My first year of college came and left, and despite the constant reminders from upperclassmen, parents, and mentors, sophomore year was knocking on my door before I knew it. But I am a firm believer in entering a new year/semester with significantly improved behaviors than the last. No matter where we are going in life, there will always be room for improvement, growth, and reflection. I reflected and realized that one of my downfalls last year was my organizational skills. Granted I still managed to finish with a pretty decent GPA, I could have ended with something even higher, so I decided to make some major changes to the way I decided to organize my academic, social, and extracurricular life. Then I thought, you all could use these tips too! So here they are, 5 ways to stay ahead of the game this semester:
1. Desk calendar.
I literally cringed when my mom bought me a desk calendar at the beginning of the semester last year. Not only did it make me feel old, but I was still in the infantile mindset that I would be able to remember all of my responsibilities, both inside and outside of the classroom, without a pen and paper. It was not until the second semester of my freshman year that I began to use it, and boy did my life become significantly easier. Desk calendars allow you to map out your entire week, seeing all of the week’s tasks unfold before you so you can plan accordingly around your own schedule. I suggest color coordinating tasks with bright markers, to also minimize confusion if you have a jam packed schedule like I did. Make it cute! Being organized is supposed to be cute!
2. Sticky notes.
In addition to my lovely calendar, I always stayed with a pack of sticky notes. Why? I’ve learned in one year of college that you may be informed of some of the most important things at some of the most inconvenient times, but by placing this information on sticky notes, when you are back in front of your calendar (or planner, see #3) you will know exactly where to filter in the added responsibility. Many may argue the need for sticky notes by saying that IF in the case business shows face at an impromptu time, you can always throw it in a note on your phone. But I’m telling you all what has worked for me, and things that I have written on the notepad app on my phone….have not left the notepad app on my phone. Unfortunately, once things are out of sight, they are out of mind but by maintaining this system, all important information will be accounted for. I suggest bright colored sticky notes, placed on the front of your planner, laptop, or on the back of your phone.
3. Planner.
In high school, I knew people who dreaded college simply because they knew that the time would come for them to finally have to purchase a planner. Personally, I love planners. I love seeing all that I have to do for a day/week, I love being up to date on my assignments, and I love knowing what to expect. This is not to say students who choose to go without a planner don’t enjoy these same feelings, but these feelings will be especially hard to attain without a planner. I’ve learned that planners are great for mapping out study times. With three tests all approaching within the same week, having a planner with your homework assignments for the week written out allows you to then figure out at what point during the day or night, before or after you complete your homework, do you have the time to study for your up and coming tests. This applies to projects as well. Time is one of the most precious components of college, and using it wisely will play out in your favor. But to do that, you need a planner, and there’s no way around it.
4. Phone reminders.
Depending on your course load, you could be pretty stressed this semester. But that’s just academic stress. This does not even begin to take into account the stress you will accrue from holding positions in various organizations on campus, your personal life, and the stress you will have from just trying to maintain your own sanity. Things can get colossal and fast, even with all of the above mechanisms built to assist you in the process. But some people work better with digitized help, and about a million updates ago, Apple added a monumental feature. Titled ‘Reminders’, you can make a mobile, hand-held to do list and set timed alarms on when you want to be ‘reminded’ to fulfill the task. I typically use this feature for things that are urgent, whether it’s me remembering to visit a certain professor or a reminder for a scheduled meeting that I can’t miss. Set a cute alarm and turn the volume all the way up! Even if it goes off in the cafe and people start looking at you weird, you can smile with pride because you’re organized.
5. Positive quotes.
Life is tough, and in college every other hour of the day, it can feel like the world is coming to an end. Being away from home does not help the situation any, as you don’t have those same outlets to run to when things go awry. You can try your hardest to build strong relationships with individuals on campus, and fill the void of the friendships and solace you had at home. But I speak from experience when I say that inner peace is a lot more sufficient in your time of need. You’ll have to become your own motivating voice when you want to quit, because when you’re up working on a presentation at 3 a.m., 9 times out of 10, mom won’t be up to console you (at least mine wasn’t). The struggle will be real, it’s supposed to be real, but it’s up to you to find the strength to press on and I found that strength through positive quotes and phrases. I would write them out in large letters on sticky notes that hung across my desk, or on my calendar. But these locations do not have to apply to you. Place these statements in areas of your room and life that you occupy frequently. For example, there’s a sticky note sticking to my laptop that reads “YOU CAN DO THIS!” I see that sticky note every day, and it serves as a constant reminder that all of my hard work is not in vain. The ends will always justify the means, you just have to convince yourself first.
I swear by these tips guys. If I did not use them myself, and if they did not work for me personally, I would not have made the choice to write a whole article about them. That being said, use them! I wish you all a prosperous semester. May the 4.0 Gods be with you, and comment with testimonials as to if these tips do/do not work for you (which I pray that they will!).
