5 Tips To Stay Organized In College

It can be hard to stay organized in college. You are given all of this freedom that it can be hard to know what to do with it. However, you have to stay on top of your classes, your job if you have one, any internships, be there for your friends, and still have some time to take care of yourself. It’s a challenge, but nothing you can’t overcome! Here are 5 tips to stay organized in college!

1. Syllabus

The syllabus might seem stupid and irrelevant, but it is the most important part of the “staying organized in college” process. On the syllabus, there are due dates, how much each assignment is weighted, descriptions of the assignments. Do NOT throw away your syllabus. You will always be going back to look at it. We will be using your syllabus for the next few steps.

2. Planner

Buy a planner. I personally like having my planner be something pretty (I usually get mine at target) but get something that works for you. Then, we will use our syllabus to fill our planner. I like to go one by one, from each class, and then I write down each and every assignment that I have on the page in the planner that has a full calendar of the month. Then I add any personal events that are going on or anything that I want to remember. Then, once that is done, I go to the weekly pages and write those same assignments there, sometimes adding more detail. I use a little box before each assignment so that I can fill in the box once I have finished the assignment. This way it is clear to me what is done and what still needs to be done.

3. Wall Calendar

I like to have a wall calendar on my wall right above my desk in my bedroom. This way, I always know what is going on. I use the same method that I do with my planner on my wall calendar. I take my syllabus and look at every assignment, test, quiz, absolutely anything that I have to do for my classes, and write them all down on my wall calendar. This way, when one month ends and the next begins, all I have to do is rip off a page, rather than take it down and write everything on it. Furthermore, I don’t have to take out my planner to see what I have going on that week. It gives me a quick view of my day, week, and month when I wake up.

4. Color Coding

I use color coding religiously. On my main, monthly calendars (both in my planner and on my wall calendar) I put all of my school assignments in one color, all my personal events in a different color, and then the times that I work in its own color. This way, my eyes quickly adjust to exactly what I am looking for, and my calendar doesn’t become a giant, unreadable mess. Then, when I get to my weekly pages, each class has it’s own color, as does work and personal events. This way, I am at optimal organizaiton.

5. Schedule

I like to write my weekly schedule in my bullet journal. I usually just use it for fun things, like a list of movies that I want to watch, or books that I want to read. However, I have a page dedicated to my schedule. I make a block that shows the weekdays on one axis, and the hours of the day on another. Then, I draw in my class times, time that I have dedicated to working out, time that I go to work, and time that is for me. It helps me keep track of my days!