Top Five Tips for Getting Better Organized at Uni

By Lizzie Exton

Between your studies and your social life, there’s a lot going on during the average week at university.  Most of the time, it’s enough work trying to remember when and where your lectures and seminars are, on top of juggling multiple deadlines from different modules and fitting in your societies or part-time job.

It’s easy to lose track for things if you aren’t super-organized, so here are our five top tips for keeping on top of things while you’re at university…

Keep a study diary

It’s such a simple step to take, but keeping a diary really is the quickest and easiest way to get better organized.  Make sure you jot down all the deadlines which are looming and all the exams you have coming up, as well as penciling in a schedule of all your lectures and tutorial groups at the back.

Have a filing system

Colored folders are your new best friends, so set up a simple filing system to help you keep your lecture notes in good order. A file for each module makes it easier to find things when it comes to revision or looking up information to help with your coursework. 

On a similar note, create separate folders on your laptop where you can store your essays and useful contact information for your tutors – you’ll be glad you did it the next time you’re in a last-minute panic over submitting your work.

Write to-do lists (and stick to them!)

People who make lists are always better organized, it’s just a fact. Pinning a to-do list to your cork board and ticking things off methodically will not only ensure you keep on top of things but will also help keep you motivated. 

Try to list things in order of priority so that you can do things in a logical order, or alternatively start with a few easy tasks so you can enjoy the satisfaction of scoring a few things off before you tackle the big jobs.

Get a good night’s sleep 

Nobody feels particularly well-organized when they’re not firing on all cylinders, so make sure you get a good night’s shut-eye in between your studies. Have a few late ones at the weekend, by all means, but the human body really isn’t designed to pull all-nighters and you’ll regret it in the morning. 

Wake up feeling refreshed and you’ll be more on the ball and better able to think straight the next day.

Keep calm, even when deadlines begin to loom

This may be easier said than done when there’s so much going on and so much to cram in but getting into a blind panic certainly won’t help matters.  The better organized you are, the calmer you’ll feel, and the calmer you feel, the more organized you will become. 

Don’t let exam fear or terror about missing a deadline get the better of you – take a positive and logical approach to getting things done and you’re more likely to succeed.

Lizzie Exton writes for Inspiring Interns, which specialises in finding candidates their perfect internship. To browse our graduate jobs London listings, visit our website.