Staying organized during the time of application season and the final year or two of high school can be extremely challenging. Between college applications, the first few weeks of school, admissions essays, quizzes, sports and other extracurriculars, oftentimes it can feel like a frantic and rushed race to the finish line of November 1st. And then winter break. And then the new year. And then admissions decisions. Staying organized might even be the last thing on your mind, you might just be trying to make it through the week. We get it! There's so much to accomplish over these first few pivotal months of school, and while the last thing you might want to do is formulate a plan to stay organized, it is the best way in the long run to be able to relax as much as possible and not get caught up in the stress of the day to day. Luckily, we've got some tips for you to find ways to stay organized while in this season.
Keep a calendar
Keeping a calendar might seem like a lot to maintain, especially if you've never done it before. It's easy to forget when (or what) to write down. Start by writing down every due date you know about, along with any practices, games, and trips or other obligations . This a great way to stay on top of assignments, extracurriculars, as well as any outside commitments. For those who are visual people, this especially is a win. It's also a great habit to start before college!
Organize your workspace
Keeping an organized workspace can help you focus easier. More than one study has been done on the subject, and all have found that keeping the area in which you work clean and organized leads to a higher rate of productivity. With less clutter around you, it can make you feel put together and ready to work, rather than overwhelmed by the space. It also can help you locate items, tools, and documents easier, leading to less distractions and less chance for disruption to offset your workflow.
Write in a way you understand
If you're writing notes you know you'll be studying later, it's imperative to write them in a way you'll understand later. It's one thing to write things down shorthand or illegible when the teacher is describing what you're learning, it's another when you're trying to reread it hours later and remember what you wrote down.
If you're going to shorthand things, write down a key in the front or back of the notebook that describes what different shortened phrases mean. Write slowly and legibly, your future self will thank you. If you don't understand a topic, circle or star it to ask the teacher about later. Figuring out what style of note taking works for you can be tricky, so try out a few and see what works best for you!
Stay consistent
There's a wonderful quote by James Clear, the author of Atomic Habits that perfectly describes this.
"You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the levels of your systems."
The accuracy of this simple statement applies to every place in life, including organization during busy times. If your goal is to be organized, but you are inconsistent in keeping a clean workspace, you will not be organized. If your goal is to get good grades, but you skip nights studying, you'll find it much harder to achieve.
When staying organized, or on top of notes, or keeping a calendar feels like too much, remember the discipline of the habit you are building in your organization. The practice of organization now can help you monumentally in college, and as Clear says, you'll fall back on what you've been practicing, not what you hope to accomplish.
We hope this post has helped you find some ways to build and maintain organization throughout this crazy time of college application season! Good luck students!
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