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

Back to School: Study Habits

This is the third post in my Back to School series! Make sure you check out the first and second posts too!

A week or two ago I got a question on Tumblr requesting a post with study and organization tips (Organization will be the topic of my next post!!). That question inspired my whole back to school series, and really got me to take a look at my own study habits. I realized that at the beginning of each semester, it always takes a little bit of time for me to get back into the swing of things. Especially after a long summer, it's challenging to get back into a routine, especially a routine that includes studying. Ew. Here are some study habits that I've found to work for me. I hope this helps y'all!

Make a schedule. I know we all have our planners with things like meetings, clubs, parties, practices, and football games written in right next to homework and to do lists. That's only the beginning of your schedule. Make sure you also block out specific time for studying, dinner, and study breaks, as well as putting all of your other obligations there. A table or spreadsheet works great for this. If you're getting really specific, you can block out your time to study for specific classes in order of importance, or you can leave it more general and just give yourself study hours.

Take breaks. One of the biggest mistakes I see my friends–and myself!–make while studying is forgetting to take breaks. I have a tendency to sit down and study for long periods of time without breaks, and sooner or later I realize that I'm not really focused or taking in what I'm working on. Give yourself a break every hour. It doesn't have to be long, just five or ten minutes to decompress so you can finish your task with a clear head. And be sure to get up from your desk during your break to stretch your legs. Personally, I use my breaks as short periods of cardio!

Be realistic. That huge Calculus test? The massive research paper? A group presentation? All of these require careful planning and lots of preparation time. My biggest downfall in my high school career thus far has been my tendency to underestimate the amount of time I'll need to complete a task while overestimating my ability to complete it quickly but thoroughly. Being realistic when it comes to studying and doing assignments is my biggest goal this year. I definitely think that my past experiences, including a few all nighters, will serve as a good reminder when I'm making plans and study schedules that I need to work on being a bit more realistic. 

I really hoped this helped y'all and I would love to hear all of y'all's study habits and tips!

XO