September starts rolling in and so do our classes, extracurricular activities and busy schedules marking the day that you realize summer’s over. Don’t let that stop you from embracing your new chapter! Enter your organizational girl era and learn how to stay organized and have time for you at the end of the day because you deserve it! Staying organized involves blocking out time for you to do task, organizing your thoughts and getting into the mindset of achieving your goals besides knowing the best spots to get little treats while you study.
Planning
Let’s get into it! Syllabuses, syllabus week is probably the most relaxing week of the quarter especially if you understand what’s on the syllabus and what it highlights. Syllabus week lets you know exactly when and what will be due and when along with resources inside and outside of class, assignment weight and an overview of the class. It can be the most relaxing week after the first week. I’d recommend getting a pretty little planner for your pretty little assignments.Â
Apps to use
Google sheets, even though it’s not technically an app you can definitely use it to keep track of due dates
Notion is a website that helps with keep track of due dates, assignment types and course scheduling
MyStudyLife helps organizing literally everything. You have a quiz coming up, well MSL has it down in your calendar so you don’t forget.
Places on campus to buy planners:Â
DePaul’s Barnes and Noble Bookstores
- Loop
1 E Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60604Â
- Lincoln Park
2425 N Sheffield Ave, Chicago, IL 60614
Habits to help stay on trackÂ
RelaxationÂ
Take a mental health break, the first week of school is super exciting and overwhelming so try to find time for yourself before the year really starts (did someone say bottomless brunch). If you prefer your own company, take a little mental health walk around campus, especially because the Lincoln Park campus/area is super pretty especially in the fall and it has so many little coffee shops to stop into whenever you get tired a need a little treat!Â
Romanticize your schedule
Some classes can be exciting while others can just be lecture after lecture. But don’t let that get you into a slump! Remember Elle Woods once said “What?? Like it’s Hard?” This not only applies to our Harvard grads but any college student, classes may seem long and difficult but you’re chasing your degree. Even though some classes may seem like they’re taking forever make it interesting by asking questions or sharing your insight on the topic (it does help trust me). Romanticizing your schedule can help you stay motivated and interested in that class even if it’s like the history of paper.Â
Motivation
Staying motivated is super important no matter what you do, when it comes to school sometimes it can seem like a drag but we need to push through so we can be like our founders who started Her Campus (so jealous I didn’t attend the creator loft). Whenever I start becoming unmotivated I think about how far I’ve gotten and how proud I am of myself and then I get emotional and it puts me right back on track.
Campus Resource:
- A peer program focuses on assisting students with any academic/personal obstacles they may have. They specialize on time management and building student’s campus life.
- Perfect resource to help you get organized with your class and work schedule as well as provide study tips!
- This is super helpful whenever you need to take a mental health day and your therapist or mental health specialist at home can’t see you.
No matter what obstacles you may face this quarter staying organized and using your resources is definitely the move.