Set Up a Calendar
Tracking deadlines is a crucial part of staying on top of your classes. Make sure to double check with teachers for each class' syllabus so you can follow along throughout the semester and make note in student calendars or planners when important due dates are approaching.
2. Use a Planner
Staying organized is crucial for a successful school year. Keeping track of daily and weekly tasks can be challenging without the use of an organizational tool like a planner. While some students prefer digital or paper-based planners, there are other options available as well that may suit your needs better depending on what kind of schedule you have throughout the day.
If you plan on playing any sports this year, or if you are required to keep up with your schoolwork and other obligations while trying to balance a social life too, make sure that getting a planner is included in your back-to-school shopping list. There's nothing more discouraging than not having enough time for everything throughout the day! Digital planners might be right for some people; however paper-based planners can't get lost in the cloud like their digital counterparts do sometimes.
3. Stick to a Schedule
Being consistent and following a weekly schedule will increase your productivity by making you more organized. If early-morning study sessions aren't for you, don’t plan them into your week! You can create an effective schedule to stick with by finding out what works best for yourself — maybe that means only studying at night or taking breaks in between lectures during the day.
4. Use Color - Coding
There are several ways to organize your school materials (and your schedule), but using a color-coded system is the easiest and fastest way. For example, you can assign each class its own color like blue for history or green for science so that all of those assignments and tasks will be easily identifiable. You can also utilize this method for organizing other activities such as sports, employment, kids' activities, etcetera.
5. Practice Self-Care
Self-care is an essential part of maintaining a healthy body and mind. Learning to balance your stress will help keep you organized by keeping you from feeling overwhelmed.
Self-care isn't strictly about pampering yourself, though that's a fun part of it. If you're wondering what self-care looks like for your mind and body, here are some ideas:
Physical activity combats illness and stress while fueling our brains
Regular sleep helps reduce stress and improve your mood.
Finally eating well with nutritious food is key in maintaining the perfect balance between mental clarity and emotional stability.
Don't overlook your mental health. It is just as important to take care of your mind just as much as your body!