5 Tips for Staying Organized in College

It’s no secret that being a college student can be busy- not to mention stressful.

But when your life is filled with anything from classes, club meetings and sports, to social activities and maybe even a job, how do you keep your life under control and avoid being overwhelmed?

Check out these tips for staying organized even when life is a little crazy.

1. Use an actual planner

There’s something about using a real tangible planner that helps me to stay organized. I’m not trying to squint at my phone screen. I can see my entire week, day or month without having to scroll or zoom in. Being able to see everything I want about my upcoming schedule all at once helps me to better conceptualize my activities and stay on top of everything.

2. Write. Down. Everything.

Have you ever been in the most inconvenient place, but you remember something really important? Me too. Even if I’m at dinner, in class or out with friends, If I remember something, I write it down. The “I’ll remember later” never actually works. Try keeping a note pad in your bag or use a notes app on your phone. You might have one that came pre-downloaded on your phone, or you can download one for free from your apps store.

3. Good ol’ alarms

Alarms save me from missing deadlines on a regular basis. If I’m having a busy day and I have assignments, meetings or plans, just setting a simple alarm or two with a few words about what you have going on next will help you to keep your day on track and not miss anything important.

4. Clean your bag out regularly

I always notice that when I have a clean bag, everything seems to go smoother. My notebooks and phone are easily accessible. I can find my on-the-go snack with ease. Having a clean bag helps to have an easy transition from one thing to another. Try bags that have multiple compartments inside for all the small items. Another idea is to get a few little pouches so you can easily access whatever items you need.

5. Have a designated planning day

Having one day a week that you set aside to get caught up with writing down your assignments, commitments and other activities can save you a lot of time later on during the week. I prefer Sunday, but if your planning day needs to be a Wednesday, more power to you. Just make sure you’re setting aside about an hour a week just to get caught up, write things down, check in with yourself and make sure you know what you have coming up so there’s no surprises.