Trying to Get Organized? Look Beyond Your Schoolwork!

Many people find that throughout an academic term, their level of organization declines with each passing day. They start with all new materials to set off on the right foot, but as the days go on, more and more crumpled papers accumulate in their school bags, they run out of pens and pencils, and things simply fall out of place. One way to approach this problem is to think about all the spaces outside of your academic world, like your room, your car, or your closet: are they clean? Sometimes, starting by tidying up these spaces not only provides us with a feeling of relief and organization, but it can also inspire us to want to keep things clean as time goes on.

Also, taking the time to clean up and stay tidy might help you avoid procrastination later on. Are you the kind of person who decides to clean your living space only as soon as you really need to start writing a paper? Do you only clean up after yourself in the kitchen when you should be studying for an exam? Avoid the potential to procrastinate by doing everything in your power to keep things clean from the beginning. If you go to study in a room that is already organized and tidy, you won't be distracted by things being out of place. Instead, you will have a tranquil atmosphere in which to organize your thoughts.

Start today by going through your closet and picking all the clothes you haven't worn in over a year. You most likely won't ever wear them again, so donate them to a thrift store or throw them out. Now look under your bed: what can you get rid of from there? Continuing this process will undoubtedly give you a sense of catharsis and satisfaction knowing that you aren't putting off the task any longer. The process of getting organized is self-reinforcing, so you may very well find that once you've tidied up all of your living space, the next thing to organize is your schoolwork.

Organization is crucial for a successful academic term. More often than not, frazzled notes represent frazzled thoughts. Even if your notes are currently messy, hard to read, or all over the place, start by re-writing or retyping them in a clean space. Not only will this help you to organize, but it will also help you remember what you've written down by writing it all over again. Throw out the papers and garbage sitting at the bottom of your bag. Buy yourself a new set of nice, black pens and don't lose them this time! Make 2011 your most organized year yet.