Daily life is complicated pretty much for the duration, but students who are still learning to manage their time may find high school to be especially difficult to navigate without the proper organization. Even boarding schools require a certain level of commitment to organizational skills. However, if high school students can master this life skill early on, it can benefit them for the rest of their lives. Here are the basics of getting down to businesses when it comes to putting everything in its place.
Write It Down
The first step to good organization is to get a planner. Many students like to use electronic scheduling methods, but there are risks involved in that approach. In this case, good old pen and paper seem to be your best bet. For teens who won’t even consider using a “hard copy,” there are plenty of apps that can help with this. It’s vital, however, to make sure to use one that’s connected to the cloud for backup in case a device is lost, damaged, or stolen. In the meantime, here’s how to manage a planner:
- Keep it neat with pages for scheduling, homework assignments, due dates, and sports practices.
- Get one that has a weekly and monthly view with lots of space to write in notes and appointments.
- Those that are large enough to have lots of pages but small enough to be easily carried are ideal.
- Make sure to write everything down in its proper place. Don’t put notes about basketball games under the homework section, or it might get lost in the shuffle.
- Consult the planner each evening to see what to expect for the next day.
Corral Your Clutter
In high school, students get a lot of papers. They also might have half-finished projects scattered all over their rooms or permission slips floating around on the kitchen counter. A major part of getting organized is to have a proper place for everything. Here’s how to make that happen:
- Plan to have a folder and a notebook for each class. Make sure to get each sheet of paper in the right section.
- Also have a folder for things parents need to see or test results that they need to sign.
- A three-hole binder can be a good place to keep papers organized as well. Sheets that don’t have holes will have to go somewhere else. A three-hole punch is a good investment when it comes to organizational tools.
Battle of the Books
They get thrown around and generally battered, but backpacks also serve a key organizational role. School lockers do as well. Here’s how to structure one to make the most of its purpose:
- Use backpack pockets wisely. If it contains a side pocket for pens and pencils, use it. That will keep those items from cluttering the inside.
- Get rid of trash. Gum wrappers, empty water bottles, and broken pencils can take up valuable space in a bag or locker.
- Put everything where it belongs every time, and you won’t have to do laborious purges every few months.
Study Room
Dorm rooms at boarding schools come equipped with desks for schoolwork, but students who attend public school may need to create a special study space. Here’s how:
- Find a place to work without distraction. A surface to write on is important, too, whether it is a lap desk or traditional desk in a home office.
- Keep this study space as tidy as the backpack, planner, and paper files.
- Try to establish a routine so that homework is done on a set schedule each day. This will make it easier to follow a regimen that ensures work gets completed.
It takes dedication to adhere to an organizational plan, but for the students who can master it, their lives can be greatly improved and stress levels reduced. Try some of these tips to get the ball rolling.
