Between school, student organizations and clubs, work and your personal life, it’s pretty hard to keep your schedule organized without help. Whether you want to organize by the day, week, month or all three, using a calendar or planner can really help reduce the stress.
There are a lot of options out there, so you might need to experiment with a few to find what works best for you. But to start you will need to decide if you stay organized better with a digital planner or if you work better the old-fashioned way--with a pencil and paper--to keep track of your daily to-dos. We’ve put together a few tips to help you get started mapping your days:
Digital Options
As a technology-driven institution, UW-Stout embraces digital learning, and we encourage you to explore different planner tools that fit your organizational style. These days, most phones and laptops come preprogrammed with basic tools, but there are plenty of other fun apps you can download that might offer better options to help you keep organized.
Native Applications
Calendar app | iOS, Android, Mac or PC
No matter the device, you have a calendar app, and you can use that app to map out your daily/monthly tasks (such as homework, deadlines, work schedule, friend hangouts etc.), set reminders for yourself and create events. Take it to the next level by color-coordinating each category of your responsibilities to make it easier to filter by what you have on the horizon
Task Manager/Notes app | iOS, Android, Mac or PC
If you love a checklist, this is the app for you. If you’re a daily planner, try to get in the groove by creating a checklist each morning of what needs to get done that day. Or if you know the tasks for your week, get that list started and add as you go. You can use as many checklists as you need.
Alarm/Clock app | iOS, Android, Mac or PC
You might not use this one as frequently, but if you need to ensure you remember to do something at a specific time, set an alarm. This is especially helpful if you have a task that needs to get done on a reoccurring basis, for example, doing laundry once a week (which tends to be forgotten or pushed off because let’s be honest…it is not a fun chore). And if you work better under pressure, start the clock and get to work
Download Required
Any.Do | Computer and mobile compatible
This is an all-in-one planner app. You can create a to-do checklist for the day/week, add events to the calendar, create a grocery list… PLUS it can be added as a widget on your home screen, so you will always have easy access to see what you have to do. You can also connect your Google calendar to this app, creating a space where all your events are within one app.
Microsoft To-Do | Computer and mobile compatible
As a student you will be using Microsoft for your classes, so why not use the task manager as well? This app allows you to create multiple to-do lists for school, work and personal life, sync Outlook to have all events in one place, and personalize each list with fun colors and backgrounds…PLUS your to-do lists can easily be shared with your friends, family or even members of your group project.
ClickUp | Computer and mobile compatible
Through this app you can choose to create your own task list or you can use one of many templates. Being able to use a template is perfect for those that do not know how to effectively create a task list, or for those who are looking to save time. … PLUS if you have multiple lists, you can create a dashboard and view them all in one place.
The Old-Fashion Way
It has been statistically proven that writing things down will help you retain the information better, so there’s no shame in using a pen and paper. If you write it out, you may have a better chance of remembering to do it.
Besides, if you keep everything on your phone, there is always one downside: Your phone might die. Then what are you going to do? If you have a physical planner, you will always have access to your important events and due dates.
There are many ways you can lay out your daily/weekly tasks. The example below is just one way to organize your day.
1. Write your Classes
On each day of the week, write out what is due in each class. You will have all your assignment dates in one place, so you do not miss anything important coming up.
2. Now on to Involvement
If you are involved in sports, clubs, student organizations or community volunteering, write down what you have going on and the time they are happening.
3. Then there is Work
Work isn’t something you want to miss, or even be late, so in your efforts to organize, don’t forget to write down the hours you will be on the clock.
4. Last is your Personal Time
While you’re at it, schedule time to grab dinner with friends or when your kids have a baseball game. Even a busy schedule needs balance.
