just necessary tasks like doing that laundry that’s two weeks over-due. Whatever you use it for, planners are sure to keep you balanced. While agendas come in many cute designs and prints, if you’re more of a techie, take advantage of the reminders, notes, and calendar sections on your phone! Keeping tabs of important dates and tasks will change your life and make you feel like the organization queen!
3. Commit to Keeping Your Notebooks Organized
As you’re dashing from class to class, it can be tempting to shove papers in your bag or in the pockets of your already overstuffed binders. But, in the long-run, this habit can leave you scrambling to find your Stats notes when finals roll around. Consider using binders designated for each class and keeping a three-hole puncher in each notebook. The best part about binders is that you can always go back while studying and rearrange your notes in order to create a custom review!
4. Designate a Day for Grocery Shopping
Pick a day where you go to your local grocery store and stock up on both healthy snacks and a few treats to supply you for the week. By budgeting for a weekly shopping trip, you’ll save money and have food to keep you satisfied whenever you get a craving in the early A.M.
To all the collegiettes out there in a mid-semester slump, remember that it takes time and a couple steps to put you back in control for the rest of the school year!