Want to stay organized with your day-to-day activities on and around campus? 

Between going to class, studying notes and completing homework, it can be a lot to keep up with. Once you add in things like athletics and extracurricular activities, it can seem like you don’t have any free time just for yourself. 

Knowing helpful tips on how to stay organized will be essential for not feeling overwhelmed with everything to do and may even be the difference between missing an assignment and getting an A. 

Follow these four tips for a more organized and successful experience this semester. 

1. Invest in a Planner

Although you have probably heard of this one before, using a planner can be crucial in a busy schedule as you’re able to visually see everything that needs to be done for the day and week. 

As for the planner itself? Use whatever works best for you. A physical planner or something digitally like Google Calendar, Notion or the calendar app on your phone are a few options. When adding to your planner, don’t be afraid to add things beyond class such as your grocery list, laundry days, working out and calling your family. Checking items off your planner becomes more fun than stressful. 

André Denault, a finance junior, said he prefers a physical planner so that he can take it to class and add tasks as they come up. 

New events and activities will come up throughout the week, so adding them to your planner may be beneficial. You can also use the Reminders app in your phone if you want that extra digital notification on your phone. 

2. Take Good Notes

Taking notes may seem straightforward or obvious, but it’s often overlooked. Whether you use a specific style of taking notes like the Cornell Method, Outline Method, or simply just jotting down your thoughts, make sure you can understand them later as they will be helpful for studying and completing future assignments.

There are many ways to take notes. Using a pen and paper is a classic, but you also use something like Notion, Microsoft OneNote or Notability on your laptop or tablet. Using a pen and paper might allow you to process more of the information as you receive it, while using your laptop or tablet will allow you to locate a specific note easier in the future. 

3. Break Down Big Tasks

Your schedule might still look overwhelming if you have several big tasks to do. For example, instead of adding “complete final paper,” you could break it up into smaller tasks by writing, “pick a topic, create an outline, and begin writing my research paper.” Breaking these bigger tasks down into smaller, individual tasks will appear easier and more manageable.

Notion is a favorite used by Morgan Holtsclaw, a finance senior, because of its connectivity and features – allowing her to not only take notes, but to also build a schedule, collaborate with others and connect on LinkedIn.

Google Calendar is a favorite for Gwen Johnson, an accounting alumna and current human resource management (MSHRM) grad student and graduate consultant for the Business Communication Center (BCC), as it allows her to keep here class schedule and work hours in a calendar format. Plus, she can share her calendar with her professors and peers. 

4. Establish a Routine

Starting to get organized with these tips is one thing, but continuing to use them is another. That’s why establishing a set routine is crucial to staying focused and organized with your day-to-day tasks.

Find tasks on your schedule you do almost daily and start to do them around the same time each day. This will establish a routine with those things you always have to do and will make it easier for you to remember and complete them. 

Whether you’re a morning person or a night owl, take time for yourself to relax and recharge. 

If you are a morning person, take a few minutes to yourself and wake up with a good book, playlist or coffee. Making your bed first thing in the morning has more benefits than you may think. In fact, completing this quick task has been said to make you more productive the rest of the day. 

If you’re a night owl, try to create a nightly routine to help you unwind and clear your head of any stress or anxiety by setting a reminder on your phone for when you should start getting ready for bed. We’re all guilty of checking our social media apps, but turning this reminder on and setting your phone on silent will help you get the rest that your body (and brain) needs. 

Upcoming BCC Events:

• September 6: Setting SMART Goals; Ideation Hub, RM 3000

• September 13: Design Your Business Card; Ideation Hub, RM 3000

• September 21: Network with Confidence; Ideation Hub, RM 3000

• October 17: GEIC Prep Session; BCC, RM 2412

• October 25: Building a Strong Scholarship Application; Ideation Hub, RM 3000

• November 9: Personal Statements for Scholarship Essays; Ideation Hub, RM 3000

• November 30: Stress Management During Exams; Ideation Hub, RM 3000