Having a planner is crucial to staying on top of things in college. It is nearly impossible for me to remember all my assignments, exams, and extracurricular activities without writing them down, so I am going to share with you how to find a planner and make it work for your schedule!
What kind of planner layout is best for you?
The first step to finding the perfect planner is be figuring out what planner layout works best for you and your schedule. Some planners (i.e., Erin Condren) have a vertical layout, while others have a horizontal one. Some planners have a built in timetable for each day (i.e., Day Designer), so you can plan things hour by hour. Everyone visualizes things in a different way, so it is best to find a layout that works best for you! Being a student, having space to write down lots of assignments is crucial for me, so I find that a horizontal layout is my favorite. I also always make a sticky note to-do for the week, and cross things off as I go!
What should you write down?
Being a college student, you probably have things constantly going on. From extracurriculars to part time jobs and internships, your schedule can fill up quickly! It is important to write everything down, no matter how routine the activity is. Also, there are dozens of events at Ohio State each week, and so I like to write down ones that interest me. Even if I don’t end up going, it’s nice to be aware of what is going on around campus!
How should you write things down?
The next thing to consider would be how you are going to color code your schedule. There are probably a hundred different ways you can write things down in your agenda. Some people like to use one color, but use highlighters to specify different subjects. Others like to use one color for each class or activity. Personally, I like to use a color for each type of assignment – reading, papers, and tests – and then a color for each activity. For example, I use teal for all paper assignments, and specify the class by writing the class number first. My favorite pens to use are the Staedtler Marker Pens, but any type of pen will work!
What about decorating?
The last piece of advice I have would be to make planning fun! Use fun stickers, washi tape, or sticky notes to help decorate the pages. The more fun you have with your planner, the more likely you are to write in it and stay organized. Also, you can personalize the front with stickers or a cute monogram!
There you have it – how to find and make use of the perfect planner! Best of luck staying organized this school year!