Here, There and Everywhere
Staying organised at University is a crucial, albeit daunting, task. Presentations, projects, plans. Deadlines. More presentations, more projects, more plans. More deadlines looming above previous deadlines. Next thing you know, you’re drowning assignments and the only way is down. It seems almost impossible to get everything done and there’s just not enough hours in the day to sort it all out.
What you need to do is nip this tower of tasks in the bud before it even begins to build up. Incorporating just a few tricks into your daily routine can greatly increase your organization and in turn, greatly reduce your stress levels. Try following these tips and see how much more relaxed you feel after only a few weeks.
1. Create a to-do list
How are you going to remember everything you have to get done when your brain runs at a thousand miles per hour and you can barely remember to eat lunch? This is where a to-do list comes in. Every time something new pops up, scribble the task and its deadline down on a to-do list (for example, on your phone or in a notepad). Not only does this mean you stay on top of what you have to do and know when everything is due in, but it also means you can experience that sense of achievement when you complete a job and can tick it off the list.
2. Break up tasks
Sometimes when we have a huge project to get done, it’s easy to delay starting it, out of pure fear of the workload ahead. To remain motivated, break the big task up into smaller and more manageable pieces. This way, you can tackle it little by little and before you know it, you’ll only have one more small step to take before the project is completed.
3. Don’t take on TOO much
It’s the start of a new academic year, and inevitably, you want to get involved with as much as you can. However, there’s a thin line between taking advantage of all the opportunities University has to offer, and putting way too much on your plate. Only take on things that you have a passion for and don’t mind carving time out of your busy schedule to do. If you’re already a student mentor, do you really need to also become a University ambassador? Think about what you’re most interested in and try not to drown yourself in too many extra responsibilities on top of your degree.
4. Be realistic with your plans
Monday night Fever. Tuesday night Timepiece. Dinner with friends on Wednesday. Thursday night Fever. Friday at Pheonix. Saturday night pub. Sunday night work.
Hmmm. This is not a sustainable timetable! University is about having fun, but you’ve got to strike that work-life balance. It’s important to dedicate a couple nights a week to getting work done in order to avoid that frenzied cramming session between returning from Fever at 4am and your essay deadline at 10am. Be realistic with your plans.
5. Have regular breaks
Another key element of working through that to-do list is listening to your body and brain and taking a break. There’s no point moving straight from one essay to another- your brain can’t deal with this amount of pressure. You need to give it time to relax and recover, and then when you embark on your next task, you’ll be much more productive and save yourself a lot more time in the long run.
6. Stay tidy!
It’s too easy to let our papers, pens, clothes, even plates, pile up in our rooms when we’ve got 20 things to do by the end of the week. However, a tidy room = a tidy mind. Working in a clean and organised space calms your mind, and it only takes 10 minutes to put everything away if you stay focussed. Set a 10 minute stopwatch on your phone, get tidying and turn that swamp into a professional environment. Such a small trick can be a huge help.