Let’s face it, not everyone has Type A personality in college: the endless drawers filled with colorful highlighters, coded folders, or scheduled focused study times down to the t. Some of us get by with one folder, maybe a Google Calendar we don’t really look at half the time, or get reminded of deadlines with a professor’s warning email. That’s okay. For those of you that align with the latter, it’s okay to live by this controlled chaos, because in the end what needs to be done will get done.
In my experience of doing this, I know that eventually procrastination will be replaced with determination. Yet this doesn’t make the anxiety of being constantly swarmed mentally with things to do any easier. In fact, it can make it worse by affecting your sleep routine, eating habits, academic performance, and social life. We need a ‘common ground’ between the Type A of organization and Type B of usual disorganization.
So, here are some tips for casual (Type C perhaps) organization to make the rough days a little easier (it’s always better to be a bit prepared than not at all).
Do things in increments
Yeah I know, no one really wants to take the time to write an essay before the day before the deadline, or even start a presentation the day the assignment is handed out. But a little comes a long way, not to be too cliche. It can be helpful to at least start something with a few sentences here and there, work for even just 15 minutes, or put together a rough outline when you have free time to spare. It makes the final bigger picture of doing the work a little less overwhelming when it’s split up over a few more days rather than taking up most of a day or two. The same can also be applied for studying too!
Google calendar and reminders are your friend
It’s always a good idea to put your regularly scheduled events or classes on your Google Calendar (with at least a 10-minutes-before reminder) to help you make your way through days that are long or hectic. I also like using Google Tasks for all my assignments, catching up work, and any last-minute errands. In case I feel like I’m forgetting something, I can just quickly check my phone. The calendar also helps me see how much time I really have in a day and how to plan what to do with it for maximum efficiency while keeping my mental stability.
Keep school stuff in one place
You don’t want to be the person who spent all night working on a paper just to print it out the night before and not find it the next day. Use a folder. Keep it in a drawer, on your desk, in your backpack, or in a place you usually keep your school stuff. That way you aren’t late or missing an assignment only due to mere forgetfulness. Trust me, people will definitely judge you for it (it happens though, so don’t worry).
Take a day to preplan
Whether this is monthly, semesterly, or biweekly, it always pays to preplan. This could be anything from errands to run, to upcoming appointments, or school assignments. I usually take half an hour to write deadlines, meetings, or assignment due dates on a calendar. When the day comes and I have completed the task, I highlight it. That way I feel caught up, getting done what needs to be done as well as planning in advance for bigger projects.
Always give yourself a free hour or two
I always feel better when I know I’ll have some free time to relax, catch up on stuff, or even do something fun for an hour. Instead of pushing off a free day to a weekend, give yourself a little bit daily. This helps you stay in the moment with seemingly endless work or activities to attend to. Always having time to yourself gives you the rest you need to recharge both mentally and physically and better prepare yourself for the days ahead.
I hope this helps you feel a bit better about life’s workload day by day and lets you know that a lot of other people have trouble keeping up with some organization. But breaking it down into these little things can go a long way. So do something that may be a little difficult to do now, that future you will thank yourself for.