Going back to school means packing up our lives and compressing our belongings into dorms or apartments, for a large number of college students. It may seem difficult to stay organized living in such a small space, while also juggling classes, extracurriculars, and a social life. There are many things that can help you stay organized, though, and will allow you utilize your space in more efficient ways. Here are five things that I believe are essential for back to school.
PHOTO: Jordyn Wissert
1—A good planner
This may seem obvious, but a planner can do wonders in your day-to-day college routine. Investing in a good planner (and actually using it), can help you organize not only your homework, but all the other important (or not so pertinent) appointments, deadlines, tasks, and dates in your life. Craft stores and online shops are starting to create products dedicated just to planners, such as stickers and writing utensils. A colorful sticker reminding you that you have to pay your rent or go to a doctor’s appointment can make you feel more organized with your time.
PHOTO: Jordyn Wissert
2—Bed risers
Bed risers are extremely useful for those who have beds that are not lofted or bunked. Having the extra height on your bed allows for more space for storage under your bed itself. I added bed risers to my freshmen year dorm bed, and it added just the right amount of space to fit my storage bins. Giving the space to store things under your bed can allow you to avoid leaving your belongings cluttered around.
3—Storage bins
Unless you are lucky enough to have a large college dorm or apartment, you are probably struggling with the lack of storage space. Using large storage bins under your bed, or smaller bins on your desk, allows you to group similar belongings in one space. The best part about storage bins is that you can get them in a ton of colors and patterns, so choosing a few to fit your room’s theme can help bring a neater, unified look to your dorm decor.
4—Makeup/jewelry organizers
Having organizers for makeup and jewelry can cut back your time getting ready in the morning immensely. Organizing each product into small acrylic organizers or jewelry trays will allow you to see each product, and also makes it so each product has its own certain place it belongs for easy cleanup.
PHOTO: Valerie Cammack
5—A pencil case
This may also seem like a very obvious product, but many times we encounter exams that allow only number two pencils, or professors that only want work written in pen. I keep a single pouch, filled with colored pencils and pens (in an array of colors) because sometimes an assignment may call for different colors, and taking notes with my favorite pens aid in my note-taking and overall handwriting quality.
How do you stay organized throughout the year? Comment below.
