The beginning of a school semester is one of my favorite times because I get to sit down and organize for the rest of the semester. It’s a great way to get in the right mindset for the rest of the year.
Here are some hacks or ideas to help you get organized for the semester!
1. Planners
Planners are usually a given. I prefer a physical planner rather than a digital one because it’s right there on my bookshelf or desk, and I don’t usually need it outside of my home, so I don’t know much about digital planners except formatting one on Google calendar.
Physical planners are great too, especially since they’re set up for you already.
On the more expensive side, there are options for custom academic planners. One that I have seen is from Purple Trail where you can customize it towards your specific needs, especially when it comes to academics.
Cheaper options don’t include customization, but you can always find pretty planners at stores like Wal-Mart or Target.
My personal favorite type of planner is bullet journals. I personally love Archer & Olive because of the thick paper that allows me to paint within the notebook without bleeding through the pages.
Cheaper options include the Exceed brand from Wal-Mart which is basically off-brand Moleskine (but it’s better in my opinion) or regular journals you can find at Wal-Mart or Target.
2. Note Taking
I know a lot of people who like to use one notebook per class, and I used to as well. However, I found that not only is it cheaper to get a multi-subject notebook rather than a single-subject notebook, it’s also a lot easier to keep everything in one place.
If you take your notes digitally, specifically on an iPad, I recommend using the app Notability. It’s $3.99 but definitely worth it. I use it when I rewrite notes, and it makes all my scribbled down notes and comments look pretty and all in one place.
3. Post-It Arrow Tabs
If you’re someone who likes hard copy books rather than digital, Post-It arrow tabs are the best for annotating, especially when you can’t write in the book you have because you’re renting. I like to use them for pleasure reading as well but with a different color code.
For school, I like to annotate as if I’m supposed to teach it to a class. For example:
Pink/purple: vocabulary or an unknown word
Red/orange: answers found for assignments or possible quotes or information for future essays
Yellow: important context/foreshadowing/character qualities
Green: important figurative language or word choice
Blue: connects to current events or other reading material
These have helped me find important information for assignments as well as help me with other classes because I was able to provide more context for my studies.
4. Candles and Fragrance Oils
I know not many people are a fan of candles, but I think it will make studying a lot easier for those who do.
Studies have shown that smells can increase productivity and even help you retain the information you learned. This link can help you decide which one fits best for you, but if you’re using fragrance oils, make sure you know which ones are safe to use around pets!
5. Music
Music is always really good to help study. Some prefer the silence though, which is fine.
If you’re looking for a difference in study habits or need new playlist ideas but don’t want to be distracted with lyrics, I suggest composing a playlist of classical or soundtrack music, especially music that has an upbeat tempo.
For example, Hans Zimmer’s soundtrack pieces are meant to give adrenaline and drive to their listeners. Some, including me, have said that listening to his music has helped them get through assignments faster.
Classical music can also help keep focus because of the lack of lyrics. You won’t need to pay attention to background words, but at least you have something that helps your brain while you study.
In fact, studies show that music activates both sides of the brain which can be extremely beneficial!
I know these tips aren’t meant for everyone, but hopefully, it will help some like it has helped me!
Have a good semester!