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20 Ideas to Help Students

Get Organized

by Maria Gracia Updated August 18, 2024 Join our newsletter to be notified when new content is added to our website. A new school year brings a fresh opportunity to get organized and stay on track. Here are 20 tips to help students maintain an organized path to success: 1. Set Goals: Start the school year by setting realistic goals and breaking them down into smaller, manageable tasks. Write these goals on index cards and place them somewhere visible. Seeing your goals daily will keep you motivated and focused. 2. Don’t Rush: Give yourself plenty of time in the morning. If you need 30 minutes to get ready, wake up 45 minutes before you need to leave. To avoid oversleeping, place your alarm clock across the room so you have to get out of bed to turn it off. 3. Prepare Your Wardrobe: Lay out your clothes for the next day before you go to bed. This will save you time and stress in the morning. 4. Avoid Clutter: Start the school year clutter-free and strive to keep it that way. As papers become outdated, like past events, toss them immediately. 5. Make To-Do Lists: Spend at least 15 minutes each day preparing a to-do list for tomorrow. Knowing what tasks need to be done will keep you organized and focused. 6. Create an Effective Study Area: Designate a quiet, well-lit space for studying. Avoid distractions like the TV, and consider using a "Do Not Disturb" sign. If you can’t find a quiet spot at home, try the library. 7. Get Your Beauty Sleep: Ensure you get a good night's sleep so you're alert and ready to learn the next day. 8. Eat Healthy: Maintain a balanced diet with three healthy meals a day, and snack on raw veggies, fruit, cheese, and nuts. Avoid sweets that can make you feel sluggish. 9. Avoid Overload: While it's great to participate in extracurricular activities, don’t over-commit. Make sure you have enough time for your studies before signing up for additional activities. 10. Use a Student Planner: Choose an academic planner to help keep you organized all school year long. In addition, use separate folders for school announcements, graded tests, and papers for your parents. I really like Trapper Keeper Binders to keep all school paperwork organized. 11. Use One Calendar: Stick to one calendar for all your activities to avoid scheduling conflicts. Using multiple calendars can lead to confusion and missed appointments. 12. Color-Code: If you prefer a paper planner, use color-coding for different activities. Highlight upcoming tests in yellow, study time in green, and recreational activities in pink. 13. Record It: As soon as you learn about a test, event, or anything you need to prepare for, immediately add it to your digital calendar or planner. Don’t wait—you might forget. 14. Break Up Study Time: Figure out how many study hours you need and spread them out. For example, if you need six hours to study, break it into six one-hour sessions over several days. 15. Schedule Consistent Study Times: Set aside a specific time each day for studying, and stick to it. Avoid last- minute cramming by studying a little every day. 16. Break It Down: Tackle big tasks by breaking them into smaller, manageable steps. For instance, study one chapter at a time or break a project into several stages. 17. Eat Your Broccoli First: Just like you’d save dessert for after your meal, do the hardest homework first. Once that’s done, the rest will feel easy. 18. Set Rules for Yourself: It’s easy to get distracted by fun activities. Set rules like “no phone until I’ve studied for 20 minutes” to keep yourself on track. 19. Turn Off Notifications: Avoid distractions by turning off all device notifications while studying or doing homework. 20. Re-Organize Daily: Spend 5 to 10 minutes at the end of each day decluttering. Recycle unnecessary papers, file important documents, clear your desk, and double-check that all tasks are completed. Plan for tomorrow. Back to Organized Kids Index