Back to school can be a stressful time for any college student, but it doesn’t have to be! We all have different things that work for us when it comes to organization, and here are a few tips I have picked up over the years!
PUT IT IN YOUR CALENDAR!
My biggest issue is coming to class or a club meeting and completely forgetting something I said I would do previously. If a planner works for you, buy one! A University of Maine planner (which has all campus events already in it) is only $5.00 in the bookstore located on the first floor of the Memorial Union. If you find planners aren’t working out for you, try using your iPhone calendar (I find it to be the most helpful!). My iPhone calendar is synced with the calendar on my computer, this way whenever I lock my phone or open up my computer the event or assignment coming up is right there to remind me. I also set multiple alerts to be sent to my phone and computer a week before, and a day before. This way I know exactly what is coming up ahead of me. At the beginning of each semester, I take my syllabus from each class and enter all of the dates that the professor has set. Having all of your dates ahead of time right at your fingertips will ensure that you’ll never forget about upcoming events.
PLAN AHEAD!
College can get hectic at times between exams, meetings, assignments, and work but that is no reason to stress! Mapping out your schedule at the beginning of each month is the best way to look at the month ahead. Look at your calendar week by week and determine the best times to fit in studying, naps, and even snacking throughout the day! If you know you are not going to be able to make it back to your dorm or apartment all day, make sure you pack snacks and a water bottle in the morning to get you through the day. I heavily rely on granola bars and apples to give me an extra boost when I start to drag. I always use the sticky notes on my MacBook to write down the things I need to get done for the day/week. This way there is no avoiding the things that must be done!
GET YOUR BEAUTY SLEEP!
The biggest mistake I made as a freshman in college was staying up too late and having no energy the next day. If you know you have a long day coming up, go to bed early! When you get a full night of sleep, you are almost guaranteed to wake up feeling refreshed and ready to take on the day. So set your alarm(s) and you’ll thank yourself later!
SEPARATE WORK AND PLAY!
Find an area that works best for you for assignments and studying (mine is the center stacks on the second floor of Fogler Library). I find it difficult to focus on my homework when I am distracted by other things at my apartment. I know that if I go to a quiet spot in the library, I will get things done. Designate yourself a spot for just working.
DO YOUR HOMEWORK FIRST!
Do you ever find yourself worrying about your homework due Monday morning while you’re enjoying yourself with your friends? Avoid the panic, and get it done before the fun. I’ve learned that if I leave myself time before the weekend to finish all of my assignments, I can leave school at the door on the weekends and focus on work or my friends. Even if it’s leaving an hour or two to study for that big exam coming up, you will feel so much better by avoiding all that stress.
Once you get into the groove of your own schedule, you’ll find what works best for you. We all get stressed out from time to time; take a step back, breathe, and figure out what you can get done, trying to focus on one thing at a time. We’ve all been there! Don’t be hard on yourself, and you will make through! I promise.