Your Ultimate Guide to Staying Organized This Semester

Imagine this: It’s the start of the fall semester. You signed up for five—no, wait, was it six?—classes this year? You might have a yoga class after your first block… or was it the second? And you only work 15 hours this week, leaving you some time to do… oh no, you’re already late on your first day!

With the start of a bustling school year, it’s so easy to lose track of endless classes, an ever-changing work schedule, and the many, many clubs you want to join. Trust me, I’ve been there. When I was in university, I managed to juggle a full-time course load, three jobs, multiple clubs, and activities—all while eating healthy and hitting the gym every day. If that sounds overwhelming, don’t worry. Here are a few tried-and-true tips to help you stay organized and thrive in college.

1. Utilize a Digital Calendar
One of the best tools at your disposal is a digital calendar. I found Google or Apple Calendar to be incredibly useful for staying organized. The ability to color-code your calendar makes it visually appealing and easy to identify your tasks at a glance. I used the calendar connected to my student email to plan out my classes, club meetings, office hours, study blocks, and more. This simple step will help you manage your spare time so much better! An extra tip: Sync this calendar to your smartwatch or phone, so you can receive updates and reminders in real-time.

2. Keep an Assignment Tracker
If your professor provides a syllabus, take the time to read through it and jot down all the upcoming assignments, quizzes, and exams. Things can get a bit hectic around midterms and fall break, and having an assignment tracker ensures you stay on track and never miss a deadline. You can use tools like Microsoft Excel or Notion to create an assignment database. Personally, I loved using Notion for this—it’s free for students and super customizable.

3. Embrace Notion
Speaking of Notion, this platform was my holy grail in college! Notion is a versatile workspace that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to help people organize their thoughts, projects, and information. There are tons of free templates online, but I found it incredibly helpful for organizing everything from class schedules and exams to workout routines and extracurricular activities. I suggest scrolling through these free templates to find something that works best for your needs, or go ahead and create your own custom setup!

4. Use a Whiteboard for Quick Notes
Sometimes, nothing beats the satisfaction of erasing a whiteboard after a productive day. I used a whiteboard for quick meeting notes, planning vacations, tracking big exams, and more. If you’re a visual learner, like me, this method can be a game-changer. I recommend using a large monthly calendar and a sectioned weekly calendar for prioritizing tasks. You can find some great options from my Amazon storefront, but any sturdy whiteboard will do the trick.

5. Organize Your Laptop Background
Your laptop background is one of the first things you see when you open your device, so why not make it both functional and aesthetically pleasing? An organized background with a priority list, reminders, and your daily schedule can set the tone for a productive day. I typically use Canva to create eye-catching backgrounds that are both stylish and practical. And the best part? You can access Canva for free with a student email account. I’ve even created a tutorial on how to design an organized background on a MacBook—feel free to access my personal template here, completely free!