How I Set Up My Planner

Planner is lyfe. 

But really. I absolutely love my planner, and I don't know how I managed to keep my life together but I started keeping one. There's a huge community of people that really get into decorating their planners. I tried that, and it took too much from my organization, so that I can't really touch on. But I will show you how I set my planner in a simple but efficient fashion, and also the different kinds of planners and how you can find your best one.

Types of Planners

There are SO many types of planners for different lifestyles; planners for moms, planners for college students, planner for high schoolers, etc. Since I am a blog geared more toward the college student, I will be explaining planners that college students would find most helpful, although these can be used for anyone, really.

The day planner. These planners list out your days with hour increments. Most usually go from 7am - 8pm, Monday-Sunday. Some have a monthly/weekly view, some don't. These are for really busy people, because you can plan your day hour by hour.

Here's the DayMinder from Target the cheaper alternative, and the DayTimer, a pretty customized but more expensive option.

The vertical planner. Really, I don't know what else to call this. It's a monthly and weekly view planner, but the week is set up vertically, balled "morning" "afternoon" and "night." These are used a lot by people who really love to decorate planners, because a lot of shops on Etsy sell stickers that let you personalize it. It's also used by many bloggers and YouTubers for that same reason. The most popular is the Erin Condren LifePlanner, but it is pretty pricey. 

The horizontal planner. Again, I don't know what else to call this. It's pretty much the standard planner, and can have a weekly/monthly or just monthly view. These are the most diverse kind of planners, I think, because it can come in all sizes, colors, and varieties. Last year I used a Lilly Pulitzer Planner, but I got a Sugar Paper Planner. The Lilly planner is pretty expensive, but any agenda at Target or Walmart will run about 10$, maybe more maybe less.

You can always personalize a planner on Paper Source. I've never done this, because I never needed to, but I do know people that have them and love them. These are for people that are extremely particular about how they plan.

How I Set Up My Planner

Since I haven't gotten any of my syllabuses yet, I have to show you pictures from my planner last year. I tweaked a bit what I will be doing for my planner this year, but it's pretty similar.

Whenever I buy my planner, I look for three things; a monthly and weekly view, spiral bound, and the weekly views are horizontal without any hours.

Overall Set up:

1. I color code EVERYTHING. Each class I use a specific color (pink, purple, green,light blue, red) and highlighters that almost match, since they don't make red highlighters I use red pen and yellow highlight. Whatever color I assign to my class, I use for my both my planner and notes. It's really helpful in keeping me organized, and also when I'm taking notes it helps me remember better, since color is helpful in retaining information. I generally use my least favorite class on my favorite color, too, because I love using that color, I will take more notes and write more down so I can see the color more. It's a weird tidbit but it helps me a lot.

2. For other activities, like school events or fraternity events, I always use the same color: orange for school events, and dark blue for APhiO events, If there's a coffee date or something small and social, I just use black ink, because there's only so many pen colors in the world.

3. I use a lot of post it notes for my planners. Target has really cute ones for $1 in the dollar section, along with post it flags. Whenever I run out of room in my monthly or weekly section, I will use a small post it to write more down. I also use it to make lists so I can move it around if I need to. Lastly, I use Post It brand large lined post its in my weekly view so I can take notes at my chapter; dates of fellowship events, times I signed up to help with service events, things like that. It's so I'm not wasting time flipping through my planner to find a certain date to write things down. I will copy it down in my planner when I get home from chapter.

4. By no means do I decorate my planner extensively, but there are a few things I like to do. I put my monogram on the front from an Etsy shop called IHeartHoundstooth, and I just love having my monogram on things. Since I have a white planner with gold polka dots this year, I ordered a mint monogram and I'm so ready for it to come in. I also will get cheap stickers for holidays; valentine's day, Christmas, 4th of July, etc. just to spice it up. Lastly, I use a bookmark that I made from a jumbo paper clip, and I hot glued a paper bow on it I got from hobby lobby.

Monthly View Set Up:

I use my monthly view for my important dates, because it's what I can look at it and see all of my due dates and how far away, or close, they are.

1. Whenever I get my syllabuses, the first thing I do is find all of my quiz dates, exam dates, paper due dates, project due dates, and other due dates, and write them in my monthly view. Like I said earlier, it helps me visually see how far away those are and plan accordingly. For exams, paper due dates, and project due dates, I highlight. By all means, quizzes are important, but not as important as the other things. 

