6 tips for staying organised at University

12 October 2018

 Although term has only just started, it’s important to be organised with university work from the beginning in order to prevent it all piling up. Getting yourself organised early will save you a whole lot of stress, time and money! 

1    Get enough sleep – Possibly the most important tip, but also the trickiest to stick too. We know it’s never possible to get a full eight hours every night when at university, but you will never feel on top of things when you’ve only had a few hours’ sleep every night. 

2)    Make the most out of the university library – While it may seem like a good idea to work from home, from the comfort of your own bed, it probably isn’t. University libraries are full of resources, silent study and are much less likely to be distracted by housemates and social media. 

3)    Buy a planner / journal – Although it may seem outdated to have a diary these days, as everyone tends to use their phones, it really does help with staying on top of deadlines alongside your personal life. You can use a diary to create weekly or monthly timetables, put reminder messages of upcoming deadlines and even create weekly money trackers.

4)    Test out apps and websites – There are hundreds of different apps and websites which are created in order to help you with staying organised. Some of our favourites include StudyBlue, an app which uses your course information to create a set of revision cards, Exam Countdown which keeps track of the days until each of your exams and Alarmy, which is an app meant for students who struggle to wake up early; the app requires users to complete small tasks before it turns off.

5)    Use a stopwatch or timer – When working, turn your phone on aeroplane mode, remove any other distractions from where you are working and set a timer for 30- or 40-minute blocks, followed by a 10 to 15-minute break. 

6)    Reward yourself – If you don’t reward yourself for hard work, you’ll find it tricky to stay motivated. Plan your rewards around your work, meaning you’ll have something to look forward to after finishing the task in hand. It could be anything from ordering a takeaway to going out to the pub with friends.