Top 5 Tools to Stay Organized in School

Many of my classmates discovered that Part One of our midterm is this Monday. I know this makes me sound evil but I actually asked the professor to clarify the date because no one believed that the test was next week. My prof thought I wasn't paying attention but we know the real story. Anyway, in the midst of the maelstrom I was calm because I was prepared (not that I could take the exam today) and the girl next to me noticed. "You are so organized," she told me. This is my favorite compliment, possibly ever, and I'm wearing new pants. When it comes to school, I bust my hump to stay organized. This is the only way to stay afloat in challenging courses and schedules. I think this is truly one of the best parts of being a "mature student" in college; I know how to stay organized and time management is less of an issue. I say less because sometimes I blow stuff off and watch "Fringe" with James instead, like every other college kid.

So, today I thought I'd write about my Top 5 Tools to Stay Organized in School. Beyond the obvious things like keep a routine, plan your outfits, etc. There isn't an hierarchical aspect to the following, either.

01. Google Calendars will Save Your Life

I use Google Calendars for all kinds of things and share them with James. These calendars can be viewed and edited from our phones at a whim and reminders can be set to remind James to pick me up from work, etc. What isn't on here is James' work schedule because various clubs and what not are still settling in.  

For school I create a calendar for each class and spend "Syllabus Days" (the first day of class where nothing happens but syllabus review and role call) in the library between classes typing in every assignment and material covered. Looking at an individual syllabus and then flipping to another is for the birds! Please do not get me wrong; I love a hand-written calendar, too. For years I lived by my Moleskine like everyone else. But when there is a shift in the class-time paradigm the rest of the semester is off and it hurts my soul.

02. Color-Coordinate Those Classes

I cannot state how much this helps me. The colors in the calendar above are by no means random. I selected an ink color for each class for notes, flashcards, and calendar use. In a program like mine, especially, when similar information is often used in various courses, it's helpful to distinguish what I learned for which class. An example is that for SPPA 101 I may not need to know that /θ/ is an interdental, voiceless, fricative but I do need to know that for SPPA 215. So, if I have a card written in blue for 101 and purple for 215 I'm more likely to remember which requires more detail.  

03.  7-Subject Expanding File Folder

Every class, it seems these days, is run with PowerPoint lectures. This has it benefits in that I don't have to anxiously scribble everything down in hopes I won't miss any information and not really pay attention. Nor do I have to recopy said scribbles so they are legible. But the downside is that because I don't write it twice I don't always feel like I know it as well. Can you tell I am a (Multimodal) Visual-Verbal Learner? The other piece is that I have heck of a lot of paper within a few weeks. A regular folder only gives you so much storage and you need one for every class which runs the risk of one being left behind by accident. Enter the Expanding File Folder. This guy holds all of my classes at once so I can work on an assignment at any time even if I don't have x-class that day. I opted for the clear for two reasons. One being aesthetic, and liking the clean look; two is that I can see a printout of calendar through the front. Since there are two extra sections I can devote the back one to keeping a slim 2-subject spiral notebook so I can still take extra notes/write to-do lists, and so forth. Heck, I could just carry this guy around and I'd be set. I'm even thinking of naming him ("Gary" for some reason) because he's so reliable!

Gary, like myself, isn't very photogenic so this will have to do :D

04. A Bag with Plenty of Room, Like a Bag of Holding

Over the summer I got this on sale and it has been wonderful ever since. I like it so much I try to use it as a regular purse. Which, since its rather large, is not the best plan. 

The bag came from Think Geek which a great company; I've been buying stuff from them for years. I get emails from them and they often have sales or coupon codes so I saved something like $20 when I got it. I opted for the backpack version because it's 2 in 1: the messenger version is only 1. I can take the cross strap off if I want to and just use the back pack straps (very good with new textbooks). It's like an Alton Brown bag.  With a D&D reference. I mean, need I say more? 

Bonus points to a phone wallet, which forces me to carry less crap everyday.  

05. Grid-It Organizer
Now it's going to look like I'm sponsored by TG but I'm not, I promise. They now sell the bag and a Grid-It but I don't know if it is this size (the 5.125x10.25") since I purchased them months apart.  

