Anyone who knows me knows that I am extremely organized. I color code my notebooks, my closet is in color order, and my planner comes with me everywhere I go. I can’t keep track of how many times I have been asked how I do it, or the number of times I shrug my shoulders while asking myself the same question. However, as I went about my day recently, I started noticing little things I was doing that were contributing to my orderly lifestyle.
For anyone wanting a little more structure and order in their life, I encourage you to do some of the things I do to get you on the right track. College can be stressful and overwhelming, but staying organized can help reduce many of those symptoms and give you one less aspect of your life to worry about.
Ever since I was tall enough to reach from one side of the bed to the other, my mom told me I needed to start making my own bed. She made this part of my daily routine. It was hard as a kid, but the longer I did it, the more normal it became. Every morning, before I even step foot on the ground, I fix my covers and arrange my pillows. Once I get up, I fix the rest of the bed before heading to the shower. I noticed that making my bed puts me in a good mindset, and I have a sense of accomplishment first thing in the morning. It helps to remind myself to stay organized, starting with the most basic of things. I love coming home to a stress-free environment where all of my belongings are in place and I don’t have to do any cleaning up after a tiring day. I know it may sound silly to say that making your bed will help you in your organizational endeavors, but you know what they say, “the state of your bed is the state of your head.”
As I mentioned earlier, I always keep my planner in my purse. Although I am not suggesting you keep it with you at all times, I highly suggest having a planner and actually using it. When you’re involved with multiple organizations, it can be hard to keep track of every commitment. I write down every meeting, assignment, project, and even my work and volunteer schedules in my planner. I use a different color for each class so I don’t have to write down which class every assignment is for. I also use sticky notes when I have a to-do list or need extra information, like an address for an event. Every time I finish a task, I cross it off. Keeping my planner up to date helps me know what I need to do each day, and gives me the feeling of accomplishment when tasks are crossed off.
Getting in the habit of using a planner can be difficult, but once you can see all of your schedule in front of you, it takes a weight of your shoulders; you don’t need to keep it all in your head. If you prefer not to have a planner, using the Calendar application on your smart phone can be a huge help. I highly recommend the Sunrise Calendar app for the iPhone. The use of a schedule gives you a feeling of organization, because you know nothing is going to sneak up on you (like that five page paper due at midnight). In addition, a schedule/planner helps you acquire a routine. You can plan out your extra time for fun activities and prioritize when you have important things to get done.
My final focus for staying organized is putting things where they belong. When it comes to my room, I try to put clothes where they belong every day. If it’s dirty, I make myself put it in the laundry basket, or in the appropriate drawer, if it is clean. As elementary as it sounds, forcing yourself to do this every time you change your clothes is not always easy. However, the more days that pass with clothes on the ground, the more stressed and cluttered my room and head become. If I’m too lazy to put away clothes one night, I’ll always be sure to tidy my room the next day. When my room is clutter-free, I can get my work done without stressing over the mess that surrounds me.
This rule also goes for my car. I try to take any trash out of my car the first time I see it. When I let one thing stay, I start leaving other papers, gum wrappers, and water bottles, and before long, my car is a mess. Not only does it stress me out to drive around with so much to clean up from my car, but I also don’t like others seeing the mess through my windows.
If your clothes aren't the problem, check your desk or work space. I tend to put random objects on my desk that end up taking up my useful space. When I remove clutter from my desk, I open space for getting work done. I am more motivated to get ahead. Instead of throwing all your handouts from class on your desk, place them into the appropriate pocket in your notebook or folder. Keeping your most used living spaces tidy will help you work on keeping all other aspects of your life organized.
I am no expert on having an organized life, but through the years, these three things have helped me learn to better organize every aspect of my life. I know when I have free time to get ahead on school work or free time to lay around and relax. And when I do get the chance to relax, I’m not overwhelmed with housekeeping, because the majority of my stuff is already where it should be. For anyone trying to become more organized, start small and be patient. You can’t expect everything in your life to be orderly overnight. Work on one aspect of your life at a time, and push yourself.
