Saturday, February 2, 2013

Sorry for being M.I.A.

Welcome to my blog! Sorry I have been M.I.A. lately its crazy to think that this is already my 4th week of the Spring Semester and time has been flying by. Homework has kept me busy non-stop with weekly readings and papers. Not only am I busy with school work, but my sorority has had a lot of events since we have come back from Christmas Break. I have been appointed for a couple of positions, so they take a little time out of my days for planning events. I love every bit of it though! :)
  With all of that I plan on talking about how I manage my time, organizing school work, and etc. Being organized and prepared for classes are just one success you can have. I have noticed things that have worked for me and things that haven't worked for me with being successful in managing my time with school work and keeping up on everything I need to get done that week. To start off I am going to tell you some essential items I use to keep myself prepared for the week.

     #1: Use a PLANNER!! I use a Lilly Pulitzer planner and I love it. I write down all my assignments for my classes as well as sorority events I have coming up throughout the semester. First thing I do when I find out my classes is I print out each syllabus for my classes. I take out my planner and write down EVERYTHING. I feel this has really helped me stay focused on what tasks I need to get done during the week and I know what assignments are due on certain days. Here is a picture of my Lilly Pulitzer planner!!!

    #2: Make To-Do Lists.  These have been very effective for me. I started making really detailed to-do lists back in the summer when I was working 40+ hours a week. Even though it was the summer I had a lot to get done each day. As I was at work I would think of things (mostly chores) that I needed to get done. I would find my to-do lists having 10 chores or more on them, but I loved getting everything checked off my lists for that day.


    #3: I love to use colorful pens and markers. They make looking at my notes or planner a little more enjoyable. I think I also just have a love for pens :) I have an assortment of pens and markers. In this picture below I also have post-its because I mark all my readings I do for my classes with these. They come in handy!

    #4: Organizing filing system. I found this folder filing system at Wal-Mart for $5.00!! It comes will 6 folders and tags to name each folder. I find this better for me to use than 6 individual folders or however many classes I have. The folders seem to get worn down really easily throughout the semester and I don't like to reuse them because they don't last me more than one semester. This organizing filing system is reusable which is a HUGE bonus for me because I'm on a very tight budget. I love this filing system because it fits right in my backpack as well! Overall I love my newest addition to organizing my papers!!


     #5: Notebooks! I am an organizing junkie so when I spotted these notebooks at Wal-Mart I knew I had to get them! They are perfect for me and they let me put my syllabus right in the front so I know what I am doing in class that week. They also have a pocket inside for any additional papers I need handy. I will continue to use and buy these notebooks, because they have been the best ones I've used since being in school.

    Okay so you got your essential items now its time to tell you how I work out my busy schedule. I use my planner everyday of the week to make sure I am on the right track. My to-do lists allows me to keep up on the assignments I have due and when. On every Sunday I bring out my planner and I write down all the events (normally sorority stuff) that are going on that week. I look to see what tests, readings, assignments, and papers I have for that week and I start a new to-do list for the week. I post a to-do list in my planner & one up on my bulletin board so I am constantly reminded of my school work. This system has really been working for me. I have been studying a lot harder because I am more aware of what my assignments are because of this method I'm using. Feel free to use this technique :) and please comment below if you enjoyed this post or even have a way of staying organized with a busy schedule of your own and how you do it!

26 comments:

Ashley Romney said...

So glad I found your cute blog! You inspire me to do my homework more above and beyond and to be more organized.

Thank you so much!
Ashley

Shelby Williams said...

Your welcome Ashley! Glad I could inspire you and make you want to perform better on your studies. :)

Anonymous said...

We do a lot of the same school organizing techniques (: we even own a lot of the same school materials! I love your blog!! You gave me new ideas (: thank you

Unknown said...

i can not find the planner you use anywhere? :(

Shelby Williams said...

I got mine from Lilly Pultizer's website. I'm not sure if they sell this one anymore but it's the smaller planner. Hope that helps :)

Shelby Williams said...

Thank you so much! :)

Unknown said...

Can you please post the name of the notebooks that you put your syllabi in?

Shelby Williams said...

The notebooks I purchased from wal-mart they are Mead brand and the clear from covers say Trapper on them. Hope this helps :)

Renee said...

I do a lot of these things, too. It really helps because I take 15-20 credits every semester and I also work, have an 8 year old, and am currently pregnant and seeing not only my prenatal midwife but also a high risk physician. It is really critical to keep track of my appointments, and I am also very uptight when it comes to keeping my grades up.

I buy a planner every year and the first thing I do when I get my syllabi is write down all of my assignments in my planner. I like to write them in on the day before they are due just in case my busy schedule gets the best of me and I see it at the end of the day. Then I know I don't have to panic, just hurry!

