“There is never enough time!,” many college students say almost every day. Being a college student requires a certain amount of dedication, devotion, and time. It is simple to get caught up in the stress of school and life. Fortunately, I have come to the rescue! As an honors college student, who works and contributes to extracurricular activities at school, I have learned a thing or two about extreme time organization. Let’s explore five steps for organizing your life with little to no stress needed.

Use a planner/smartphone

The most crucial part of any organization plan is writing everything down. From the smallest tasks to the major ones, the human brain cannot contain all the information that is handed to it daily. To ensure success, I recommend getting a planner. That way everything is written down and nothing can be forgotten because it is on the paper. If you do not want to take your planner everywhere you go, or you love technology, using your smartphone as a planner works well, too. There are apps and programs to put everything on a calendar on your phone so you get daily alerts of what you need to do. If you consistently enter your information in either type of planner, then it is safe to assume that nothing will be left out.

Write everything out in advance

In addition to writing your tasks, it is very beneficial to write your information as in advance as possible. This technique works well for college courses because students usually know ahead of time when their significant papers and projects will be due. Most college professors place due dates on the course syllabus, and it is vital to put those dates in your planner as soon as possible. This move shows you what lies ahead and prepares you for the next step.

Create a game plan, but be realistic

Now that all the deadlines, meetings, work schedule times and dates are written down, the next step is to create a game plan. I recommend looking at your schedule a month in advance and deciding what tasks you should complete first. This helps you avoid procrastination and develop better time management. As essential as it is to create a game plan, be realistic. Do not set unrealistic expectations because that will only stress you out more. Pacing your workload will help with maintaining a routine, and it will give you some free personal time.

Plan some breaks

I have been guilty of spending so much time on my homework that I barely had time to spend with my family. If it is hard for you to tear yourself physically apart from your task, then specifically write in family time. You and your family will thank you. It does not have to be a long time, but it is important to rest and have fun! While homework is necessary, so is planning time away from it.

Stick to your plan, be positive, and Do Not Give Up!

The most essential step is sticking to your plan. Carry out your direction and have a positive outlook on your day, week, month, etc. The planner requires you to keep up with everything, so you can take advantage of the organization it provides your life. Do not give up on writing your tasks down because that is the reason why you needed to organize yourself in the first place.

In conclusion, while each step is quite simple, together they require hard work and dedication. Once you are set, enjoy the tranquility of life!