Top 10 Tips for Staying Organized This Fall
Another semester is upon us, and with that comes a whole slew of papers, appointments, assignments, responsibilities, and challenges. This can all be extremely overwhelming, and I promise you aren’t alone in this feeling. But have no fear, your saintly, organization angel is here! There are so many aspects that go into staying organized and on top of your life. Whether you’re already a Type A individual who already has a micromanaging grasp on every detail of your life or you have no idea where to start; I know you’ll be able to take some insights away from the following tips!
1. Supplies
Supplies are the foundation to every organized individual - so get yourself a planner & be picky about it! Planners come in so many different shapes and sizes. Don’t settle for the first or cheapest one you can find. This will be your daily reference guide for at least the next year, so be picky and find what suits you. I am currently using the Day Designer. I’ve found mine at Target, and differing office supply stores over the past couple of years. Happy Planner by Me & My Big Ideas is another great option. These planners are super customizable and have endless options for layouts and themes. You’re more likely to find these planners and all their accoutrements including thousands of stickers in the planning and scrapbook sections of craft stores. Though I will add that unless you have coupons, your best bet for pricing will be Amazon.
Wait up, don’t forget your pens - Maybe it’s just me, but I am more likely to enjoy writing things down if I have a smoothly flowing pen to be able to write with. My personal favorite is bank pens. They’re free, and for some reason, they always write the best. This is also a conspiracy theory I have, but that’s a blog for another day.
Express your creativity with stickers! - I see the question mark appearing over your head. Hear me out. Do you want to dive into a journal, planner, or notebook that has nothing interesting and inviting on it? I doubt it. Make it interesting! Give yourself something to look forward to when you pull out your materials. Aside from collecting them from anywhere and everywhere I can, I find that RedBubble and Society6 have greats options. If you’re not picky and just want a menagerie to choose from - you can buy bulk vinyl packs on-the-cheap from Amazon.
2. Take advantage of technology
Not everyone is fond of physical items; that’s okay. This is why I also propose adding some wonderful organization apps to your life. My personal favorites are: Google Drive, Google Calendar, Quizlet, Basecamp, and DayCount (each of these are available for both iPhone and Android devices)
3. Cancel those distractions
I feel like this is pretty commonplace in today’s society. But if you still can’t seem to focus because you’re singing along to your favorite jams, try white noise, deep focus, instrumental, or lo-fi music. Here’s a link to the one I listen to on Spotify most frequently:
4. Stay ahead of the game
When you’re ahead, you don’t get behind. Staying prepared is all about making assumptions - in a good way. Staying ahead of the game is more than just staying on top of deadlines and making sure to check your email a handful of times a day. Take the time to think about the situations that could throw a wrench in your day. Consider adding a little more weight to your backpack, with a bag full of all of the items you consider to be essential. Your essential items may differ from mine; however, a few things I keep in mine are:
-bandaids and a topical antiseptic
-Face wipes
-Hand lotion
-Chapstick
-Tampons (sorry guys)
-A Sharpie
-SD memory card
-USB drive
-C-Port Adaptor for my laptop
-A couple extra hair ties
-Extra set of contacts
Another fantastic way to stay prepared and ahead of the crowd would be to always carry a couple copies of your resume and a handful of business cards with your information on them. Sure, this tip applies to all majors; however, it’s extremely helpful for all of us AD/PR students. Set the precedent for professionalism and go everywhere prepared for any occasion (Bonus if you bring these things along to agency tours and PRSSA club meetings). Below is a photo of my personal file-folder/computer case I bought off Amazon as well as an enamel inlayed case for my business cards that has a beautiful image of Van Gogh’s famous “Almond Blossoms” on it. I know it’s a little extra, but I love when everything has its own place!
5. Take a chill-pill
PLEASE! I promise, you need it and you deserve it. Give yourself time to heal. We all lead busy lives, but detox time is essential to your mental and physical health. Your car can’t run without fuel, and you can’t either. Take an hour or two a week for yourself. I love to treat myself to a deep conditioning, a full skincare routine, and then paint my toenails while catching up on a couple episodes of my latest series on Netflix or Amazon Prime.
6 .Calendars are your new best friend
Everything has a place, and that place is a Google Calendar, a Desk Calendar, and a personal planner. I know I mentioned planners as being important earlier; however, the next step is doubling up! Put everything that’s in your planner into your Google calendar. With reminder notifications, there is no possible way you’ll forget even the most minor class assignment or Dr.’s appointment! Not only that, but if you don’t live alone, buy a desk calendar; post it up on a wall, and make your schedule known so you aren’t constantly being bombarded by roommates (or parents if you’re still at home) asking where you’re at. Staying organized for yourself also helps others closest in your circle.
7. Fresh locations = A Focused Mind
Staying focused in the same dark corner of the library can be difficult. Mix it up and go find a location with a pretty view of campus, or find a local coffee shop. There’s a great spot on the third floor of the Mary Idema Pew library on the Allendale campus of Grand Valley State University that I love to go to. In the winter, the fireplace keeps the room warm, and it also has a beautiful view of the Cook Carillon Tower. The second place you’ll find me is typically at Lantern Coffee Bar and Lounge in downtown Grand Rapids. It’s super cozy and friendly and the atmosphere is very conducive for super productive study/work sessions. Discover new places and change it frequently.
8. Keep up on things at home
Sometimes we just need to get the work done at home, and working from home is much less stressful when you’re not having to stare at your To-Do List in real life (yes, I am referring to that “not dirty enough to clean, but not clean enough to hang up” pile of clothes overflowing from your closet). Set aside a specific amount of time to stay on top of chores because when exam week hits, home chores are just something you will not want to have to worry about.
9. Unlock the door to better time management
Procrastinators, listen up! I’ll be the first to admit that (on occasion) I’ve had a reputation for being a procrastinator. But I have started changing my mindset to using the things I want to do as rewards for finishing tasks and projects. I usually use things like going for a walk, taking my dog to the beach, or going out for ice-cream as a reward for being productive.
10. Don’t hyper-focus on the big picture!
Last, but certainly not least; Live by this phrase: “Big elephant, small bites.” Being focused on the end result and where you want your goals and aspirations to lead you is fantastic, in fact, I advocate for master lists of things you need to do to get yourself there. However, break it up into sections and smaller pieces to keep yourself from becoming overwhelmed. You can do this. We can do this.
About Sarah
Sarah is a Senior at GV pursuing a degree in Advertising and Public Relations. As the acting VP of Philanthropy for the Grand Valley Chapter of PRSSA and as an Account Associate, Sarah's favorite thing about our organization is the ability to engage with the West Michigan community in new and exciting ways. Sarah is a native of Grand Rapids, residing in the suburbs of Hudsonville. When you can't find Sarah on campus you can find her hanging out downtown at a coffee shop, or out at the barn getting ready to ride her horse.