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How to Stay Organized During the School Year

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Chapel Hill chapter.

Back-to-school means hanging out with friends, exploring new places, meeting new people, and work. Lots and lots of work. Whether you’re in college or still in high school, one of the keys to success during the school year is staying organized… and studying of course. In honor of the new school year, here are some tips to help you stay organized:

 

1. Planner Time

You don’t know what you don’t know. Planners are the hidden gems that keep those super organized people on Pinterest or next to you in class sane! While it can be daunting to have a space to write so much information, try to add some flair to keep you calm. Love colors? Buy some colorful marker pens and color code classes and important assignment dates. Add stickers for extra flair and reminders like doing laundry, calling home, or friends’ birthdays.

 

2. Take Notes

I know that lecture classes can be boring, but taking notes *whispers* can actually help you pass *gasp*. Not only will you be able to have a handy-dandy study guide during exam time, but you can even sell you notes for some extra cash during the semester!

 

3. Annotate your Syllabi

Keep it by your side. Study it. Cherish it. I cannot stress how important syllabi are! It may seem silly to spend a day or a week going over syllabi, but this is your guide for the entire semester. Any questions you have, write it down and ask your professor. If it’s not clear now, it won’t be later down the line! Another important tip is to write down assignments and exam dates to help you stay on track.

 

4.  Have a routine

Keeping a schedule or routine is essential in trying to increase productivity. Having something that you do regularly whether it be homework, working out, or spend time with friends, will help you stay on task. Once you establish a routine, try switching it up every once in a while so tasks don’t become mundane!

 

5. Clean your space

It might not be the most exciting task for folks but having a clean space around you can actually help de-clutter your mind as well.

 

6.  Make Some Playlists

Endless reading? Check. Endless writing? Check. Endless studying? Check. You get the point. With the endless amount of work you’re doing find some music to keep you sane! I personally use Spotify to make playlists for different occasions. If I’m studying I’ll listen to Infinite Acoustic, and if I’m trying to get up in the morning I’ll turn on Ready For the Day

 

What do you do to stay organized?

A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Maurianna served as a Senior Editor and Marketing Publicity Director before becoming Campus Correspondent. Majoring in English with a concentration in Writing, Editing, and Digital Publication, she combines her love of words and digital design as the founder of a lifestyle blog, Anna Elle Liz, and brand + web design business, Mauri's Markups. When she’s not working, you can find her volunteering at the animal shelter, binge-watching home decor shows, or finding quaint coffee shops around town.