Back to School: Organization

I'm back with the fourth and final post in my Back to School series! Catch up here, here, and here :)

Besides getting back into the rhythm of actually going to school and studying at night, I think getting and staying organized is the hardest part of going back to school. Hopefully with these tips, you can get organized and stay organized early!

Different class, different supplies. This one seems like a no-brainer, but I can't even tell you the number of times I had to write something down for a class and ended up jotting my notes in the back of a random notebook. Each class should have its own binder (or folder, depending on how many handouts you expect to get) and notebook, and they should be present with you every time you're in class!

Color code. Building off of the idea that each class has its own notebook and binder, having the notebooks match the binders in color makes it so much easier for you to gather your supplies quickly for each class. For example, I'll be using red for History, pink for Calculus, purple for English, green for Biology, turquoise for Spanish, and yellow for TV. I also have a master binder that's pink with green trim that I'll always have with me for extra handouts and homework.

Make a switch. No one wants to lug around a million textbooks, binders, and notebooks all day. Plus, there probably isn't room in your bag for all that! Find the "break" or "breaks" in your schedule–your lunch period in the middle of the day and/or a study hall or free period work well–to go to your locker and switch out your books and binders. For example, before your first class, stock your bag with your supplies for your morning classes. Then at lunch, swap them out for your afternoon supplies. If you have other free periods throughout the day, you can switch your binders even more often, meaning you don't have to carry as much with you!

Prioritize. A big part of being organized is knowing what's important and what's not. Writing a paper that's worth a large percentage of your English grade is more important than a small daily math assignment. The important things should be dealt with first. This doesn't mean you should skip assignments that you deem unimportant, but your focus should be on what you know needs lots of time and effort. Keeping your priorities straight also means that you don't have to accept the extra volunteer opportunity or extra credit essay when you've got a huge Chemistry test coming up and have a party you want to go to Saturday night. Balance is key!

Plan it out. We all have agendas and planners for a reason. Use them! I've said it before, but this is really so important. Write everything down, from homework to football games to volunteer commitments to the time you want to work out. If you write it down by hand, you're more likely to remember it and more likely to do it. Plus, if it's written down, you have no excuse to forget it...you can always look back!

I hope this post, and the rest of the series, helped y'all as the summer winds down and we prepare to go back to school! I wish y'all the best of luck in this coming school year!!

XO