2. I never write down that I have chapter at 8:15 on Sundays, because it's ingrained in my brain. But sometimes we have to move it, and when we do, I write it in the monthly view. Since I glance at my monthly view everyday, it's something that I just remember after looking at it all week.

3. I will also write down the home football and hockey games. I like hockey a lot more, but in case I ever feel in the mood for a football game, I have it written down. Along with that, I have big events the school is hosting, like homecoming, parents weekend, or sibs n kids.

4. For bills, I write down what it is on a post it flag and stick in on the date it's due. I put it on a post it note so I throw it away when it's paid. I don't really like to be reminded I'm an adult with bills.

I always suggest making your monthly view for the most important things. You can see it all at once and know how long you have to plan for it.

Weekly View

1. Like my monthly view, when I get my syllabus I write down all my homework. It can take a few hours, but I know I won't have to worry about it afterwards. In college, most homework involves reading, but this is when I'll also write down quizzes I have coming up. 

2. I organize my weekly view by writing each class the day I have it. For example, I have 4 classes Monday; sociology, psyc, and two criminal justice class. When I put them in my notebook, I call them by the class, but abbreviated. For exmaple, since I have 2 criminal justice class, I write one as sem (senior seminar) and ins (institutional and community correction). I really just abbreviate it however I feel like. And all of this is all done in my color coding system, my class and assignment.

3. Along with monthly view, I also write down on the day when my due dates or exam dates are. I will also write down everyday that it's coming up the week before in that class section. My freshman and beginning of my sophomore year it happened too many times I wouldn't pay attention to dates, and now, I do what I can to make sure I'm not missing any dates, or scrambling at the last minute to get stuff done.

4. Whenever I sign up for something in APhiO, I write it down in the weekly view. If I sign up for a service event, fellowship event, or anything like that. 

5. I have the unfortunate luck of having 4 classes on one day most of the time. So whenever I run out of room on a day, I just take a small sticky note and write down any of the above on it. Next I explain how I explain how I use sticky notes for list, but I only use small sticky notes for this purpose.

6. Ok more sticky notes! And lists! Both of which I love. Every night, I make a list of what I need to do the next day on a sticky note. I will stick it on the next day (ie sticky notes of Monday go on Tuesday's day) so it won't interfere with what I'm seeing that day. As I do it, I check it off, and throw it away. On Sunday nights, I make a list of the week, which I stick on the page I'm not currently using (either Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday if it's Thursday/Friday/Saturday/Sunday, and vice verse), again so it doesn't interfere with my exact day. Like I said earlier, I take my chapter notes on a post it that I keep posted on Sunday.

7. Lastly, this is where I keep all my social events, small things like "coffee with little," or "lunch with Keely." I will also write down group meetings or organization related meetings, the day we are meeting and when/where. 

Planners are the best way to keep yourself organized. So, go to Target, buy a cute planner, and help keep yourself on track. Feel free to set it up however you'd like, or copy exactly what I do, whatever helps you stay on track. 

