As college students, we all have a lot on our minds. Between our part-time jobs, classes, and activities, it’s a struggle to remember things. The best way to stay organized and be productive is by using a planner. I have kept a planner for the last three years and I swear by it. Without my planner I would forget things and stress myself out trying to get things done on time. Planners are also helpful for me because I’m a visual person – seeing the dates laid out is necessary for me. I’ve come across a few people that asked me, “How do you use a planner?” or “Does a planner actually help you?” Here are some tips on choosing a planner and how to use it!
1. Choose a planner that fits you.
It might surprise you but there are a lot of different types of planners. Some planners only have daily sections, some weekly, and some have full months. Planners can also have multiple sections for extra notes. Bonuses like pages for website links, contacts, or goals might be included in bigger planners. Pick a planner that fits your needs. Do you only need to see deadlines and due dates? Do you also need to plan out things you’ll do each day? Consider these questions when purchasing your planner. You can also choose a planner with a simple or cute design if you prefer. You can purchase a planner at most stores including Walmart and Target. I’ve also heard great things about the Passion Planner. My planner has daily and monthly sections, along with some of those bonuses. It’s helpful for me because I have more than enough space to write down everything that I need to remember. My planner cost me $6.30 at Walmart.
2. Copy down important dates.
The first thing I do when I get a new planner is copy down all the upcoming dates I know of. You can grab your syllabi and write down the dates of your major assignments. This way, you will be able to recognize them at a glance.
3. Make it fun.
Even though planning can feel like a chore, it doesn’t have to be that way. I choose to make it feel like more of a hobby by decorating and color coordinating things. Use one color for meetings, one color for tests, and another for essays. You can also draw symbols to represent things. I like to add post-it notes to keep my page or elaborate on something that is already written down. Post-its are also good for to-do-lists.
4. Follow your planner!
I find that a major issue with keeping a planner is not following what you wrote. Like everything you do in life, keeping a planner requires commitment. You must keep your tasks written down and you need to do them when you plan to. Try to stick to your written plan so that you can stay on task.
Stay dedicated and happy planning!