How To Stay Organized in College
Whenever I ask my students the question, “What is most difficult about adjusting to college life?” the two most common answers I get are 1) learning how to manage their time, and 2) figuring out how to stay organized.
We’ll leave the first answer for another post and simply address the second one today, because I think it’s fixing this second problem—a lack of organization—that will ultimately help you fix the first—time management.
For without any set system in place, how could one possibly manage their own schedule successfully?
When I pose this question to my freshmen, it is often done out of concern for them (and maybe a bit of curiosity) as they begin their new life here at college. No matter how “together” they seem to be, I know their lives have just taken on a whole new entourage of challenges and must be, at least to some degree, tough.
Hey, moving out and trying to adult for the first time is a daunting task all on its own, with a new bed, new roommates, new financial burdens, new freedoms! And as if that’s not enough, we throw all these other new academic responsibilities on them, too, like reading assignments, quizzes, tests, projects, discussion boards, seminars…
So is it any wonder that plenty of college freshmen give up before their first semester is even over?
Another note to add here is that on top of the stress of the “new” comes the growing awareness some students might gain as they watch some of their classmates surpassing their own abilities at alarmingly fast rates. Why is it that some college students—even freshmen—are able to get it all together so quickly?
There are probably dozens of other studies out there that can give you percentages and numbers in their answer to that question, but I’m here to tell you about the things I know these excelling students are doing—the rules they have for themselves to help them stay organized.
1. Set up a calendar, and use it.
I always tell my students to use the system that is most usable to them, meaning, don’t buy a physical calendar or a day planner or bullet journal if you don’t think you will keep up with it. These items are often attractive but costly, and too often end up cast to the back of your dusty bookshelf by the middle of the semester.
However, if you know your phone never strays far from your hand, then use your phone’s calendar instead. This is a great option for those who are, by nature, unorganized. You can even set up reminders that will help alert you about upcoming events and projects due, so that you don’t have to remind yourself of these things when the time nears.
If you’ve never really made use of your calendar, I recommend looking up the plethora of YouTube videos out there that teach this. Once you’ve figured it out, start by adding things to your calendar, beginning with your college assignments. “But what about my personal schedule?” you might ask. But as a college professor, I argue, “Hey, you’re in college to get that degree first of all.”
Prioritizing the non-negotiable class schedule into your own is the first thing you’ll want to do. Look through each class’s syllabi and mark down every upcoming project’s due date, etc.
If you’ve never really made use of your calendar, I recommend looking up the plethora of YouTube videos out there that teach this. Once you’ve figured it out, start by adding things to your calendar, beginning with your college assignments. “But what about my personal schedule?” you might ask. But as a college professor, I argue, “Hey, you’re in college to get that degree first of all.” Prioritizing the non-negotiable class schedule into your own is the first thing you’ll want to do. Look through each class’s syllabi and mark down every upcoming project’s due date, etc.
Then, add in any personal events you know are coming up as well.
2. Have a “check-in” day once a week
Sundays were my check-in days back in college. I’d take an hour in the afternoon to look at my calendar and everything that was due week, and get as prepared for those due projects as best as I could on Sunday.
Since starting an assignment is always the hardest part of any assignment, I’d do what I could to make the starting easier.
If I had a template to fill out that week, I’d at least print out the template and have it ready. If I had a small reading assignment I had to complete before beginning a project, I’d quickly read it during this time. You get the picture.
I’d also use this time to look up other responsibilities (non-academic) for the week and put them down in my calendar. Engagements, dinners, shopping trips.
3. Tidy up your space after your check-in.
It’s not new information that a tidy space makes for a tidy mind. Sunday afternoons were also my time to clean. When things became too busy during the middle of the semester, I would just clear my space up and shove things into drawers and under the bed. It sounds sloppy, but honestly, even doing that helped clear my head. Get in the habit of clearing your space as often as possible, but at least once a week.
4. Organize by class.
Keep everything for each class together. This means class notes, syllabi, and any extra supplemental files. If you are taking notes on your laptop, then make folders for each class, and label them carefully.
If you are using an old-school binder, get dividers.
5. Figure out the best way to note-take by class.
College gurus often like to take a side on the digital note-taking vs. pen-and-paper note-taking methods. But as a college professor, I argue this: each class is going to be different, so feel it out before deciding which one you’ll use. I’ve found typing notes to be great for those classes where the lecturer speaks quickly and spits out information faster than a malfunctioning baseball pitching machine. On the flipside, it is better to write down notes on paper if your teacher moseys through the material, since you can write at your leisure and not tempt yourself with the other features on your laptop (like playing Solitaire or shopping on Amazon).
6. Take care of yourself.
This, of course, goes back to the first couple points. While this is the time of life in which you may be focusing on your academics, it is also the time to be figuring out how to care for yourself. The habits you make in college will be ones you carry with you when you leave. Resist the temptation to resort to TikTok’s “self-care” advisers and instead go back to the basic, tried-and-true principles:
Eat well
Drink water
Get as much exercise as you can
Get on a good sleep pattern
6. Lastly, realize that people fake it, a lot.
Some are better than others at faking it through life, pretending that life is going splendidly for them, when in reality, they’re only pals with the professor because they need the extra help, they only dress like celebrities because they know how to thrift shop, and they only come across as being intelligent because they’ve watched a lot of TV and have learned how to emulate witty characters.
Don’t be fooled by them. The world is tough, and everyone has their own set of issues. Keep your eyes focused on your goals, try these tips out, and see what happens.
“Let your eyes look right on,
and let your eyelids look straight before you.”
Proverbs 4:2