How to Stay Organized for School

I've found out that organization is like some supreme subculture on the internet that I have completely submerged myself in. Organization not only helps me keep my anxiety under control, it helps me keep my life in check, and honestly, it's so fun and is another way for me to be creative. So besides helping you stay on top of assignments and responsibilities, it also let's you take something you need and make it your own. 
Organization is something that can be as simple as you'd like, and is based completely on how you are as person. As I've gone through college I've progressed into organization all aspects of my life, which, like I said earlier, has helped me so much with my anxiety.
So whether you are a beginner organizer or a pro, I have some tips to help you stay organized and successful this semester.
First, it's incredibly important that you have somewhere to write down all your due dates, or other important dates. The best way is a planner (which I will be showing how I organize my planner this week), a desk calendar, a dry erase board, an app on your phone, or maybe all the above. There are some people that do much better with paper, and others who are better with keeping things on their phone. Either way, it's important to have one place to input all your responsibilities and to dos, because there is no way you can remember all the things you need to do.
Second,  you need a place to keep all your notes and papers. I will admit I use to have a bad habit of shoving things into my notebook and planner. But I decided to invest in a file folder and WOW it has done me wonders. I kept exams, labs, handouts, and even my syllabuses in it. It was thin and I could easily carry it around with me. Likewise, I had one large notebook for note taking. I know a lot of people use this, using a 5 subject spiral bound notebook. It's great because it keeps all your notes in one place, there's no worry you'll grab the wrong notebook running to class, and it's good to study between classes, because you have all your notes in one place. But I do suggest the Five Star Flex Notebinder. My roommate used this, and last spring I got one, and although it's pricey, it's a great investment. It's a binder and spiral in one, because it's not bulky and hard like a binder, but it has 3 rings which allow you to easily move papers around. I can't recommend this enough.
Third, keeps things together. Have a backpack and pencil case that you carry around on campus. I know this sounds like common sense, but I do frequently see people walking around campus just carrying their books. When you have one place to keep everything, you won't be losing anything or leaving anything anywhere. It's important to keep these things clean. all too often I just leave gum wrappers or shoved papers in there and it got me in the habit or doing the same with all my work. Maybe at the end of the week on Sunday night go through and clean it all out. It'll keep it clean but you may also find some papers you need and forgot to file away!
Fourth, keep your desk and workspace clean and organized. I often say that if something is dirty, I can't focus and I'm stressed out until it's back in order, and my desk is no different. I spend a lot of time at my desk, and it's an important part of my room. Having trash, papers, school work, cups, whatever, cluttered all over your work around makes it hard to concentrate. Along with keeping it clean, make it cute, but functional! Make a whiteboard out of a picture frame or wrap some fabric around a corkboard and hang it up above your desk, it'll keep your organized as well as give it some creative flare.
Fifth, if you do your work on a computer, organize your files. you do it however you'd like, but I will tell you my way that helps me best: To begin, I have a folder with the semester and year on it, ie "fall 2012," "spring 2013," "fall 2013," so I know the semester. inside that, I make a folder for the class, not the name but the index number, like "CRJU 2200," "PSYC 3040," "DHS 3000." Different schools use different abbreviations, but I know what each one means - crju means criminal justice, psyc means psychology, and dhs means research methods. Inside the class folder, I will make folders depending on the classwork. For example, for my psyc 3040 class, I had five folders, because I had five tasks; "case studies," "book questions," "final paper," "resources," "group case studies." So for example, for Monday's we would have to read the chapter and answer the book questions, and turn it in electronically. For Wednesday classes, we had to read 2 case studies and ask three questions for each. Then, twice a semester, a group for have to present a case, so in that folder, I kept all that material. If you take class notes on your computer, the best method would be to start a new document every time, and title the notes the date and subject matter. Feel free to set it up however works best for you, though.
Six, plan your days ahead of time. Especially if you are not a morning person. On Sunday night, sit down and figure out what you need to do during the week; pay rent, return a library book, start your sociology project, and make your list in your planner. Then, figure out what you need to do Monday; read pages 340-390, do your geology quiz, book a room for your sorority, etc. Then, each night, make your list of what you need to do the next day and put it in your planner. It will help you sleep better, because you aren't thinking about what needs to get done, and also you won't have to wake up earlier in the morning to figure it out. 
Seven, post it notes are your BFF. My freshman year roommate had this ingenues idea for writing down her assignments for the week on sticky notes assigned for each day, and hung them up on her desk (the desks in our dorm had large hutches on top with a ledge that make it perfect to see). If you refuse to use a planner, this is your next best option. It's also great to write a quick note to stick on your laptop, planner, or bathroom mirror if you are in a hurry and remember something, I also use them to make lists to stick in my planner, and I had a pad of lined post it notes I stick in my planner to take notes in my fraternity's chapter meetings.

And there you have it! Seven tips to stay organized for college. A common theme in my blogs is to invest in a planner, so stay tuned for my next blog where I go over some planner options, and how I organize my own planner!

How to Prepare for Second Semester

College kids across the nation have spent the past two weeks without pants on, lying in bed binge watching Netflix, refusing to check fall semester's grades and denying the fact that spring semester is fast approaching. 

Me. Too.

But the great thing about a new semester is the opportunity to pull yourself up by the bootstraps, put what happened last semester behind you, and try again.

I want to help get you off to the right start, with some tips and tricks I've researched and done myself, to help make it a successful semester.

