If you’re a university student, you know how vital a planner can be to your academic life. It took me nearly two years to learn how to use my planner correctly and how it can benefit me academically. In high school, I used my planner as a place to jot down assignments I needed to do for the next day and to keep track of my dance classes. But, university life is much more complicated. My planner practically became my brain. Here are a few things I track in my planner that help me stay organized.
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Daily Activities
Keeping track of your appointments, classes, meetings, and shifts is the most basic place to start. I plan each day by the hour and work around my pre-planned events, like classes and work.
2. Exercise and Fitness
If staying fit is on your to-do list this fall, then keeping track of your fitness habits may be beneficial to you. Tracking the days you go to the gym, take a brisk walk in the park, or go to a yoga class can help you stay on track with your goals and your health.
3. Quotes and Sayings
Each week I like to write down a quote or fun saying. These can range from silly movie quotes to motivational lyrics. These, I find, either make me laugh or help me get through a particularly arduous week of classwork.
4. Meal Prep
Meal prepping is an excellent way to save money and ensure you’re eating proper meals throughout the semester, and your planner can help you keep track. You can write down your grocery list, and when you’re going to have each meal.
5. Goals
Writing down your goals is extremely beneficial for your success. People who write down their goals are 42 percent more likely to achieve them. Whether you choose to write down a small daily goal, or broader long-run goals, writing them somewhere will help you succeed.
6. Budget and Finances
Your planner is a great place to track your spending. Since you likely use it every day, it’ll be easier to remember and track your daily spending. It’s also a great place to follow up on your more substantial expenses such as rent, tuition, food, etc.
7. Sleep
Studies suggest that to be successful, you need to get a good night’s sleep. Tracking the number of hours you sleep each night can help you be aware of your sleeping habits, and help you adjust if necessary.
8. Emergency Contacts
After an event this summer — which involved me staying late at the hospital with no phone charger — I’ve made sure to write down a few phone numbers in my planner. Writing down the numbers of some friends or family members will keep you out of any unfortunate situations if your phone dies unexpectedly.