How to stay organised as a university student

University requires students to study independently, manage their time effectively and to turn up to lectures. Therefore, staying organised as a student is important, and with the right tools it can be easy. Here are my top tips for staying organised whilst at university (these tips can also apply to students at school/college).

Use an academic planner

My academic planner is from Papier and I use it every single day. I would be lost without it. Having an academic planner means you can plan your time to the hour, write down your deadlines and make to-do-lists. It’s also useful because you can carry it with you wherever you go, meaning you can write down any changes to your week there and then.

Using colour can also be really helpful – each week I highlight different parts of my week, for example, lectures in yellow and social activities in pink. This way, at a glance you can see what your week will be consisting of.

Use a weekly planner

Another really useful tool is a weekly planner. I keep mine by my desk and use it to plan out my week. I don’t write as much detail in this as I do in my diary, so I just write down the main parts of my day; lectures, social activities, meetings etc. I find having my week spread out in front of me is helpful because it’s one of the first things I see when I wake up, meaning I always know where I need to be and when.

Keep your space tidy

A tidy space = a tidy mind. Having organised and tidy surroundings means you are more likely to focus on work and things you need to get done. It also means you’re less likely to lose things, meaning you can keep your belongings organised, and therefore minimise any unnecessary stress.

Plan the night before

Planning for the next day the night before is really helpful for staying organised. It not only reduces stress in the morning, but it can also speed up the getting ready process. Planning the night before could include planning an outfit or packing your bag for university.

Meal prep

Meal prepping is great for those weeks where you’re so busy and don’t have a lot of time to cook. It’s good to meal prep toward the beginning of the week, so that each day you can just grab a meal and heat it up. A few meals that I like to prep include:

• chicken, rice and veg
• spaghetti bolognese
• pasta bake

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What are your tips for staying organised as a student, or just in general? Let me know in the comments below.