Find a Hobby

I decided to start my blog because it is my creative outlet, it's how I destress, and makes me feel like I have one aspect of my life I can control. I don't get many views per day, 30-40 maybe, but I don't do it for the views, I do it for me. So when you are going into a new semester, you need to have an outlet planned already. It doesn't have to be a new hobby, it can be a passion you have you let taper off that you want to pick back up, or it can be something completely new. College is so stressful, and with our generation being constantly bashed for being sensitive, we can often feel as though we have no way out. If you are really suffering from any external or internal issues from your stress, you do need to see someone, but you can also find a hobby. Anyone can do this. It can be anything, too. You can write, work out, paint, or, I highly suggest, starting a blog about what you love. Ultimately, you need to find something that will let your emotions run wild in any way you want, so when school becomes too much, you know you have something to turn to.

Get Into Your Routine Now

I've spent most of break staying up until the wee hours of the morning, but I have 9:30 classes Monday-Friday on the horizon. Staying up late and having early classes are very obviously two things that don't go together. The best way to make sure you aren't struggling to get into your routine the first week or two of school, start now. This can just mean going to bed earlier and waking up earlier, but I would even go as far as to play our the whole routine. For example, if you do a full face of makeup, take a shower and do your hair, or just throw on some cloths and run out the door before your classes, then do that. What I do in the morning depends solely on which day of the week it is, because some days I have one class, but on Monday I go from 9 am to 9 pm. Instead, I practice going to bed early, wake up, and make sure I can wash my face, do my hair, and get dressed by 9 am, in time to catch the bus to go to class.

Plan Your Routine for the Semester

You have your class schedule for the upcoming semester, so it's time to set up a tentative schedule for the week. It will change, of course, but having an idea for the first couple weeks so you don't run around blindly. For example, I want to start working out next semester. I have my class schedule, along with my other things that happen every week; chapter on Sunday, things like that. So I have planned out to work out every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 7:30pm because my classes are over, I have nothing else to do, and free parking starts at 7:30pm. Fridays, I have my workout scheduled for noon because that's when I'll be out of class. I have my study times set up between my class, because I have large gaps in my classes, and my laundry scheduled on Tuesday or Thursday because I only have one class. Although I know this will change, and own't be the same every week, it makes me feel a lot less anxious knowing I have some more structure.

Get New School Supplies

What is it with that rejuvenating feeling you get when you get some new school supplies? No matter how old you are, what grade you are in, or even if you aren't in school, there is no better feeling then opening a new pack of pens. There's also always that puzzling moment when you find out you managed to lose every single pencil you had bought in August. In college, supplies aren't expensive. So if you lost all your stuff from fall semester, or you just want to change it up, go to Target and pick up some stuff. I especially recommend getting a planner. If you've always had one, it's probably time for a new one, unless you use the 18 month planners. I will go into detail in my next blog about using your planner, but it is a great investment,

Clean Up Your Space

With a week left until class start, take a day to deep clean. Organize your closet, clean out under your bed, vacuum and shampoo your carpet, clean out your desk, anything that needs some attention. If you're anything like me, a cluttered room clutters your mind. Whenever my room gets dirty and cluttered throughout the semester, I stress out until it's clean and organized again. Going into your semester stress-free, it's important to make sure your room is not only clean, but organized too. 

Syllabus Week Doesn't Exist

Let's be real, there's no such thing as syllabus week. It's a lie made up to make us think the first week is going to be easy. In reality,  you spend 20 minutes, if you're really lucky, talking about it the first class, the professor let's you go, and you have homework that night. More than likely you'll be taking notes 30 minutes into class. If you haven't figured it out yet, it's incredibly easy to fall behind in college. When your homework is to read, unlike high school, you need to read. So when you have this syllabus week mentality, you will fall behind, and spend the weeks until spring break struggling to catch back up. I spent many semesters doing this, and my junior year spring semester I made myself start my work my first week, and I'm so glad I did. Even take this week to get ahead if you are lucky enough to have a lax week.

Set Your Goals

A lot of blogs talk about setting your goals, but that's because it's important. Setting goals gives you motivation and makes you want to better yourself. So before the semester starts, set some goals you want to achieve. They don't have to necessarily be academic, it could be to join a new organization, or get more involved with one you are currently in. But write them down and stick them somewhere you'll see them everyday. 

As I said earlier, each semester will let you wipe the slate clean. Don't focus on how you did in the fall, just let it motivate you.