Staying organized is the number one way to set yourself up for success during the school year. A lack of organization is procrastination’s best friend and the surest way to let your grades slip. The key to exciting and productive learning is to be organized. Here are five ways to get more organized this school year:
1. Create a Dedicated Study Space
Before you sit down to study or do homework, create a dedicated study space. This can be a desk or table in any room of the house. Make sure this area is free from distractions and clutter. Stock this area with all the supplies you need. Some supplies you should consider include:
- Paper
- Notebooks
- Pens and pencils
- Erasers
- Highlighters and markers
- Folders
- Textbooks
You may also want to consider keeping a glass of water and a small snack at your study station. This reduces the amount of times you have to get up and walk away. Try to avoid breaking your concentration. Keep phones, TVs, and other distracting electronic devices off and away while you study. The goal is to create a space where you can learn without any distractions.
2. Establish a Routine
Balancing school, clubs, homework, and socializing can be a challenge. Sometimes it feels like there’s not enough time in the day. Establishing a routine is key for staying organized. Consider how much time you need to spend on each activity and which times of the day are most appropriate. Use a calendar to plan out certain times to dedicate to those activities. For homework, choose a time when your house is usually the most quiet and you can focus without distraction. Be consistent. When starting out, you may even want to set alarms as a reminder.
3. Use Organization Tools
There are many tools out there that can help you stay organized. For example, use:
- Planners and calendars to help you track assignment due dates and other important events
- Folders and binders to help you properly organize papers for all your classes
- Notebooks to help you keep notes for each class together in one place
- Pencil pouches to help you organize your loose supplies
Try color coding folders, notebooks, and binders by class subject. This way, for example, you’ll know green is science, math is red, and reading is blue. Make it fun, and choose any color combination you like!
4. Take Good Notes
Taking good notes is key for your learning. There are plenty of note taking methods out there, choose the one you like the best. Whichever method you choose, focus on recording key points and important information. There is no need to write down every word you read or everything the teacher says. Instead, focus on the main ideas and key facts. Use highlighters to color code and mark important descriptions. This makes it easier to retain information come study time.
5. Set Goals with Smaller Tasks
Organize your goals by splitting them into smaller tasks. Instead of setting a goal for yourself that says, “complete science poster,” try writing out all the tasks that will help you accomplish that goal. For example, you could break it down into a list of tasks that look something like this:
- Research and take notes
- Gather supplies
- Decide poster layout
- Choose color scheme
- Create a title
- Write out key ideas
Breaking down your goals into smaller tasks makes the overall process more manageable. You can also delegate tasks to certain days to avoid procrastinating. Instead of becoming overwhelmed the night before an assignment is due, plan out the small taks you need to complete on days leading up to it.
Staying organized is the number one way to avoid procrastination and ensure student success. Here at our Orlando Private School, located in the Catholic Diocese of Orlando, your student’s success is our top priority. Our staff is committed to proclaiming the Gospel Message of Jesus Christ. We believe in teaching the whole child and want students to love learning, helping them grow into well-rounded, contributing members of society. Learn more about us by contacting us here.
