How Do I Set Up my Planner for College

I am not always good at staying organized. I really used to have mental breakdowns because I didn't know what was due and on what day.

I know this because the first week of classes I was given all my syllabi outlined with their many assignments and told about the ones not on them and I practically died. Not because it was too much, but because I had no where to write everything down and keep it organized.

Well technically I did. I had a planner, but it just didn’t work for me. There wasn’t hourly planning, and I need hourly planning. I also didn't think about due dates and what not. So, I need a planner with planning times and space to write assignments and their due dates.

That’s how insane I felt.

I have been asked many times how I manage to do it all. Normally, during the semester, I have several classes, a part-time job, and a blog (aka a second job). And at the end of the day, I still manage to get As in most (or all) of my classes. How do I do it all? With my planner. This is the one tool that I use religiously semester after semester and I swear that it is the main reason why I am a successful student.

With the beginning of a new school year comes the time to prepare for the new semester. One of the things I love most about new semesters is setting up my planner. But in order for your planner to work for you, you have to set yourself up for success. Now I’m using the Writefully His planner and I love it.

Having a planner is the number one necessity to staying organized.

The Student Planner is different. It’s a printable planner that comes in three different layouts, and each of them is designed to help students succeed. When you buy the Student Planner, you can access to all versions of the planner! So you’re sure to find something that works for you. What’s even more awesome is that when you buy a dated planner, you get access to undated sheets from the other layouts to you can switch formats to fit your needs and lifestyle! It’s a planner that always works for everyone.

All formats include a goal section, student sheets to organize your semester and succeed, and reflection sections to help you live your best life!

The other part of the planner is the monthly layout. You wouldn’t think so, but I actually use this section very sparingly. I use it for presentations, tests and quizzes, school events, birthdays and other really big things I need to make sure I don’t forget. I also like to use the monthly layout to write things I’m interested in doing/attended but haven’t decided whether I want to commit to yet.

My favorite part of the whole planner is how the whole left sidebar is for to-dos. There’s one on the monthly and weekly pages. I didn’t include a photo of the one with the weekly layout because there was sharpie that bleed through the page before so it looked really gross.

If you haven’t figured it out yet, I’m like to-do lists’ number one fan. It’s so convenient that there are two spots to write what you need to get done, because somethings aren’t as time sensitive (like wanting to go watch tv) and fit in the monthly list but not the weekly list. The monthly list is also useful for things you need to remember to do at the end of the month but you know about now. Like I have a friend whose birthday is in the last week of September, and I need to remember to order her gift, so I put it in the monthly to-do list so when that week comes around I know I already have it ordered.

Another thing with using a planner: color coding really helps.

I have 10 different colored pens I use for my planner, and each one has a different meaning. But I honestly don’t follow it very well. The only things I really keep up with is that red is school work, purple is school events, blue is friend/family related and pink is blog related. Having the different colors really helps to see what you should be spending your time on, and what you need to prioritize.

Color code each event in your life. Some people like to use different colors for each class, but I personally like to do things a little differently. For example, my color code for the fall semester went
like this:

Assignments – orange
Exams – blue
Work – pink
Internship – purple
Study abroad – green
Other stuff – yellow

Each color represents their own section of my life. Once you memorize which color corresponds to which section, you’ll be able to quickly glance at your planner and know what you’ve got going on.

Bonus tip: Use your planner!

The one way to ensure your success this semester is to actually use your planner! There’s no point in setting it up if you won’t end up using it. It’s a reflex for all successful college students (myself included), but it might not be your case. Don’t worry! If you’re not used to using a planner, just become accustomed to using it frequently. Take it out at the start of every class and have it on-hand. That way if your professor says a date that you need to remember, you’ll be ready to jot it down!

So let’s recap:

• Use a planner and take advantage of all of its attributes (hourly scheduling, top three and to-do lists, monthly planning)
• Use the monthly calendar for all your school assignments and big events
• Color code both to keep everything straight and avoid color overwhelm
• ^{_{Keep sticky notes handy for to-do lists, grocery lists and random strikes of inspiration}}