How to Stay Organized in College

After a week or two of classes, you'll start to realize that staying organized isn't exactly easy. You're meeting new people, getting used to the campus, learning to live on your own and keeping track of everything is harder than you previously thought.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Planner and/or Calendar
• Colored Pens
• 3-Ringed Binders
• Pens
• Pencils
• Highlighters
• Post-Its

1. Copy dates from your syllabus to a master calendar. The first day in every class, you will get a syllabus. Within each syllabus there will, most likely, be specific dates that will tell you when chapters need to be read, papers are due and any important days off. Write each of these important dates down in your planner/calendar.

2. Use three-ringed binders. For each class, you should use a three-ringed binder with tabbed dividers. You can have your binders divided into groups such as: tests and quizzes, papers, homework, notes and rubrics.

3. Stick to a study schedule. You don't have to be specific about what classes you study for at a certain time, but have a general study schedule. If you have classes until 1:00 p.m., try to study and do homework until 4:30 p.m. and then go out and have some fun.

4. Use your cell phone for reminders. Most cell phones have a reminder or calendar feature. If you need to be reminded of a certain event, set the phone to remind you of the event ahead of time.

5. Take note of when the laundry rooms are being used less during the week. Schedule to do your laundry during that time every week or every other week. If all the machines are free, you might get all of your laundry done at once and avoid waiting around for a free machine. During the downtime, you can bring a textbook with you and get some of that reading out of the way.

6. Keep certain items in your backpack. To avoid leaving something behind, like a writing utensil, keep the basics in your backpack. Pens, pencils, highlighters, and post-its are always a good thing to keep with you. Also, if you can find a mini stapler, with staples, keep that in your bag as well, Sometimes you may forget to staple a paper and the professors don't always have one in their classroom.

7. Put everything back. When you get back to your dorm/apartment, empty out your backpack. Put your books, folders, and binders back where they belong and put your planner on your desk so you remember to look at it.

8. Take your planner everywhere. It's easier to take note of the event notices around campus if you have your planner. When you see something you might be interested in, simply take out your planner and jot down the place and time on the appropriate date.

9. Schedule early classes. Many students don't like scheduling their classes in the morning because they're usually out until 2:00 a.m. or 3:00 a.m., but if you can handle it, do it. There are not that many students out that early and when you're finished with classes, you have the rest of the day to get things done. It's a sacrifice, but a good one when it comes down to it. Plus, bathrooms are normally empty in the morning! You can pick the good shower.

10. Avoid procrastinating. Just because a paper is due in two weeks, doesn't mean you have to wait to do it. If you get things done early, you have time to revise it to get a better grade. Plus, you don't have the stress that most students have when it comes down to crunch time.

Tips & Warnings

• Use different colored pens for each class, social event, work, and anything else that you'll need.

• If you find yourself following your schedule and doing very well, give yourself a few hours or even a day if you have it, to celebrate. Go to the mall and buy something nice for yourself as a reward for keeping on task.

• Your professor may change dates around, so pay attention to what the professor says, writes down, or emails.

• Roommates can be difficult, but try to come to an agreement. Decide on what times have to be quiet to study and do homework and how often the room should be cleaned.

• Being lazy is easy, but try to avoid it. Don't leave something lying around and say you'll pick it up later. Do it right away and after a while, it becomes a habit.