Getting Organized for the New Semester
Getting Organized for the New Semester
By: MC Middleton
Back to school prep used to be so exciting. There was nothing quite like color-coding notebooks and organizing sparkly pens and highlighters the night before the first day of class.
Somewhere along the way, the excitement and anticipation that came with a new school year faded into stress and overwhelming emotions as we all just try to survive midterms while keeping our sanity intact. However, there are some ways to mitigate stress and maximize productivity.
Planners
A standard notebook-style planner is tried and true. Whether your style is strictly business or bright and colorful, there is a planner for everyone. Keeping a physical planner not only adds to the aesthetic of your study space, but putting pen to paper can be cathartic in the midst of a hectic semester and endless deadlines and exams.
Calendars
Google, Apple, and Microsoft Outlook calendars are free and accessible from any laptop, phone, or tablet. A digital calendar is a perfect tool for syncing multiple calendars across organizations and viewing events in one place. Digital calendars allow events to be planned to the minute and edited with ease, which can definitely come in handy with professors who switch up deadlines and dates.
Deadline Tracking Systems
Are you most satisfied when striking an item off of a to-do list? Deadline tracking systems like Google Sheets, Todoist, and Notion (which is free with a student email address) make it easy to organize classes and tasks, as well as color code and sort by class or due date.
Note Organization Systems
Long gone are the days of crumpled papers shoved into a pocket folder. If an iPad is within your budget, apps like GoodNotes, CollaNote and Notability are well-loved apps that make taking notes neat and easy, as well as making them conveniently accessible. Google Docs is another great tool, as notes can be organized and accessed from anywhere you access the Internet. Of course, taking notes on paper
With so many ways to stay on top of academics, there is a method for everyone. So, get started and get organized...it’s time to hit the books.
For more tips like these, keep up with us at www.umsquaremagazine.com, and follow us on Instagram @umsquaremagazine for daily content!
All images belong to their respective owners.