I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not an organized person. I’d love to lie and say that I am, but the countless half-made to-do lists on my phone as well as the increasingly long list of to-dos not being checked off tell me otherwise. I’m in awe of those who seem constantly on top of their sh*t, checking things off left, right and center. You know the kind I mean—the ones that always seem to be doing something, but never seem particularly overstretched or stressed by what they’re doing? I’m sure it’s because they know they have their life together.
I decided this semester, to try and find out what it’s like to be one of those people. Okay, if I’m being honest, I can say with a fair amount of confidence that this won’t be that successful, but there’s no harm in trying, right? So, by taking tips from these so-called ‘got their life together’ kind of people, here are some of the habits I’m going to try and implement this time around:
- Buy a planner. Make that timetable. Stick to it.
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And repeat. I am definitely guilty of getting halfway through a task, and never quite completing what I initially set out to do. I go to the shop, peruse all of the overpriced planners, waste my money on one and come home to fill it up with a few weeks’ worth of stuff I need to get done. And for one moment, I feel accomplished and organized, and think to myself that this time is going to be different.
Cut to two weeks later when the planner is lost somewhere in the depths of my schoolbag, and I’ve forgotten what I had to do on Monday and it is now Thursday.
Turns out, making the timetable is really the easiest part. It’s actually sticking to it that requires the most determination. I’m not quite sure about how one should go about this dilemma other than by sitting down and prioritizing what you have to do a few days in advance, in order to plan for potential roadblocks. And that brings me to…
- Not overexerting yourself.
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It can be really easy at the beginning of a new semester to go a bit overboard, and say yes to every opportunity that comes your way. Initially, this seems like a great idea– and for the most part, it is! Until you realize you’ve double-booked yourself on multiple occasions and haven’t actually saved yourself anytime to sleep. I think it’s important to check in with yourself when an opportunity presents itself and take the time to consider your schedule and what you already have on your plate before diving into the next endeavor. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being busy -it’s one unintended but inevitable outcome of being a college student- but I’m learning that you need to be realistic with yourself from the get-go, as well. You’ll only feel worse by committing to something and not being able to follow through later on down the line, than if you had just dropped that one class you don’t actually need to take right now, and given yourself a slightly lighter load.
- Lists, lists, lists.
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I guess this is kind of similar to the whole planner thing. Someone I know back home is the most extensive list-maker you’ll ever meet. She has her life planned down to the second- I’m talking different types of lists, different colors, different keys etc. She even plans out buying her bananas in advance so they don’t ripen before she’s ready to eat them. And whilst I’m really not suggesting you start thinking about what fruit you are going to buy ten days before you want to buy it (If you’re thinking of buying that banana- just get it, please), I do think there is something to be said about the organizational quality of the age-old art that is list-making, LOL.
Lists are pretty much the most basic way to get everything out of your head and onto paper, in a much more neat and tangible form. It’s a lot easier to see what you have to do when it’s right there in front of you in black and white (or if you’re that person I mentioned, black and white and blue and pink and….)
- Keep your space clean.
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And this is two-part: it applies to both your physical and head space. No matter how much you don’t want to tidy up, it tends to be pretty impossible for most of us to function well when there’s stuff all over the floor, or bags of laundry waiting to be done, or dishes piling up in the sink. It seems pretty basic but I reckon keeping your exterior surroundings somewhat in order helps to make you feel more organized and in order yourself.
That’s where the second part comes in- look after yourself. Again, it’s impossible to be organized if you can’t make sense of your own thoughts. Keeping your headspace healthy, whether this be minimizing negative interactions with people, or making sure you are checking in with your own mental health, is important. There are lots of services and advice available for students in need- utilize the readily available on-campus resources such as CAPS.
- Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to be perfect.
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All jokes aside, no one really has their life altogether all the time, even those people with their planners and color-coded lists and heeled boots and calm demeanors. Even they get stressed, and even they slip up and forget to hand in a deadline now and then. I don’t think organization really happens overnight (or at least it never has for me) so don’t put too much pressure on yourself to get a handle on everything right away. Prioritize and plan, and gradually things are likely to fall into place.
Well, fingers-crossed anyway!