For many of us, going back to school is an exciting event. We look forward to being around friends again, football games, and being older and cooler than the year before. Summer is nearly over, pumpkin-spice everything is back, and it is once again time to focus on working towards our goals. Whether you’re in high school or college, this can be a daunting task. If you’re anything like me, you might’ve spent a lot of the summer Netflix binging and only interacting with a chosen few. This isn’t going to work if you want to have a fun and successful fall semester. Here are some things I have found helpful for getting back into my learning groove.

1. Use a planner

A planner is probably the single most important tool you have when it comes to getting your thoughts, plans, and due dates organized. Whenever your professor or teacher sends out a syllabus, write down all of the important dates immediately. This can include homework, quizzes, exams, etc. You can also plan out meals and workouts. Have fun with it too! I absolutely love my Erin Condren planner, but I’m also considering the Legit planner (from STARTplanner) as next year’s planner. This might sound crazy, but it’s a way of life. I promise I'm not the only one. Check out reviews on YouTube if you want to learn more.

2. Declutter your room

I’m usually not the best at this, but organizing my room makes me feel so on top of things. I usually start by deciding what needs to be thrown out and what needs to be donated. This could be old papers, books, clothes, or whatever little random things that are taking up space in your room. Then keep it organized. If everything has a place, then taking a little time each day to put stuff away shouldn’t be too difficult. As a result, you’ll have a great study space

3. Make goals

At the beginning of the past few semesters, I have taken the time to decide what I want out of my life. I create goals for the semester, which break down into monthly goals, which influence my weekly/daily to-do lists. These plans work best when they’re written down. These goals can be academic, social, or even health related. It’ll be so satisfying once you start seeing the results.

4. Plan on having fun

All work and no play results in burnout. It’s okay to relax and take a moment to just breathe. Decide than every other Wednesday, you’re going to get coffee and catch up with your best friend. Play Madden 17 if you’ve gotten ahead of your work. Go on a fun date with your significant other. Take your dog to Starbucks for a puppucino. Life is too precious to not do these kinds of things. Plus, you might even work harder if you have something to look forward to.

Having an organized life isn’t impossible. If you invest your time into preparing, it will always pay off. So get a plan together, and have a successful school year!