5 Tips to Stay Organized for School

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As you may have heard, organization is a key factor to a successful education. An organized person experiences less stress during the school year because he or she is on top of things. I understand that organization isn't a skill we're all born with. It's definitely possible to develop it though. Here are some tips I follow to stay organized.

1. Set your alarm
I know that it can be hard to get up in the morning. The thought of getting things accomplished energizes me. I'm sure we all like the feeling of getting things done. If we wake up early enough, we can get everything we want done. If you're slow but don't like to rush (that's me!), set your alarm a couple of minutes early. You can spare a few minutes of sleep for happiness, right?

2. Have a planner
Are you someone that is likely to forget something? Write it down! Your school should provide you with a little notebook to jot things down. If not, buy one - it doesn't have to be fancy or expensive. I recommend that you write down due dates (for homework, papers, projects), quiz/test/exam dates, and important meetings/events. You won't have an excuse for missing anything.

3. Create a system
This will help you distinguish your classes from one another. I like to assign each of my classes a color. For example, I might assign the color green for Biology. I would use a green notebook and a green folder for this class. May I suggest using a pen for classes that don't require calculations and pencil for those that do.

4. Order assignments by date
The date is just as important as your name, class, and title of assignment. It's helpful to record the date if you're using the same paper for the same assignment. At the end of the quarter, it's helpful to remove the papers and put them in a separate portfolio. You can look over each assignment for final exams. I like to organize the papers by dates, with the most recent on top. That way, you won't have to go digging around or flipping pages to find what you're looking for. You can do this for your in-school binders and folders too.

5. Organize your backpack
I highly recommend buying a book-bag with a lot of pockets and compartments. This way you'll have enough room to store everything you need - a bottle of water, lunch, school books, etc. For the biggest compartment, put in your books and school supplies so that it's easy to get them out. Place the lightest things in front (folders), then notebooks, and finally binders. I suggest alternating the faces of notebooks and binders to ensure stability. You can put your novels, pencil case or pencil box, and ruler in the front within reach.

If learning to be organized was your New Year resolution, I suggest keeping this article handy. Remember organization is a skill that can be acquired. Making this change have positively changed people's lives. And now you're all set for the upcoming school year!