<p>The best organizational system is the one you use. There are tons of ways to be organized and different things work for different people, but none of them will work if you don’t use it.</p>
<p>Planners are a great idea. I’ve never been very good about using paper planners so I use google calendar because it makes it easier for me to visually see where I need to be each day and what I need to do (and I can have a running to do list on the calendar as well). You can also use a calendar that you pin on the wall or something to write down due dates or when assignments are due, or you can even use a whiteboard or bulletin board or something. Whatever works for you, I recommend having some sort of planner (on paper or electronic or whatever) for you to write down tests, assignments, due dates, meetings, etc. Don’t try to remember everything. Lay it all out so you can see where you have time and when you need to start things. You can even write down when you have to start assignments so you have enough time to finish them. If you’re having trouble with procrastination, try breaking up assignments into smaller chunks and give herself a small assignment each day so you gradually finish it. Make sure you make a habit of checking your planner everyday to check what you need to do.</p>
<p>Also, it sounds like forgetting things is a big problem, and that you’re only system right now is to just remember them. Don’t. Don’t trust your memory to just remember something. Assume you will forget it. You have a million and one things on your mind. It’s really easy to forget things so come up with an idea of how to give yourself reminders. I put post-its on my door at eye level to remind myself as I leave the room of what I need to bring (you could easily write–bring calculator, turn in assignment, etc). I usually have a general to do list on my door as well because it’s the only way I’ll remember it, and I just pull post-it notes that I want to bring with me (like a grocery list) and throw away post it notes that I’ve finished.</p>
<p>You can also set reminders on your phone for things to bring or do for the next day (like turning in assignments). Or you can pack your backpack the night/day before. Or as soon as you remember that you have a test, put your calculator in your backpack and just carry it around with you. Or if you don’t have a backpack or something, you can put your calculator (or whatever you need to bring) on or right next to your phone/wallet/whatever you always bring with you. As far as alarms, set them for the next day as soon as you get back to your room, rather than right before you go to sleep, so that if you fall asleep accidentally, you’ll still wake up in the morning. If you use your phone as an alarm, you may even be able to set alarms days in advance by specifying what day of the week you want it to ring on.</p>
<p>Also, about the all nighters, that really depends on whether you’re a night person or a morning person. For me personally, I know that I will never wake up early to work on an assignment. I just won’t wake up. So I stay up really late to finish it, get a couple hours of sleep (or none, depending on what it is) and then go to class. So if you’re a morning person and you know you’ll wake up, then it’s a great idea to get some sleep and then work on the assignment after your brain’s a little refreshed. But if you have a habit of sleeping in, I would recommend just doing it the night before, and in the future, see if you can find other times in your schedule to start getting assignments done earlier.</p>