OUR TIPS TO STAYING ORGANISED

If you’re a university student like myself, then I don’t need to tell you how quickly things can get messy (especially if you’re not organised). Staying on top of a full course load, working part time and finding a spare minute for your social life is often a juggling act. However, adopting some of these organisational strategies I use will hopeless help to minimise your stress and increase the time you spend doing the things you love!

1. KNOW WHAT’S GOING ON

Before the semester begins I like to buy a new diary / calendar, whether it’s a large desk calendar or a cute notebook diary, this visual aid will definitely help you stay on track and give you a clear idea of how much time or days you have to complete a task. There is a huge difference between reading a due date online and thinking “I still have a couple days to do my assignment”, and being able to visually count out the days on a calendar and determine “I have 5 days until this task is due”.

Setting a reminder in your phone two weeks before a task is due can also be a helpful little tip! Reading up on your course structure or subject outline is the perfect way to go into week 1 feeling somewhat prepared and helps minimise stress.

2. KEEP A CLEAN, ORGANISED STUDY SPACE

Try to keep your study area looking nice and organised… if it’s a complete mess then you’re less likely going to sit down and get your assignments done. Top tip: eliminate anything around you which may cause you to become distracted, or even mix up your study location every now and then. When taking a study break move away from your study space by even just moving to the living room or going outside for some fresh air!

3. NOT A MORNING PERSON? PREP THE NIGHT BEFORE

If you have an early morning class, pack your bag the night before i.e. books, laptop, snacks etc. Go and check your calendar and online uni site, double checking you’ve completed everything, done the assigned readings and are prepared for class. Take a couple of minutes to check the weather so you have an idea of what you may want to wear the next day. All of these are such small tasks but in the long run they’ll save you time in the morning, saving you from running around stressing out!

4. WRITE TO-DO LISTS

This is my go to strategy when uni starts to get more intense. The best thing about a ‘to-do’ list is the sense of accomplishment you feel as you cross things off. Even a day spent in bed on your laptop can make you feel like you’ve had a productive day if you manage to cross off everything you needed to do that day. If you feel like you have a whole load of work piling up, beak it up into sections of smaller tasks or by subject and split them up across a few days’ lists (this is where your calendar/diary will be handy!). By doing this you will feel comforted to know that if you manage even the smallest of what you need to do each day, you’re on the right track to having it completed on time.

If you don’t manage to finish everything on your list for the day, transfer those tasks over to the next day (try to avoid this if possible, otherwise you’ll end up with a list that gets longer and longer).

5. GET ENOUGH SLEEP

If you’ve only managed a few hours of sleep then you’re never going to feel like you’re on top of things. It is recommended that you get roughly 8 hours of sleep a night (I know this is difficult when you have so much going on) but you’d be surprised by how much more in control you’ll feel when you’re well reseted and focused. If you are exhausted, then the possibility of you missing classes or appointments is much higher, and you’ll lack the motivation to tackle any of your to- do lists!

If you’re someone who struggles to get a good night sleep there are plenty of app which can help such as calm or smiling mind!

6. DON’T PANIC

Last but definitely not least, remember that getting overwhelmed and panicked won’t solve anything. Don’t panic! Take a few deep breaths and start by tackling one thing at a time. Go back to the top of your list and work your way down it, you’ll be on top of everything before you know it!