With the new semester underway, there is a lot of excitement regarding a fresh start with new classes. However, it is absolutely normal to feel overwhelmed by the syllabi, due dates, and emails suddenly staring you in the face. Here are a few tips to stay organized, manage deadlines, and get on the right track.
1) Planners!
Having a planner has been one of the most effective and helpful tools for me in college thus far. Writing down your assignments each day helps to relieve the stress of not knowing what to do and when. I can honestly say that having a planner next to me while completing my homework assignments has helped me stay motivated and actually want to get things done. Plus, there are so many cute colors and patterns online. Check some out here! :)
2) Online or written calendars
If writing in a planner is not your thing, that’s okay! There are several other ways to get organized with your assignments. Tons of people use Google Calendar and fill it with important events, class times, club meetings, etc. Seeing everything visually helps you to stay on track and organized with the business of your daily life.
3) Categorizing classes on google drive
In most of our classes, there is a hefty amount of note-taking. Something I like to do to organize all my Google documents is to create folders for each class so that they are all together in the same place and it’s easier to find them to open them up during class, or simply while studying. It’s important to make sure you have a good note-taking system as it will help you study for exams more efficiently
4) Plan ahead
Setting up your daily, weekly, and monthly schedules allows you to be motivated to complete what needs to be done. This goes for small actions such as laying your outfit out the night before, packing your gym clothes and snacks in your backpack before you forget, and making your bed in the morning. These little things will make your life so much easier though they may take a few extra minutes.
5) Be realistic and take everything day by day
The last but not least tip is to be realistic. It’s important to schedule your time effectively. Don’t plan a nighttime study session if you know you don’t get anything done at the end of the day, and don’t overwork yourself. Similarly, don’t stress too hard about things you know you have to do in a month. Take everything one day at a time.
Hopefully, these tips will help your semester run smoother. You got this!