Staying organized in college isn’t easy. Everyone knows that keeping a planner is a great way to keep your deadlines in check, but here are some more tips to help you amp up your organizational skills.
- Write deadlines down from the start
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Right when you get your syllabus for each class, the first thing you should do is sit down and write down every due date for the whole semester. Yes, the whole semester. That means every test, every homework assignment and every discussion board. This not only will set you up for success from the start, but it will familiarize you with the deadlines you are going to have for each class. If you write down “Response paper due” for every Friday for 15 weeks, chances are you are going to remember you have an assignment due every Friday for that class regardless of if you even look at your planner.
- Separate your life by activity and have a running list of upcoming events
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Wherever you decide to write down your deadlines and activities, make sure to make separate sections for each part of your life. If you are in a club or sorority, make that a separate section from your internship or school. It is also a good idea to have a running list of important dates and big assignments that coming up. For me, I like to have a sticky note on my computer with all my big upcoming assignments and dates so they stand out to me.
- Carve out time for each part of your life
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It’s important to make a schedule for yourself and stick to it. Everyone is different when it comes to getting their work done, some people need to be in the library or a coffee shop to be productive, while others are perfectly capable of getting things done at home. Whatever the case may be, it’s important to carve that time out for yourself so you don’t fall behind. If you have time off and you are on campus on Wednesdays, spend that time in the library every week getting ahead on assignments. It’s all about planning!
- Use a physical planner and a digital calendar
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Like I mentioned before, writing things out in a physical planner definitely has its value. It’s also useful to lay out your daily schedule on a digital calendar. I personally prefer Google Calendar for organizing my life!
Whatever helps you get organized, be sure to stick to it. The key to success is in your consistency.