Lately, all I’ve been doing is running around – mainly from home to the library and back again – but needless to say, I keep asking myself the same questions: where did I put that book? When was the last time I checked my email? Do I have homework due tomorrow? When am I going to study for this test? And so on….
As I stomp the ground of my apartment to look for that one extra highlighter I lost or the extra set of flashcards I misplaced, I keep telling myself and hearing everyone around me say: the key to success is organization. Well, if that’s the case, then I’m guessing we could all use a few tips on how to stay organized and survive the hell in which we are now living — WINTER QUARTER.
Plan ahead:
If you’ve ever wondered why people are so successful, the answer lies beyond whatever lies inside their brain – a lot of the time it has to do with the fact that these people plan ahead. Making a schedule for the day’s work is tedious, there’s no doubt about it – but putting time into your tests, meetings, homework assignments, internship hours, and, yes, even free time is key to survival in college. Think about running a business for instance- the big head honcho of a corporate law firm isn’t going to walk into work and say: “Hmmm, what should I do today?”. Quite the contrary, he or she probably has a calendar laid out with appointment dates, lunch meetings, and trips scheduled to make sure that they utilize their time the most. In college, its not different. The day only has a lame 24hours to it and in college there are so many things to fill it with besides school, so my advice would be to plan each day. Grab all your syllabi and figure out when everything is due. Plan your day based on when your productivity levels are the highest. Make your list and check it twice, then color coordinate and upload it to your ipad, ipod, iphone, i- whatever it is you have and make sure that it is always handy! I guarantee the minute you cross things off your list you will feel happy and accomplished!
Some great apps that help you get organized:
1) iCal – basic calendar for your mac-friendly users
2) CalenGoo – syncs with google calendar
3) OmniFocus for the iPad
4) TimeTrackerHD- helps you make sure that you don’t spend too much time on one task
5) Sticky Notes- helpful for little tips, remembering passwords and usernames, or writing down that song you love from Pandora
6) iProcrasitnate – crazy amazing app that keeps you not, well…procrastinating
Use your free time:
You know the saying work hard, play harder? Do it. The brain can only take so much activity, let me rephrase that,school activity, in one day, let alone a week, month, or endless quarter. Free time is a great way to let go of the tension that tends to build up when we are in the library or taking notes in class. That being said, scheduling free time is part of the magic. If you really do abide by your planner then you are going to give yourself the free time that you deserve. If you know you want to go to bars on Saturday, plan ahead to make it fit. There’s nothing worse than rejecting an invitation on facebook or in person to go out on the weekend because you didn’t do your reading or have homework assignments to make up. So that you don’t end up throwing yourself a pity party at the end of the night, put the extra pressure on yourself to schedule free time and allow yourself the much deserved drink, movie, date, or dress you’ve been waiting for. Do something that will stimulate your smile rather than your stress.
Don’t procrastinate:
Why do you think you end up hating school more and more each day? Because you put something new off more and more each day. It’s pretty simple. Like your basic arithmetic only more painful. Doing one thing non-school related + another thing non-school related – time = procrastination. If you wait to do that 10 page paper until the last minute, the quality of work is going to be worse. For the people who say “I work better under pressure” – they’re delusional. They only think they work better under pressure when I reality they could do a fine job if the work was done ahead of time. Most professors don’t have sympathy for you if you try to turn something in late or make up an excuse about why it didn’t get done on time. Remember, they get paid whether you do your work or not and they get just as much money if the give you and F as if they give you and A. But it’s hard not to procrastinate in college with so much pressure, so for things that have a longer assignment due date, try to spread them out over time increments. Do one section of the paper Monday, the next Tuesday and so on and so fourth.
Pick your priorities:
Dropping something you like to do is never easy – why would anyone want to do that? But it happens to be a part of life. Being involved in numerous clubs, internships, boards, and so on can be a great way to spice up your resume but it can also be a great way to get overwhelmed. Choosing how to spend your time is a huge life skill that is hard to figure out. That’s why we all need to prioritize. The work you do for a club might be fun and crucial but is it really more important than that reading assignment sitting on your desk for the last three nights? You know by now how time works – it flies. Maybe your leadership position is more important then your club membership- if so, make the right decision!
Sleep it off:
Sleep always seems like the easiest thing to give up when the hours in the day start to wind down. But if you are really serious about doing well in school you, will take the advice of getting more zzz’s every night. Part of the reason we are so prone to sickness in college is because we try to do so much in one day that our bodies simply cannot keep up. If you have to stay up, try to take power naps throughout the day in order to keep your body going. A good night’s sleep is the best advice for any college student in the midst’s of midterms, papers, or finals – otherwise known as the college life.