My Tips for a Busy Week
The first week of school is always hard on everyone. You have to deal with all new classes, teachers and schedules. It's hard to adjust to everything and figure out your rhythm for the year, but eventually things calm down and you find your sanity again. I'm almost through the first week of school and I'm already overwhelmed by meetings, classwork and everything in-between. I thought I'd discuss some ways to get organized and stay calm during the first few weeks of school. With everything going on and the excitement of a new year, it's important to stay focused on classes and use a little time management.
One of the first things I do every day is check my to-do list. This is probably the simplest way to stay up to date with everything you need to accomplish for the day. It's such a basic idea, but it's literally a life saver. I write out every assignment I have due for the week and all the meetings or extra stuff I have to get done. Things like my research paper or taking out the trash are all included on this list. Sure, most of the time I don't need this list to remind me about certain things, but there's always those times I forget something. My list helps me stay focused and prevents me from forgetting important assignments. It's also pretty empowering to go through and cross things out every day. I feel a tiny wave of relief every time something get's checked off.
Another way I stay organized and calm during the first few weeks of school is through my calendars. That's right, I have multiple calendars in multiple places. I have my phone calendar. This is the main one I use since I always have my phone on me. I also use my computer calendar, which is synced with my phone. I try to keep these synced properly and to include absolutely everything. I also have a dry erase calendar on my door that I keep updated with the most important events coming up for the month. I make sure that I check it before I leave every day and before bed every night. I have created a habit of checking my calendars all day long. I have so many important meetings for clubs and with teachers that I simply can't afford to miss one. Having multiple calendars seems a bit over the top, but it reinforced each date and time in my brain and helps me to remember everything better.
The last tip I'll share is something I thought everyone did, but I've realized a lot of people don't do this. I check my email every hour. Yep, call me crazy, but I literal get 2-3 emails every hour and I have to know what they're about. I have to be able to respond quickly to things and to know who needs me. It also allows me to not feel overwhelmed when I open my email. Some people go all week without checking their email and I don't understand it. If I did that, I'd have people yelling at me and so much worse. Checking your email regularly is one of the easiest ways to stay up-to-date with the world around you. Just at least learn to check it once or twice a day. You're in college now and you have to be responsible. Saying "I didn't see the email in time," is not a valid excuse for missing an assignment or a meeting.
All three of these tricks I mentioned save me during the first week of school. It's so easy to become overwhelmed and to give up and fall behind. With parties and friends waiting to go out all the time, you have to find some time to stay on top of your school work and important events. Don't get discouraged by a busy schedule. Take control of your time and own your schedule. If you're aware of what's going on and stay organized early on, everything will eventually calm down. If you're struggling to stay on top of things at the end of this first week, take a minute to breathe and start getting organized now. Time management isn't just something teachers yell at you for. It's actually the most helpful thing you can learn to master in college.
