With five weeks left in the semester, we're coming down to the last few laps and we all know what that means: it is time to prepare for finals and all the assignments that come before it.
The most important thing about this time of the semester is staying on top of things and keeping yourself organized so you don't fall behind. Here are five tips and tricks to help you stay organized, from the girl who thinks organizing is a hobby.
1. Monthly Calendar – What helps me stay on top of everything is pulling out all of my syllabuses (syllabi?) and marking down the major projects, papers and assignments on a physical calendar. I also add them to the calendar on my cell phone so I can get notifications about the due dates, but I just like having a physical calendar in front of me so I can see how much I need to accomplish in that month. Also, it's extremely rewarding to look back through past months and see how much I was able to finish.
2. Lists – Get a small 4x6 note book with a nice pattern on it and some new pens or pencils and write a list of the homework you need to get done for the next two to three nights. This not only helps you think ahead to what you'll be doing tomorrow, but also gives you a reason to finish up the things you need to get done that night. You don't necessarily have to go in order, though I do suggest getting the hardest thing that is due the next day done first. This trick really helps me when I have deluded myself into thinking that I don't have a lot of stuff to get done, but in reality I have more to get done then I want to believe.
3. “Jot It Down" and Follow Along – When a professor tells you about a small assignment or an alteration to an assignment, jot it down as soon as you can. It's easy to believe that you'll remember that information later when you actually get to studying, but that's not always the case. Also, when a professor is introducing or going over an assignment sheet they've handed out to you, you should be following along and jotting down anything they address that you think might help you complete it. All the times that I've followed along as a professor has gone over an assignment, I'm always surprised at how much information and tips they give out that can't be found on the assignment sheet. The other plus to this is that you or your classmates will be asking your professor questions once he/she has finished going over the assignment that could be extremely useful when you're doing the assignment on your own later.
4. Going to Class – It's surprising how many people believe that just studying on their own and not going to class won't hurt them in the long run. If you fit this description, let me offer you this question. If you can learn everything you need without going to class, then why is a lecture even offered? The answer to that is simple, because you're not going to learn everything you need to know just from the class materials. The professor is there to give you information and provide you with new perspectives on the material that you may not have thought of. Going to class is especially important in these last few weeks, because they will be going over the final projects or material that will be on the final. Also, you're paying a lot of money for classes, and for every day you don't go, you may as well be setting twenty dollars on fire.
5. Do the Work – I personally struggle with this one. I have a lot of fun organizing my planner and getting all my ducks lined up in a nice, clean row, only to have them stand there and not do anything. Having enough discipline to get something done is hard, and procrastination is a pit that is crazy easy to fall into. I've learned a couple of tricks to help avoid the procrastination corner, but the most efficient one I know of is to just start with the really difficult things and just accomplish assignments or tasks one at a time. Just do it. Do it and be done with it. There are going to be times where you won't want to do it, but if you look at your monthly calendar during those times it should be enough of a kick in the pants to get you going. Because whatever you don't do today, you have to do tomorrow. So why put off what you can do today until tomorrow?
As we slowly but surely draw closer and closer to the end of the semester, it's important to remember to stay on top of things. There are going to be times in the next five weeks where you'll want to throw in the towel, but I encourage you to keep going. Once finals are over and the door to summer opens, you'll be grateful you put in the effort now rather than saving it all for the last minute. We're almost there guys, just a little longer and we're home free. Good luck and keep on trucking!
