By Mikayla Weiss, Sports Editor
[Image from @asyanik2006 on Pinterest]
It’s the middle of the new semester, and everyone still has a chance to improve. Many of us want to do better than last semester. We want to get better grades, sleep more, watch more shows, play more games. And the way to have time for that is to be organized.
Organization doesn’t just mean your clothes are folded, color coded in the closet, or your notebooks are sorted by class. You also need to be mentally organized. It’s normal to feel overwhelmed, but there are ways we can ease it.
The first step is to have a routine. Build up a consistent morning and night routine. It’s best to sleep and wake up at around the same time every day, even on the weekends. Now that you know when you sleep and wake up, you can plan your days around that.
Be sure to factor in school and homework, possibly time for studying if you have a test coming up, and you can fill the rest with free time or time for meals, showering, and all the normal everyday things.
Sometimes, our routines are not the same every day, and things come up. This is when a calendar is useful. You can also use a planner, but a calendar can be easier to visualize for some people. You can mark events on this calendar, school or personal. You can write down when tests or quizzes are or when homework is due. This will ensure that you are well prepared for tests and turn in all your assignments on time.
[Image @81x_10 on Pinterest]
When using a planner, you can use an old notebook, or buy a planner at the store. In the planner, you can use it like you would a calendar as well, but you can write things like to-do lists every day. You can even write small things like making your coffee, choosing an outfit you like, or doing your makeup to give you motivation to do the bigger tasks later.
[Image from @p0shsp1ce19 on Pinterest]
Have you ever heard of the term “your room is a reflection of your mind”? Well, it’s true. A clean room is a clean mind. You can start cleaning a little each day, only 5-10 minutes, and your room will always be clean. You will feel much better in a clean, tidy, organized room than in a messy room with clothes everywhere. If your room is pretty clean, I suggest vacuuming and dusting every so often.
To be organized is to be energized. It is important to fuel yourself with the right foods to make sure you have long lasting energy all day. Aim for three meals a day, and drinking lots of water. The majority of your diet should consist of whole foods for lowered cortisol and stable energy.
Once everything is all planned out, you’re going to need to learn how to manage your time. Is it possible to get straight A’s, have a social life, and still have time to have hobbies? Yes, it is. The key is time management and prioritizing. A good time management strategy is time blocking, which is where you schedule tasks by the hour. You may not be able to get everything you want in a day, but you can get a lot more done if it’s planned.
Finally, the key to doing well in any semester is not forgetting downtime. It is good to be productive, but make sure to include some rest days. If you don’t, you may burn out, and the semester will not end as you want it to. Find out what works for you, and don’t be afraid to change things up. Remember, a well-organized life leaves room for all good things to come.
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