Freshman to Sophomore: Tips for Staying Organized

Being a type A person is so hard when you transition from an environment where your main responsibilities are cleaning your room, eating whatever is available on your meal plan, and walking to all your classes, to one where you are suddenly responsible for an entire apartment. Instead of just keeping my room clean, I now have to clean and decorate the whole apartment. Instead of having a meal plan, I have to meal prep all my food for the week, or figure out what I’m going to make for myself each week. And instead of simply walking to class, I have to figure out how I’m getting to school, especially when I don’t have a car. 

It’s only been about two weeks since I moved into my first college apartment, but I’ve already learned some tips and tricks that have helped make the transition smoother, make the most of my time, and, most importantly, stay organized.

First tip: Pick a day of the week to meal prep! 

Meal prepping has made my life so much easier. We are college students, and we are busy! The unpredictability of college and the amount of work we have to do every day can leave little to no time to cook three meals a day, especially when you spend most of your time on campus. Instead of constantly worrying about what I’m going to eat, I’ve found that having a designated day to grocery shop and meal prep makes my week much more manageable, giving me more flexibility in my schedule and for spontaneous plans.  

For me, Saturdays are my grocery shopping and errands days, while Sundays are dedicated to meal prepping. Having a routine makes it easy to stay on top of everything and ensures that I always have food ready to go when my week gets busy. If you are not sure what to make or are new to cooking, an easy way to plan your weekly menu is to simply ask ChatGPT to create one for you. You can share your preferences and budget, and it can even create a grocery list and provide all the cooking instructions! 

One thing I quickly learned is that if you are going to meal prep, you will probably need more food containers than you think.

Second tip: Get yourself a planner! 

This is a non-negotiable for me. As I said, as a college student, it is incredibly important to maximize your time so you can be as productive as possible and get everything done. With classes, homework, extracurriculars, jobs, and having a social life, it is so easy to forget something if you don’t write it down. Having one place where you can jot down everything and actually see your week organized in front of you has been incredibly helpful for me. 

Planners help you keep track of your homework, write down important reminders and deadlines, and even plan out your day down to the minute (I’ll get to that one in a second). Depending on what works best for you, there are plenty of great apps and online programs you can use, but physical planners are my personal favorite. There are many different types, layouts, and styles to choose from, so just find the one that works for you and fits the way you like to organize. The goal is to find a system that helps you stay on top of your life!

Third tip: Planning your day down to the minute! 

If you struggle with time management, this one is especially important. Creating a detailed schedule for your day, including specific times for everything you need/want to do, can help you stay on track. It also helps you see exactly how much free time you actually have, instead of trying to fit in things throughout the day

 For example, this is what a day might look like:

7:45—Wake up!

• Make my bed
• Get dressed
• Eat my pre-workout meal

8:10—Get to the gym

9:20—Leave the gym

• Eat breakfast
• Shower
• Get ready

10:25—Leave for school

11:00-11:50—English 1

11:50-12:50—1 hour break 

• Go to the library 
• Finish homework for next class

1:00-2:15—Eng 2

2:15-5:00—Go home 

• Eat lunch
• Fold laundry
• Do dishes
• Pack dinner

5:00—Go back to campus

5:30-6:45—Math 

7:00-10:00—Work

Obviously, not every day has to be planned this precisely, but when I know I have a busy day, creating a schedule like this helps me stay organized and prevents me from wasting time. 

Fourth and last tip: Utilize your school’s resources!

This is something that I think most students know, but it’s essential to reiterate. Make appointments with your advisors! They’re always there to help you.Going to them can make things so much easier because they can explain the first steps you need to take for whatever you are interested in, rather than having to figure it all out on your own. 

Meet with your study abroad advisor to discover the opportunities available to you, talk to your career advisor about internship and career opportunities, or visit the Center for Undergraduate Excellence to learn about scholarship opportunities and other academic resources. And don’t forget to join a club! Clubs are a great way to meet new people network, explore your interests and great for resume building. 

The opportunities available to you in college are endless, but you have to take initiative to find them. If you utilize these resources early on, the more opportunities you’ll have to take advantage of, and you’ll definitely be ahead of the curve!

These are just a few suggestions that have helped me make my transition into sophomore year a little easier. Whether you’re a freshman or sophomore finding systems that work for you will make a huge difference.