So, here we are! Only three weeks in and yet we have already begun to settle into the college routine. We no longer need to fumble around with our maps and our schedules on the way to class, and we’ve quickly learned that wearing a lanyard is a serious social faux pas. We’ve started to establish friend groups, picked out our favorite places to eat, and joined a ridiculous amount of clubs. These first few weeks, filled with excitement and discovery, are also a crucial time in which we will set the foundation for our next four years; a time in which we will create habits and routines that will stick with us for the rest of our careers as college students.
Due to popular demand (and also personal preference), I have decided to devote this blog to time management and organization with the goal of providing strategies and tips that will set the framework for a successful four years ahead. And, to kick it off, I want to start by discussing one of the most basic strategies that I consider to be a fundamental component to an organized life/college career: lists!
Easy enough, right? Almost everyone dabbles in list making: keeping a planner, jotting things down in the notepad on your phone, scribbling a due date on the back of your hand or on a loose piece of paper, etc. And these are all great starts! But in order to be a serious list maker, we have to take it to the next level. Let’s be honest here, how often do you actually look at the notes in your phone? How many times have you written something on your hand only to later discover that it had washed off in the sink? How many times have you lost that little piece of paper with that important due date written on it or searched for your planner, only to find it crumpled up in the bottom of your backpack? Below, I’ve compiled a few pro tips to help you create the ultimate list and avoid all of the previously mentioned complications.
1) Go back to good old fashioned paper and pen. It is so easy to get caught up in the sparkling convenience of technology that we abandon tried-and-true traditions. When it comes to list making, using paper and pen will not only save you the agony of possibly losing your digital files, but will also make the list a more concrete entity. It will be harder for you to forget about tasks because they won’t be buried in your notebook app.
2) Make a new list each week. Every Sunday or Monday, sit down and map out your commitments, assignments, meetings, and social events, placing the most pressing matters at the top of the list and the less important things at the bottom. Next to the assignment title, write the date that it is due and then an estimate of how much time it will take to complete. The dates will help you prioritize your tasks and the time estimate will give you a realistic picture of your workload.
3) Hang your list in a stationary location where you cannot avoid it. Tape it right next to your bed, on your mirror, above your desk… somewhere where you constantly are reminded of your deadlines. This decreases the likelihood that you will forget about an assignment or put it off until the last minute and also ensures that you will not misplace your list.
4) The final (and most fun) step: cross off the activities after you complete them. Believe it or not, the simple act of scratching a line through a task is one of the most fulfilling experiences ever. It gives you a feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction to know that you have one less assignment looming over your head and motivates you to get more done.
I challenge all of you guys to follow the above strategies for just a week and see how much of a difference it will make in your productivity and organization. Now, in the infancy of our college careers, is the time to make new habits and establish new routines and making lists is the first step to organizing your life and making the most out of your time at Penn State! So, will you accept the list challenge? Do you think it will become a habit for you? Do you already have a few listing strategies of your own that you want to share? Comment below!