Almost half-way through the semester and struggling to balance uni work, a job and a social life? Read Radar's handy tips on ways to stay organised so you can keep on top of your workload.
Keeping a diary
A diary sounds like a very old school way of keeping organised but it really is one of the best ways to keep on top of everything. Small and even pocket-sized diaries are a great thing to keep in your bag at all times to jot down when you make plans and to ensure when you make these plans there are no clashes. They are great to put warning messages on the dates ahead of deadlines to remind yourself what is approaching and the note section at the back is great for to-do lists and random information you want to remember.
Writing everything down is a great way to clear your mind and not feel stressed, seeing it all on paper helps to visualise your week and help you remain calm that your week will work out just fine.
Even though it is March it really is not too late to start a diary, yearly or academic they are available all year round at places such as Asda and Poundland for very little.
To do lists/ a whiteboard
To do lists are a great way to feel on top of your workload. There is nothing more therapeutic than writing down everything that needs to be done to free your mind. It is great to then to see it slowly get smaller and smaller as you tick off each task.
Sticky notes and whiteboards are a great way of doing this. Stick your list on your diary or notebook and add and tick off when you’re out and about, especially at university. Whiteboards are also helpful and there are some good quality ones at Poundland that will help you keep on track. They show you what you have to do up on your wall and it's an easy place to write down things as soon as you remember you have to do them, then it can be erased when completed.
It is really important to get enough sleep because when you are well rested and awake you can accomplish much more in your day. Getting up early means you have the whole day to complete tasks and it will also mean you will not sleep in past appointments, classes and hours you could be using to study and fulfill tasks.
Colour code and compartmentalise
Many people love to colour code and compartmentalise. Buy some coloured folders and use each one for a different module or just general things i.e. household documents, travel documents and drawings. This helps to keep everything of one subject together in one folder and keep you organised by ensuring nothing gets lost and is there to grab when needed. It will also help de-clutter your room and help you feel better, as they say, a cluttered desk makes for a cluttered mind!
There are many great apps to help you stay organised, with hundreds to choose from you will undoubtedly find one that suits you. Even just the already installed calendar app is a great way to keep track of things you are doing and get alerts when they are approaching and has arrived.
Apps really are a great way as everyone always has their phone on them these days, therefore you can always stay reminded. 24me is a great personal assistant which deals with your calendars, to do lists, personal accounts and notes all in one place, with reminders for events and birthdays this app will keep you on track. Evernote is also a great organiser, for studying, in particular, it will hold your projects, to-do lists, sketches and ideas, recordings, videos and PDF’s and your notes can be sorted into virtual notebooks per subject. You can also share with others and share between devices to allow you to never be without your notes.
Staying organised can be hard as a student due to coursework, jobs, social life and chores but there is no need to stress as there really are many ways to stay organised and keep yourself on track.