I like the folder you found a lot. I use something a little more intense because of my lifestyle. I use a plastic expanding file folder with 12 pockets. Usually I have 5-6 classes. Last semester my tabs were "To Do Now" for assignments due within the next couple of days, "Schedule" with a detailed printout of my school and/or work schedule, "Syllabus" where I put every single class's syllabus. Then I have tabs for every single class, and if I have labs for the class the lab gets its own tab. The last tab in my folder is "Done" for assignments that are done but not turned in yet. Whatever tabs are left over I use for whatever is relevant to my life during that semester. Last semester I was going through some advising to schedule the last few semesters of my BS degree and I saw my adviser probably 10-15 times, so I had a tab dedicated to that paperwork. This time I might dedicate one to pregnancy things or doctor's notes. For your lifestyle it might be a good thing to have a tab for sorority paperwork or flyers... it's nice to have the customizable option and to keep everything in one place. Depending on my classes, I might also have a tab to keep blue books and scantrons in, if I have classes where they are needed. I never threw any paperwork out so my folder got pretty heavy by the end of the semester, and I have even had to replace it a few times if the bottom of it cracked or the closing loop broke. I still love having one so I don't mind the investment!


The only other thing I do differently is my notebook situation. I have tried a lot of different things and I can honestly say that having separate notebooks for each class is not for me. It never fails that I end up grabbing the wrong one or something and my bag is often too heavy to carry EVERYTHING. Instead, I get a Five Star 5 subject because I usually don't use all the paper in each section, but each section is divided by a stiff piece with pockets to keep papers I need on hand or to keep with my notes. I do like the idea of having the window in front for the syllabus... but I just know I have terrible luck with separate notebooks. I can keep all of my classes in one place and not have to worry about mixing anything up.




Another tip I use that might be helpful: I usually have 5-6 different classes with 5-6 different syllabi written by 5-6 different professors. I HATE that. I HATE HATE HATE it. Every semester, when I get my 5 subject together, the first thing I do with it is rewrite the key parts of the syllabus for each class in the same format. The professor's name and contact info, the grading scale and point breakdown for the class, and then the assignment schedule written how it makes sense to me. This also allows me to keep track of my grade all semester long. That might just be me being overly high strung, but it's what works for me... and I find it much easier to look at all of my classwork in the same format.


You gave out a lot of great tips here! I have been in college on and off and then back on since 2006. I have always been a "good" student, but I notice that I can perform my best when I am organized. I made some mistakes when I was fresh out of high school and I've been trying to bring my GPA up from a FREAKING 2.5, which is very very bad for me. Organization has been my savior!

Renee again said...

Note: I did not replace my file several times in 1 semester. I reuse them every semester and I have had to buy 1 replacement in 2 years.

Anonymous said...

This inspires me to go out and buy ya bunch of colorful pens and notebooks so I can use for organization....eeeeeekk! ^.^

xojennett said...

I love this blog! I go to nursing school and my life is chaotic as well. I use a lot of the same tools that you use but something I thought I would mention is that I use a white board near my desk (it's easier to get things done if you can see them) and my roommate and I use it to exchange information.

TravelBrooke said...

Super cute blog! for the college organization something you look up arc on staples.com or try circa notebooks on levenger.com, youll love them i bet :) i know i do.

BlueEyedBeauty said...

OMG! I found your blog on Pinterest & I instantly followed! I am so glad I found it! Maybe you could check out mine sometime? I'm just starting out! http://www.1blueeyedbeauty.blogspot.com

dedicatedmedstudent said...

This is so awesome! I'm a very dedicated student and I always wanted to "up" my organization, this is perfect! But my only question is what exactly do you use the post-it notes for? I didn't really catch onto that, maybe I missed something...hmmm.

Shelby Williams said...

The flag post-its I use in my school books and mark the readings I have to do before my class that week. Hope this helps.

Anonymous said...

I'm horrible at staying focus to do my homework. I have two kids (ages 2 and 5) that are ALWAYS around me. How do you stay focused?

Shelby Williams said...

The thing I use daily to stay focused is AdvoCare's Spark. You can get it here at https://www.advocare.com/120921602/Store/ItemDetail.aspx?itemCode=A2095&id=E&flavor=M&size=C
The flavors are delicious and this drink has helped me in school so much over the past two years I wish I found it sooner! If you have any questions you can email me at srwadvocare@gmail.com

Àngel de Música said...

Could you post links to every product mentioned?

Anonymous said...

I’m only in high school but this is really helpful. Thanks. Keep doing what your doing:)

Anonymous said...

What's the name of the notebooks when I look for the mead notebooks I'm trying to find out what its called

Shelby Lew said...

Your blog is wonderful!! All about those Lilly planners!!!

Unknown said...

I know you posted this a long time ago, but I loved all your recommendations. I'm going to start my second year of college soon, and I've trying a lot to keep track of the long list of things to do. Thank you so much !!

Anonymous said...

your so great! can better organize my nursing homework.

Sydney Meyr said...

Soooo glad I found this website. Its almost time to start school and I cant wait to study and write in my new planner!!!!

Josie Weeks said...

I absolutely love you organization method, I use a lilly agenda as well and it truly is my best friend trough out my semester, but if you don't mind me asking what kind of notebooks are those also do you have a separate one for each of your classes ?