Do you often find yourself the only one who hasn't done your homework? Would you like to reduce the stress of school commitments? You can organize yourself by getting what you need, preparing in advance and writing reminders. With a few tips and a little practice, you will be ready to face all the difficulties of the school!
Steps
Method 1 of 5: Take care of the equipment
Step 1. Organize the case
Believe it or not, the pencil case is an essential item for being a well-organized student. The tidier it is, the less time you will waste searching for pens and pencils, being able to take notes faster and listen to the teacher. Buy a pencil case with many pockets so you can keep everything in the right place.
Make sure you have at least three pencils, three pens, an eraser and a highlighter in the case. Depending on the style with which you take notes, you can also add various colored pens and highlighters, or post-its
Step 2. Divide your notes into different colored folders or ring binders
It is useful to have a notebook or folder for each subject, so that your sheets stay tidy. Make sure you use a different color for matter and identify them with the labels.
Step 3. Use the labels to divide the various sections of your ring binder
Use colored dividers to separate themes from notes and homework. That way, when you hand over the homework to the teacher, you will know exactly where they are. Separating notes also helps keep them in chronological order, making it easier to study !!
Step 4. Learn where your stuff is
There is no perfect way to organize your backpack; the most important thing is to know where to look for what you need. Always place items in the same spot and put them back as soon as you are done using them. Even if the bell rings and you want to escape the classroom, taking a few seconds to put everything back in place will make it easier for you to find what you are looking for in the future!
Step 5. Purchase any other items you need
To be organized it is important to be prepared. If you're running out of paper, pencils, or something else, be sure to replenish your supplies or ask your parents to do it for you. Put everything you need in your case or backpack as soon as you have it, so you don't forget it at home!
Always make sure your backpack is full of pencils, pens and paper, which should be close at hand. While you waste time looking for these things or asking your classmates, you can't pay attention in class
Method 2 of 5: Take Notes in an Orderly Way
Step 1. Write your notes simply and effectively
Use only keywords and short sentences that are easy to write. Pass the highlighter over the most important parts. Listen to the teacher and rewrite the lesson in your own words instead of copying everything he says. This helps you to learn the material already when you write the notes!
Step 2. Try the Cornell method if you want to better organize your notes
To follow this method, draw a horizontal line about 6 lines from the bottom of the paper. Then, draw a vertical line about 5 cm from the left edge of the paper. This way you should create three rectangles. Use the vertical space on the left for the most important information, the larger space on the right for normal notes, and the one below for review, clarification and summaries after the lesson.
- When studying for a question, read the horizontal section first, then move on to the other two if you want more information.
- The Cornell method may be the most suitable for subjects such as history, which have many important concepts and specific details.
Step 3. Try the Mind Map clipboard technique
In this case you need a blank sheet of paper and not lined. In fact, you will use circles to link individual keywords to each other. The benefit of this style is that it allows you to easily see the relationships and connections between two ideas.
- If you often get bored when taking notes, try this technique, because it is more creative!
- This technique can be effective for subjects like Italian literature, where a main topic (e.g. a book) has many important characteristics (e.g. characters, themes, plot turning moments, etc.).
Step 4. Use the Smart Wisdom note technique
If you can't write straight notes or can't find the most important information when reading what you've written, try this method, which consists of a chain of keywords and ignores all unimportant terms. Thanks to it, only the most relevant concepts remain on the page, while the useless ones are neglected.
The Smart Wisdom Method can be useful for subjects like math or physics, where you have little time to write down what a formula does and why it matters
Method 3 of 5: Prepare the Night Before
Step 1. At the end of each day, throw away anything you no longer need
Make sure you get rid of any garbage or unnecessary papers that have accumulated in your backpack. If you've just received a correct theme and your backpack is starting to get heavy, find a place on your desk to leave it.
Step 2. Make sure you pack in the evening before bedtime
Once your homework is done, put everything you need for the next day in your backpack and leave it in a place you won't forget, like in front of the door or on top of your shoes.
By backpacking in the evening, you won't have to worry about having everything the next morning and it will be harder to forget something
Step 3. Prepare your clothes and food in the evening before going to sleep
If you usually waste a lot of time every morning thinking about what to wear, decide on your clothes for the next day before going to bed and take them out of the closet already. Likewise, if you spend a lot of time preparing breakfast or lunch, try to get on with work the day before.
- To go to school, you can simply wear a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. If it's cold, remember to bring your coat!
- A simple and healthy dish that you can prepare in advance for breakfast is hard-boiled eggs with a glass of milk or juice.
- If you bring your lunch to school, make the sandwich the night before!
Step 4. Put the things you need to remember where you are sure you see them
Stick a post-it note on the bathroom mirror, lunch box, or door so you can be sure to read the memo the next morning. Or, if you want to remember an object, put it on top of your shoes, since you can't leave the house without having them on!
Method 4 of 5: Use Reminders
Step 1. Use the diary
Do this every day, writing homework, class assignment dates, and school club meetings. Check your diary before you go home so that you don't leave anything you need for homework at school. If you wish, you can also use different colors for each material, in order to recognize them better.
If you can't find a journal you like, you can make your own
Step 2. Mark the dates on the sheets
Before you start taking notes or doing homework, mark the date you need to deliver them or the date for the assignment on the subject, then copy it to your journal. Make sure you can see it every time you use the sheets, so you always remember deadlines.
Step 3. Deal with your responsibilities early
Start doing your homework and studying as soon as you know what to do. Work little every day and don't wait until the last minute to get started. If you work hard every day, you won't face any nasty surprises and you'll always be ready to finish on time.
Method 5 of 5: Prepare for the Best
Step 1. Keep the cabinet and counter tidy
This way you will always be able to easily find what you are looking for. If you have a cabinet, consider installing an extra shelf in it so that you have two shelves to put books, papers, and other items on. If you have a personal desk, tidy it up regularly so you don't miss a thing.
Step 2. Maintain an organized space dedicated to home study
Find a place for your pens, pencils, school books, homework, and other materials so you don't get confused. Use that space only for studying, so when you sit down you will be focused and ready to work. Eliminate all distractions from your desk and try to study in a quiet environment.
- If you can't find a quiet place to work, use headphones and listen to studio-friendly music, such as classical or jazz.
- If you share your desk with other people or if you don't have a lot of space available, get into the habit of putting all your papers together in one neat pile and spread them out on the table only when you study.
Step 3. Create a schedule
Make sure you think about everything and follow it to the letter. In the beginning, it can also be helpful to set aside time for homework, meals, and even personal hygiene. This way, you will be sure that you can do everything.
Step 4. Follow your schedule every day
It won't be easy at first, but after a couple of weeks it will become a natural habit. Programs don't just help you remember when to get things done, they make your life more organized, help you avoid rushing things, and reduce stress.
Step 5. Think of the organization as a lifestyle, not an unpleasant undertaking
You can't be organized once and then quit for a while, but instead it's a habit you have to carry on every day. With daily commitment, it will be easy to lead a well-organized life.
Advice
- Organize the pencil case by separating items by category, such as pencils on one side and pens on the other.
- A good way to tidy up your locker and backpack is to make a pile of things to keep and one to throw away. If you share the space with another student, print a memo and give it to them.
- Do not put notes or papers inside the books, even if it is a "temporary" solution. You may lose them!
- If the school year has just begun, wait a couple of weeks before purchasing everything you need so that you don't find yourself with ring binders that are too big, too small, or unsuitable.
- Don't expect to become an organizational master overnight! It takes time, patience and trust in your means.
