Fast, Easy, and Fun Organization Tips for High School and College Students

We all know life can get busy, but being in high school and college, things just pile on top of each other until it avalanches. Homework assignments, work, sports, family, friends, the list goes on. So *ta da!!* I’m here to give you some tips for staying organized!

• Get yourself a little notebook or planner (even better, an Autumn Breezy Planner).
• Get into the habit of writing things down in it. Even if it’s just keywords or doodles, it’ll get you into the habit so that you will start remembering to write things down.

• LISTS!!! I love lists. Apparently it’s a Virgo thing, but I’m not certain on that. I think 110% of the things I write down are in the form of lists. They’re easy to quickly glance at and it’s all right there. I always include lots of lists in my planners as well.
• Start planning in advance. Know you’re going to be doing something Saturday, May 7? Write it down! Fill it in! Mark it in your month-at-a-glance hanging cat calendar! (I circle my dates.) Now you know not to make more plans on that day.

• Make it a point to do things the night before. Pick out your clothes, pack your backpack, do your homework, pack your lunch, pack for your trip (actually, do this wayyyyyy before…I’m going to Florida in March and I’m already packed). And have everything waiting for you. Leave what you need to take with you that day by the door or on a table or chair that you’re always near. It’ll be easy to grab and go, but it’ll remind you to take it all with you.
• I hate this tip, but I’m going to give it to you anyway. Get up early. ICK! I know. I hate waking up…it’s my least favorite part of the day, but you know…it has to be done, sometimes. And it got me really far today! Today was my day to sleep in (8:30am), but I woke up at 7, cleaned, and did TWO assignments. So I’m feeling pretty accomplished right now.

• Color code! Who doesn’t like color? Everything in my planner is completely color coded so I know exactly what I have going on by it’s color. It a wonderfully amazing and fun way to organize yourself.
  • Red: anything ambulance related (duty shifts, meetings, events, etc.)
  • Orange: school & classes
  • Green: money & paychecks (I don’t usually have this on my calendar, but in my notes section. I’m trying a Money Saving Challenge and keep track of my money that way).
  • Blue: babysitting
  • Purple: things that I have to do or do not allow distraction…weird, I know. A birthday party would be in purple because I wouldn’t be able to do anything else at that time.
  • Pink: things that I can do or can have distractions…weird, again. This would be more like a trip to Starbucks to get some stuff done. It’s something that doesn’t have a specific start of end time and I can do other things during it…like shop or chat with friends.

• Now when it comes to school, I’ve found my life (and back) saving trick. Either get one large binder (2 or 3 inch) with lots of dividers or get a 5-subject notebook. Just ONE BOOK for all your classes with each class having one section. Your back will thank you later. This allows you enough space to fit everything you want without having 900 different places that all those things can go. If you do go with the 5-subject notebook option, a good tip is to get an additional folder to keep loose papers. The folders inside the notebooks don’t usually hold much and fill rather quickly. Extra space is always good.
• Again, color code. You can go crazy and color code per class (I’ve done this before and it’s definitely helpful), or don’t go crazy and just make it fun. Take your notes in different colors and fonts. Notes don’t have to be boring, and studying from colorful notes will help your remember things, so there’s a win-win right there!
• Get a backpack or (girls!) a nice big purse. I don’t think I hate anything more than carrying around 6 different things and a bag of some sort is a really good alternative to that. In high school, my locker was not anywhere near my classes, so this was my best option. If you want a really well-made, simple, and stylish purse, ladies, take a look at Madewell (see what I did there?). These are pricy ($200ish), but really, really good. This wasn’t an option for me, so I found a very similar one at Francesca’s for just $50  AND it’s reversible. I don’t think it gets any better than that! (HEADS UP: What’s on Francesca’s website isn’t always everything in the store. Definitely take a look in the physical store. My purse wasn’t on the website and when I went shopping, I found it hiding in the very back of the display.)
• In the beginning of the school year, splurge on a box of some really nice pens. I use Paper Mate Felt-Tip Pens, which I completely love, BUT if you’re interested in them, wait for them to go on sale. I bought them from Staples for $10 during the summer. I love how they write more like markers and their colors are always bright and bold. You can turn the pen a bit or use less pressure and get a totally different look in your writing. It’s really fun. My dad, who basically writes all day, loves his Cross Pen. They’re more than I would spend on just one pen, but they’re supposedly really good. The refills are also cheaper and you can even go with a generic brand to save some more money.
• Get assorted color highlighters and sticky notes in every size. You can even take your notes like this:
  • Red/Pink: I have no idea what this is. What class is this even for? Is this even English?
  • Yellow/Orange: I know this, but I need to take another look at this. If I study this a few more times, I’ll understand it.
  • Green: I got this! This is a piece of cake! I’m going to get a 100% A+ on this!

I hope these tips have helped you and maybe you’ll be soon on your way to being organized as well. I’m sure some more will pop into my brain and I’ll be sure to share some more tips with you. Happy Organization!