The Art of Organized Chaos

One of the most overwhelming things in the world has to be the first week of school. Each professor hands out their own syllabus, containing attendance policies, late policies, and dates of all the tests you have for the semester. The syllabus may or may not also include a daily or weekly outline of all the assignments, group projects, and readings their students have for the entire semester. I don’t know about all of you, but when I see that list I tend to have a brief panic attack — okay, maybe not that extreme — but my heart rate does increase. I start thinking to myself, “How on earth am I going to get all of this done?” and, “Doesn’t this guy realize I have five other professors giving me the same amount of work?” and, “Don’t they know I have lacrosse practice every day? And clubs I want to be a part of? What about time to relax with my friends?” At this point I have to slow my thinking, prevent myself from any further stress and brain trauma, and make a plan of action.

Whether or not they want to admit it, most people find themselves in this same situation. I find that the best cure for first-week-of-school stress, or any kind of stress, is to sit down and get organized! This way, I can make a plan for myself that works, and I can accomplish each task on time and to the best of my ability. You do not have to be an extreme organizer to easily manage your time in college. In fact, this may be one of the more fun tasks about college because it’s a puzzle. You get to find out the best way for you, as a student, to accomplish everything you need to, but also include everything you want to.

The first step to sorting chores is to make a calendar. I find that a planner works best for me; I am able to constantly be writing and adjusting times and plans with people on the spot. Writing items down also helps me to remember them better because I can recall where I was when I made the changes or add-ins. This method, however, does not pertain to all. iCal for Mac is a fantastic resource, and phone calendars can also be helpful. A good starting spot is finding a tool that works for you and writing down all the information that you have. Take the items that are mandatory (i.e. class, sports practice, tests, meetings, etc.) and write those in a specific color, this way you remember to complete them and know that they are the most important. Next, make a list of all the events you would like to attend and mark those in a different color. Take the rest of the items and make a “to-do” list; this can include anything from errands to working out to finishing up some homework. These chores can be placed throughout your days and weeks and can vary depending on what you should accomplish. I did this exact organizational exercise in a class this year and it really helped me to analyze myself as an organizer.

The process can seem overwhelming, but having the skill to break things down and prioritize will help you to accomplish a lot during your college career.

Photo courtesy of http://txstateu.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/planner.jpg