How I Stay Productive & Organized for School or Work
With it being back to school season, I have been organizing and making sure that I have all that I need for the semester. Being in college, there is obviously a ton of independence but with that comes responsibility. And the cherry on top to all that is a brand new way of learning this year due to our current circumstances with the pandemic. All of this can be very stressful but it doesn’t have to be! I figured I would share some of my favorite tips on how I stay (and plan to stay) organized and productive this semester!
Treat each day like it’s a job
This may sound weird, but what I mean is make a set schedule for your days. For example, if you have a lot of things to get done give yourself from 9 AM to 5 PM to get it all done that day. Sounds familiar right? Like a 9-5 job? Doing this not only ensures that you are using your time wisely but once it hits 5 (or whatever times you choose) you can shut down everything for the day and just relax. I know that sometimes with school this can be hard because of scheduling but if you can’t do it everyday I promise it makes a huge difference even if you do it a few times a week!
Make a “to-do” list the night before
This is a very simple task, but writing out what you have to do and having a set list of what you want to get done makes a huge change in your productivity. Before you go to bed, jot down on a piece of paper the things you want or need to get done the next day. This can be anything from school work to grocery shopping. If you need to do it, write it down- and put it somewhere you will see it!
Set timers
There are some times when we get really caught up in a certain project or chore. This can be frustrating especially when the task may be difficult and that frustration can make the process last longer than it should. Or we just get distracted by something else. Plan out your day and tell yourself how long you think you need and how long you must work on a certain task. For example, if you have a project for a class instead of sitting down and saying “okay I’m gonna work on this now until...whenever I feel like it” say “I’m gonna sit down and start working on this from now until 2:30” and set a timer for that. Not only does this keep you organized and productive throughout the whole time, but it also is more motivating because you have a time limit. Now, don’t stress yourself out if you need more time that’s okay. But make sure you think about how much time you’re actually going to need, especially if you are going to work the whole time. And if you get frustrated when the time is up, move on to your next task and come back to it later. But DON’T procrastinate….yes I know that’s a tough one to avoid.
Keep a calendar
This one is probably something you are doing already but if not, this is a must for staying organized. I personally need something I can look at so I don’t stress myself out with all the work I may have to do. Keep a calendar and keep it where you’re gonna see it. Write down everything! Whether it’s an assignment or a laundry day, write down what days you want/need to do those things. This is something that is so easy and I never realized how much better it made me feel when everything is right in front of me and not stuck in my brain.
Keep a notebook/journal
It’s always good to keep a notebook or journal around just so you can add anything to your to-do list or just little things that you want to remember throughout the day. This keeps your work progress all in one place along with any other reminders or even something you may have seen or thought of that you don’t want to forget!
