1. Buy a planner.

This is #1 on the list for a reason.

I always have my planner by my side, and it honestly holds my whole life. All of my responsibilities and events live here, and I love being able to open it up and see exactly what I need to accomplish each day and for the rest of the week. A planner will definitely help you mentally organize your schedule.

2. Make lists. 

These lists can be separate from your planner or written right inside! Keeping a to-do list will help you feel much more centered and ready to attack the day ahead. Writing out everything is the best way to remember to get things done and help you feel less overwhelmed.

3. Think about your day when you wake up.

This tactic tends to fly under the radar with most people, but it's helped me immensely throughout my college career. When I wake up, I think about everything I'd like to get done before writing it all down. This way, I can picture when and how I'm going to accomplish everything that I need to.

Tip: don't forget to schedule in some ~free~ time, too! Every day doesn't have to be so "go go go!" It's perfectly okay to acknowledge the downtime that you will inevitably need.

4. Prioritize your time. 

There's a time for sitting in your bed scrolling through Instagram and there's a time to get up, get moving, and get your work done. Prioritize the time you need to devote to school and your extracurricular activities before wasting hours on your phone (you'll thank yourself on Friday night).

5. Wake up one hour earlier.

This might be hard for some, but it will pay off if you consistently struggle to find time to get done the little things each day. Adding in just one extra hour of productivity can yield major results and more free time for your entire week.

6. Develop some sort of morning routine.

Morning routines have the power to make every day so much smoother, I swear. Granted, they aren't for everyone...but the only way to find out if a morning routine is right for you is to try one out! For example, when I wake up every morning I aim to drink lots of water with lemon, write in my journal, meditate if I have extra time, and have a wholesome breakfast with minimal phone use until the afternoon.

In a perfect world, I would always be able to start all of my mornings this way. But, as busy college students, I'm lucky if I manage to squeeze it in just 3 times per week. However, having the routine there when you can implement it is important in becoming more organized (especially mentally).

7. Set deadlines for yourself.

Write down exactly when you want certain things to get done— don't be afraid to give yourself some tough love to finish up your work. If you want a paper done two days before it's due, do your absolute best to meet that goal.

8. Keep only what you need.

Everything should have its own place. If you're feeling overwhelmed with how much STUFF you have, sit down and go through all of it. Ask yourself, "do I really need this?" Chances are, you own many things (clothes and nic-nacs especially) that you really don't wear/use. Donate or sell them!

9. Do it now, put it away now, schedule it now.

"I'll start Monday," "I'll do it tomorrow," "I have time to finish this later."

All of these sentences will never yield success or organization. If you're scrolling through Twitter and thinking about how you want to reorganize your closet or pick up and fold the dirty clothes on your floor, JUST DO IT. Don't wait. The longer you put things off, the messier things get.

10. Keep your backpack clean.

You carry it with you every day to class, and it's where most of your school life lives—so keep it clean! A clean backpack = a more organized life, in my opinion. When you start to get cluttered and unorganized with your school papers, so do your thoughts and duties.

Recycle papers when you no longer need them and don't let any trash pile up in those side pockets!