After Spring Break, it can be hard to get back into the swing of things. With only a little more than a month left of school, it can be easy to become disorganized and lose focus on school. These tips will help you reorganize yourself after Spring Break, making you more productive so you have a successful rest of the semester!
1. Keep a planner.
Use a planner to track your classes, assignments, and social plans. Make sure that you always have it with you so you can write down anything that pops up unexpectedly. There are several useful planner apps that you can get for your phone, but make sure to keep just one planner to avoid creating any unnecessary confusion!
2. Sit down and plan out your week.
At the beginning of every week, set time aside to write down your activities, classes, and any reminders. Set aside time for chores during the week, such as laundry or taking out the trash, to keep them from piling up and never getting done. Also, make an assignment list so you know what work you have to get done during the week.
3. Have a consistent schedule.
Try to keep a daily or weekly schedule that you’ll stick to. Wake up at the same time everyday; this will prevent you from oversleeping and will help you get into a set routine.
4. Set your own deadlines.
Make your own deadlines for assignments so you don't end up procrastinating. If you have two assignments due on the same day, make your own deadline so one gets done earlier than the other. This ensures a clear mind and not having to worry about two things at once.
Although college students like to believe they can run on coffee, you need to sleep! Try to get between seven and nine hours of sleep a night. It will help you stay alert and happy during the day.
6. Make your bed when you wake up.
Making your bed will help prevent you from lying around all day. It will also make your room more tidy. Accomplishing this small task in the morning will set you off for a more productive day.
7. Set aside different areas for work and relaxing.
Make sure that you have separate areas for where you work and where you relax. Work at a desk or in a library, and reserve your room or bed for hanging out and sleep. Avoiding working in your bed will help you sleep better and will keep you from getting sleepy while you work.
8. Get ready the night before.
Help save time in the morning by planning out your outfits and stocking your backpack the night before. Getting prepared early will stop you from rushing and panicking in the morning.
9. Spend 5 - 10 minutes a day cleaning.
Setting aside just five minutes a day to tidy up can keep your room from becoming a mess. Seriously, just a few minutes a day will help you to stay organized and de-cluttered.
10. De-clutter your desk.
Clean off your desk so you only have the essentials on it. Keep items that you don't usually need, like hole punchers in your drawers. Throw out duplicate items, because you don't need three pairs of scissors! Re-organize your chargers by labeling them with tape and only having the ones you really need out and accessible.
11. Keep some type of reminder board.
Whether it's a whiteboard, blackboard or bulletin board, keep a place for reminders and notes to yourself. This way, you can always see if there is something you need to get done and you will never forget something important again.
12. Have your own system for taking notes.
It doesn’t matter if you type your notes or hand write them, as long as you make sure that you have a system that works for you. Stick to this system. This will make your notes more organized and easier to use during your study session later on.
13. Figure out your most productive time of the day.
Whether you are a morning or night person, figuring out what time of the day you are the most productive is essential. Find when you get the most work done and try to optimize that time for productivity and work.
14. Take breaks.
Work in bursts of time and take breaks so you don't lose focus. Whether you work for a half hour or an hour before a break, take ten- to fifteen- minute breaks periodically to be more productive. Set a timer. It will keep you accountable and prevent you from losing focus while you should be working.
15. Limit the time you spend on websites.
When you are trying to get work done, keep yourself from going on social media and other websites. If you don't have that much self-control, apps like SelfControl will keep you from accessing websites like Facebook and Twitter so you don't get distracted. Also, spending too much time on the internet can stress you out and make you unproductive.
16. Be motivated, but don't stress yourself out!
Make sure that you are motivated for what you need to do. This will help you stay organized and productive. But don't push yourself too much! Nobody is perfect; if you fall behind or mess up, it is not the end of the world! The key to success is making sure you are happy and relaxed.
