Decorative Cork Boards

It’s August, and you know what that means…summer’s coming to an end. Some of you may be preparing to go back to school in the fall. If this is true for you, aim to make this year your best! We’ve got some great tips below on how to keep organized in the midst of midterms, papers and meetings.

1. Use a calendar. Everyone has a calendar, and this is a great way to use it! I suggest you get a large wall calendar or a planner just for school. Once you get your green sheet for each class, sit down and write down every test date or exam due date. You can use different colors for every class so that it’s easier to tell the dates apart.You can also use this method to keep track of when homework is due and club meetings.

2. Label everything! Get all your school supplies (pencils, erasers, paper clips, staples, notebooks, etc.) early and label them. It’s a good idea to dedicate one notebook to each class for smart note-taking. Also be sure to commit to using your desk for studying only so that you will not be disturbed.

3. Be smart with storage. You can either use a huge binder for all of your classes or separate binders for each class. It might be easier to stay organized with several binders. If you don’t want to carry all that weight around, try separate folders and get a file folder rack so that they are easily accessible on your desk. Expandable file folders are also useful, as they have separate sections in one pouch so you can store all of your papers in one place.

4. Make to-do lists. When you feel overwhelmed with due dates looming, try to break everything down into a small list that you can write on a post-it or pad of lined paper and keep it by you while you work. You will find it very satisfying to cross items off this list when you finish them. You can also write down the due dates next to the items so that you can prioritize and figure out what to work on first. If you prefer, you can also write this list on a dry erase board above your desk and simply erase each item as you finish!

5. Avoid clutter. As the school year goes by, your desk will probably become covered with paper, knick knacks, and office supplies. Try to avoid clutter as it can overwhelm you even  more when you’re stressed about a big paper. Use folders or drawers to keep old tests or outdated papers. Get a few decorative cork boards to hang above your desk to keep notes, lists, invitations, awards, etc. off your desk. This way you can also look up to them for inspiration. Also keep a trash can or recycle bin nearby your desk so that wrappers or paper doesn’t build up.

Hope these tips help you stay organized! Good luck with school this year!

-Golda