College can be stressful, but being disorganized only makes it worse. It took me a while to figure out a system that works for me to stay organized, but once I found it, it completely changed my productivity. Being organized is important and helps with the stress of college. Here are 6 ways I have stayed organized in college and become more productive:
- Stickies:
If you have a MacBook, I highly recommend using stickies to keep up with your deadlines and important reminders. I probably have 20 reminders on my desktop. One thing that I have found to be extremely beneficial is having a sticky note in the middle with my weekly to-do list and one at the top that includes all my deadlines for the semester. It can be tedious to set up, but I found this to be the most helpful way to keep track of my deadlines and to-dos.
2. Planners:
I have dozens of planners. I recommend having at least one because it always helps to have a physical copy of what you need to get done. While I personally enjoy having multiple, some people may prefer to have just one so they don’t worry about forgetting anything. I keep one on my desk and one in my bag, which helps me always have one with me. I like to get a bigger one because I can keep up with it easily and not worry about losing it. The most important thing is that when you have multiple, you have to make sure each one includes the same information, otherwise you may forget to do something. I always try to fill them out all together so I have the same information written.
3. To-do lists:
This somewhat goes along with the planner and stickies. Having a physical to-do list is so beneficial. I like to have something where I can check off the task I’ve finished because it helps me feel productive. Many people find it is helpful to have only one list. Similar to the planner, I think the most important thing is if you have more than one, make sure you don’t miss anything on one. I find it helpful to have multiple, so I don’t worry about losing anything, but I triple-check that it has everything on there that I need.
4. Folders:
Having folders on your desktop is super helpful with keeping track of everything. I have folders for each class in my emails, on my desktop, and physical ones for any handouts I’m given. While some classes may not give you handouts, it’s important to have a place to put them if your professor does. I like to organize documents on my computer by folders as well. This keeps things organized and I prefer using folders so I can always find what I’m looking for. Even with emails, I can always find what I’m looking for much faster if I know what folder it’s in than when I’m looking through every email I have.
5. Alarms:
Oftentimes, if I’m stressed that I will forget something, I will set an alarm for it a few days in advance, so I remember right when I need to. I think this is helpful when you are planning something outside of your usual schedule and are worried you won’t remember it. I like to set one or two alarms so I remember that I have something really important a few hours before I need to go and one for when I need to leave. This keeps me on track with time and I don’t worry I will forget about it.
6. List things early:
I always list my assignments on my to-do list a few days early to give myself time to complete them. Also, I find it helpful to turn in assignments a day or two before they are due, so I don’t have to stress about the deadline. This can be a bit difficult to do, but I found it to be super helpful in case I get sick or need a break. I don’t have to stress as much because I know I have a bit of time before I actually have to have it finished. This also keeps my assignments from piling up and causing me to work long hours on dozens of assignments. Usually, I will mark on my to-do list that something needs to be turned in two days before the deadline, so I make sure it is finished and edited by the time it’s due.
Finding ways to stay organized in college is so important. Being able to manage all of your work, extracurriculars, and meetings are essential to being productive and successful. Hopefully using these methods helps you with being successful and managing your time well.