4 Organizational Tips to Kick Off the Fall Semester

Summer is flying by, which means that the fall semester is quickly approaching. Between moving in, starting classes and getting back into your daily routine, it can be an overwhelming time both for incoming freshmen and returning students. Don’t worry though, we’re here to help you out.

Getting organized will make your return to school a lot less hectic, so check out a few organizational tips below to kick off the fall semester on the right note.

1. Invest in a planner.

The beginning of a new semester is the perfect time to get organized. Having a planner will help you to keep track of your class schedule, work schedule and extracurricular activities. You don’t want to miss a meeting or be late to work, because you have so many responsibilities on your plate. Using a planner will help you plan out your day, so you know when you have free time and when you’re busy. It’s also important to schedule in time to do homework, study, relax and spend time with your friends. College is a balancing act and although sometimes it may seem like you have no time, a planner will help you visualize your day-to-day activities and stay on top of everything you need (and want) to do.

2. Pack ahead of time and unpack right away.

When you’re rushing to get all of your belongings together at the last minute, you’re more likely to forget something. You don’t want to feel stressed out before the semester even really begins, so do yourself a favor and begin packing in advance. Make a checklist of all of the items you’ll need and be sure to check them off as you pack. This is a great way to keep your stuff organized, so when you arrive at school, you’ll know what you have with you. Just like packing early is critical, unpacking immediately is as well. The last thing you want is to still have a room full of bags and suitcases once you’ve already started classes.

3. Be honest with yourself.

Take the time to sit down and think about your priorities and responsibilities over the course of the semester and set reasonable goals for yourself about what you’d like to accomplish. If you want to get better grades in school, leave more time for studying and maybe cut back on your extracurriculars. If you need to make more money this semester, consider taking on a part-time job or internship. Compromising is a huge part of staying organized and if you have an idea of what you can and can’t commit to throughout the next few months, it will be a lot easier to say no (or yes) down the line.

4. Don’t forget about miscellaneous responsibilities as well.

When you plan out your day with a planner, it can be easy to forget about the little things like eating meals, cleaning, grocery shopping and doing laundry, but these tasks must still get done, so don’t forget about them. If you think about these things ahead of time and keep in mind that other unexpected things can and will happen, you’ll feel much less overwhelmed when you realize that you have to take an hour or two to clean your room or you get sick and need to go to the doctor. Self care is extremely important in order to work efficiently and lead a happy and healthy college life, so don’t push it to the back burner because of your busy schedule.

Follow these tips and you’ll be on your way to a more relaxing and organized semester. If you organize your schedule, your life and your thoughts, you’ll start off the fall semester ready to take on another sixteen weeks of class, work, clubs and fun too!