24 Seven August 2020

August 2020 Issue
Organize for College Success
Written by Gayle M. Gruenberg, CPO-CD, CVO
A
Are you or do you
have a student starting college this fall?
Whether attending in person or online,
being organized can make a big difference
between a smooth transition and absolute
chaos.
Remember the old adage, “a place for
everything and everything in its place.”
Create zones (study zone, personal care
zone, quiet zone, food zone) and label
them (even if only in your mind). Equip
each zone with everything needed to do
the task performed there, like books and a
computer in the study zone.
For students on a campus, every item
has its assigned spot, like a specific hook
for a backpack, so it always gets hung up
when coming into the room and is right
there when the student is racing out
the door to class. A shower caddy keeps
personal care supplies corralled and easily
carried to the communal bathroom on
residence hall floor.
Have only the bare essentials. Dorm
rooms are small and bedrooms at home
may have to double as classrooms.
Being surrounded by too much can be
overwhelming and distracting, lead to
having nowhere to put anything, and
cause stress over having to keep track of
it all.
One essential if sharing space: have a
hamper or laundry bag in a convenient
place to avoid dirty clothes piling up
all over the floor. Do the laundry. Fold
and hang up clothes as soon as possible.
Keeping the floor clear (besides avoiding
trips and falls) can go a long way toward
roommate amity.
College is much less structured than
high school, and students suddenly
have freedom around their time. Use a
planner. It doesn’t matter if the planner
is paper or electronic. The one you use is
the right one for you. Record everything,
both small and large. Include test dates,
paper due dates, progress deadlines
(to stay on track, e.g. have an outline
for a paper due on 12/15 done by 11/1),
study sessions, activity meetings, sports
practices, and when to do laundry. Block
off prep time, the time it takes to do the
activity, and time for transitioning to
the next activity. My favorite suggestion:
color code as much as possible. Example:
use red for tests and paper due dates,
blue for social time, green for activities,
or whatever works for you.
One minute of planning saves 10
minutes of doing. Each night, prepare
everything you need for the next day in
your backpack or laid out on your desk.
Self-care is an important part of college
life, especially if living away from home.
A healthy body is essential for a healthy
mind. Strive for a balance of nutrition,
hydration, exercise, good sleep, fresh air,
social interaction, and “brain breaks” for
some down time and fun.
About The Author
GAYLE M. GRUENBERG
Gayle M. Gruenberg, CPO-CD, CVO, is the
chief executive organizer of Let’s Get Organized,
LLC, an organizer coach, and the creator
of the Make Space for Blessings system.
To Learn More Visit:
www.LGOrganized.com