The fall semester is almost here, and for those of us whose lives can crumble a little when we have so much going on could really use some helpful tips to keep everything together. Whether it's juggling school with extracurriculars or working out or even socializing, it certainly helps some people to plan things out, that way they can get the most of their time. Here's a few tips that can help anyone organize their time just a little bit better:

1. Visualize an organized life.

You have to actually want to have your life in order. Unfortunately, it’s not very practical to attempt to organize your life if you’re not doing it for the right reasons. Some people can flourish with messy thoughts and a messy life. And that’s OK. Each to their own. You have to figure out what’s right for you and go for it!

2. Make a calendar.

It’s completely up to you how you want to do it. A concise picture of how your day/week/month is going to look like is really helpful. You can keep a Google Calendar, a calendar just on your iPhone, or even a physical wall calendar. A Google Calendar is a great option because it’s a one-stop option for multiple views. You can get a daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly view, and it’s completely free. I like to put in all my classes and any club meetings I have, and even times when I plan to go to the gym (emphasis on “plan” as things don’t always go as planned).

3. If it helps you, write/note things down.

Keeping a to-do list can be really helpful. When you wake up every day, maybe write everything you want/need to do during the day and as you do them, check them off. Momentum is a great Chrome extension for this, you can easily type and check items off a to-do list whenever you’re about to open a web page. If you like writing stuff down, get an agenda. You can write things you want to accomplish every day, and physically check them off and get the satisfaction.

4. Clean up your laptop space.

This might seem odd, but there’s a really good reason to do this. You know that saying “a crowded desktop means a slow computer?" No? Maybe it’s just me. But the saying has a point. Having a place for everything saves a lot of time and energy. You know where everything is and you can clean out things you don’t need any more easily. It’s helpful to have an external hard drive where you can put in old files that you don’t need anymore but might someday. I keep all my school related files in Dropbox and try to organize my courses by semester. After the semester ends, you can just transfer the semester folder to your hard drive so it doesn’t take up any space in your Dropbox.

5. Try to declutter the rest of your life.

You can do this in little ways. Minimalism is trendy now, but there is some sense in it. A crowded space could mean a crowded mind, and that might not be the best head space for you. You could try and clear out things on or inside of your desk, even donate clothes you don’t wear anymore and books you don’t read anymore. Decluttering can really help cleanse your surroundings and help you focus better.

Having an organized life can really help some people accomplish more and use their time better. But it’s completely up to you if you think you need it. Some people can be perfectly happy with what they’re doing with no plan and complete spontaneity. For the planners and goal-oriented people out there, I hope this list gives you the little nudge we all need!