• Multicolor pens, mechanical pencils, highlighter, and fine-point sharpie in the back zipper.
• 4GB Flash Drive & Argyle Case: I admittedly use this rarely because of Cloud tech but I keep it on me just in case
• iPhone cord (repaired with hacking putty)
• Star Trek pillcase with Tums and Iburpofren: I found this on Etsy some time ago and I love it so much. Here is a link to the shop, she makes all kinds of awesome pillboxes.
• Travel size hand lotion: because, well, its nice to have.
• Lip balm: ditto.
• Quirky Earbud Wrap: This is great, my cords don't get tangled and it's slim. I found mine at Target in the $1 bin a few months ago
• Booklight. This was actually a gift from my Secret Santa/Cousin last Christmas. She and I got each other and both did gift certificates to a book store and book-related item. It was adorbs. 

Office Maximum Theory

One room in the house has not had a lot of time devoted to it and that is our home office. With all the major living areas this room has been on the back burner despite the fact that this room will serve many more functions than most.

Cons:
James is just finishing up teaching and the last thing he'll want to do think about it work.
Houseguests are going to be roaming the downstairs and the office is out of sight, out of mind area

Pros:
If we nail it down now, come fall when we're both back in class, we will have a functioning space with most of the bugs worked out.
Being able to easily file new house hold documents means we don't immediately fall behind this summer
Lola really likes the room so we get to spend more time with her (Chloe is non-plussed about it)

I think the Pros have it. But to be completely honest the main reason I started in on this room yesterday was because a friend wanted to use my laminating machine.

A quick note about the laminating machine: It's one of those things that I have always wanted — ever since I was a kid. The same is true of an overhead projector. I used to play school as a kid and imagined projecting and laminating. I also used to pretend to own a stationary store which probably says a lot about me. So, do I do a whole lot of laminating? No, not yet. I have a lot of plans for when we have kids though. There are some projects that the laminating machine will be ideal but that's a different day.

 I was so embarrassed by the large stacks of boxes, milk crates and detritus that I ran upstairs and started tidying. Luckily, I made my first trip to the Container Store on Monday (!!) and had some new pieces to help me organize and pull the room together. I absolutely lurved that store, by the by. I feel a little bad about talking up a big box store but it's the truth, it was really fun and nerdy times were had by my mom and I. I picked up a few items there, carefully restraining myself for both budget and necessity of items  ("Do I really need this incredibly attractive organizer that in no way reflects my lifestyle outside of the design aesthetic?"). I did, however pick up these gems:

This guy was being discontinued so instead of being 24.99 it was only $11.57. I saved more than I spent, $14.42! Also, note the autographed Tom Baker photo beside it! (My best friend gave it to me a few years back and I love it!)

I store copier/printer paper in plain white and my laminating sheets. We have orange 8.5x11" and 1" grid 8.5x11" paper as well, but I store them separately (see below).

This dude jumped right out at me because I love the aesthetic of International Symbols. I have a love of airport signs and transit maps which will begin to show later on as I talk more of my office. I couldn't decide between this one and it's brother. More often than not I have recycling to get rid of in here and not trash, but since these cans are only  $4.99 I will probably go back and get the other to designate as a trash can and keep this guy as recycling. (Recycling day is tomorrow which is why the can is so full, PS.)

   
I store the other paper types in the black magazine file. Next to it is our Household Binder and and Instruction Manual Binder. Of course these seem very boring compared to the GIANT TARDIS behind it! Another Doctor Who gift, this time from our former roommate. 

Our office is going to fulfill numerous tasks (including allowing us to perform ours).

• Store files and paperwork
• Store supplies and house electronics
• Be a home for my art supplies and occasionally fill in as a studio
• Display some of our favorite collections (particularly Star Trek, Doctor Who, and Orioles memorabilia)

That's a lot for one one small room in a rowhouse but I think with enough planning and patience we can knock it out. 

So, the Expedit in front of the Tardis is the "File, Print, Laminate" station. Next to it is the "Design, Code, & Typography, Photo Storage and Stationary/Mailing Supplies" Station. It is temporarily home to my Star Trek books (many of which were a gift from a best friend as well, I'm pretty lucky in the nerd friend department!)

That small bag that seems out of place is my set of D&D dice.

Along the other walls we will house my Art Supplies as well as James' Teaching supplies (textbooks, portfolios, etc.) This will also leave us with spaces for his Orioles collection. I suppose it will be one wall of his belongings and one wall of mine, hmm! We've never shared an office space before. The other office was rarely used and primarily mine. But now we're married and sharing is what you're supposed to do, right?

I may even use my wall to house my Tolkien collection which has not been unpacked yet because it needs to be just right. Perfectionism is incredibly debilitating.