10 Tips For Staying Organized in College

Hello everyone, welcome back to my blog! Hope everyone has been staying warm and safe with this brutal winter weather. In New York, it has been snowing every week, which is starting to get annoying. I am really looking forward to spring and summer, this cold weather is not for me lol! If you haven’t already, make sure you tune to The Way We C It’s latest episode where we talk about aliens and the supernatural (Click here to listen)! Every month Tati and I have what we call a “free episode” to talk about topics unrelated to politics and social issues. This gives us a mental break since discussing politics and social issues all the time can be draining. In addition, it allows our audience to get to know us more personally.

For this week’s blog, I decided to write ten tips for staying organized in college/graduate school. We are a few weeks into the semester and it is usually around this time many students start to lose motivation. You are not alone! Read the tips below to help you stay organized and motivated for the rest of the semester!

*The following tips are what work for me to help me stay organized and motivated. Feel free to tweak some of the tips to fit what works best for you!*

1. Use a planner

If you know me, you know I can not live without my planner! I literally write everything down such as my homework assignments, exams, events, meetings, to-do lists, birthdays, etc. Writing everything down helps me visually see the things I need to get done and ensures to never miss a deadline. I personally use the Lavish Life Planner (https://lavishlifebrand.org/collections/academic-planners) by the Lavish Life Brand. It retails for $45.00 USD, which is a bit expensive, but I promise it is worth every penny. The planner was created in 2018 by a college student to help her and other students achieve all of their daily activities. I have been purchasing the Lavish Life Planner for the past three years and I love every feature of the planner! It includes monthly quotes, expense sheets for every month, goal sheets for every month, weekly spreads, monthly reflection, and semester schedule layout, etc.

If you are more into using a digital planner I recommend using My Study Life (https://www.mystudylife.com/) or Google Calendar (https://www.google.com/calendar/about/).

My Study Life and Google Calendar can also be found on the app store, so you can download them on your phone. I personally do not use these platforms, but I know many students who use My Study Life and Google Calendar to stay organized for school.

2. Develop a routine

I am very big on routine! I have learned throughout my school years that routines are what work best for me. I have a set routine that I follow Monday-Friday that helps me stay focused and organized. For instance, I wake up at the same time every day and I have a set time I dedicate to workout. Sometimes my routine changes or I do not follow it because life happens lol, and that is okay! This is why it is important to not be too strict on yourself to allow some flexibility in your routine.

3. Make a daily to-do list

I usually write my to-do list in my planner, but on the days I have a lot to get done I will write my to-do list on a notepad. Writing what I need to do every day helps me stay on track and I simply enjoy crossing things off my list once I complete a task. Sometimes I write my to-do list the night before or in the morning when I wake up (it depends on my mood).

4. Make your bed when you get up

One of the very first things I do when I wake up is make my bed. I highly suggest adding this to your routine. It is a small task, but it sets the tone for the day. Once you complete this task, you will feel motivated to complete the rest of your daily tasks!

5. Have accountability partners

Accountability partners are your classmates that you can contact if you have a question about a homework assignment, exam, or it can be your study buddy. I have noticed having an accountability partner helps me stay motivated throughout the school year. For all of my classes this semester, I have at least one accountability partner I can contact if I have a question about anything related to the course. Accountability partners are also great for venting about how bad the professor is at teaching lol. I suggest exchanging your contact information with a classmate(s) at the beginning of the semester, but it is never too late to have an accountability partner!

How to get an accountability partner during remote instruction? During class, try to private message a random student and ask them if they are willing to exchange contact information to help each other out. You can also write a message in the chat to the entire class and create a class group chat. This is a great way to have multiple accountability partners. I recommend using Group Me, Signal, or WhatsApp to create the group chats without sharing your personal number.

6. Take breaks

I am not gonna lie, I have a tough time following this tip. I like to finish tasks straight through without any breaks so I won’t get distracted. I am currently trying to incorporate frequent breaks as I am completing my daily tasks to help me increase my focus, and reduce stress. One thing that does not stop me from taking a break is when I am hungry lol. I do not play with my meals! If I am hungry while I am completing an assignment, I will make sure I eat something. My brain can not function when I am hungry.

7. Set your own deadlines

There have been plenty of times I completed papers the day it was due (We have all been there!), which always stressed me out. I found setting my own deadlines has helped me complete assignments ahead of time. For instance, if I have a paper due, I will make myself a deadline to complete at least 3 pages by a certain date and by the night before it is due I should have the paper completed. Sometimes I do not meet my deadlines and when this happens I just change my deadline to a different date.

8. Limit social media time

This is a hard one! Social media is a huge distraction for me being that it is so easy to access it while you are doing your schoolwork. What has been working for me is not going on Instagram after a certain time of the day (2 PM). I have been doing this since January 2020, and it has honestly changed my life! I find myself being much more productive in the morning compared to when I used to go on Instagram the first thing in the morning. On the days I end up leaving assignments for the last minute, I try to put my phone in another room.

9. Organize your materials

If my materials are not organized, my life is not organized! I like to keep all my worksheets and syllabus for each class organized in a multi-pocket folder. I currently use this folder from Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Smead-10-Pocket-Organizer-Letter-89204/dp/B0091G5VR6/ref=sr_1_7?dchild=1&keywords=multi%2Bpocket%2Bfolder&qid=1613946757&sr=8-7&th=1) to keep all my materials organized. Additionally, I create folders on my computer to organize my textbooks, readings, and resources I need to refer to throughout the semester. Keeping my materials organized helps me waste less time looking for materials, which leaves me more time for being productive.

10. Be easy on yourself

Being a student while the world is falling apart is not easy, so be easy on yourself! It is normal to feel unmotivated with everything going on in the world. Set small realistic goals for yourself and move up from there. I highly suggest incorporating self-care into your daily routine (check out my previous blog about self-care). You got this and I believe in you!

Hope you all enjoyed this blog! Comment below your favorite tip or share your own organization tips!

“The starting point of all achievement is desire” - Napoleon Hill