<p>I’ve got a planner that I designed and made myself to suit my needs. I work full-time and attend classes full-time, so I needed something that covered more than the standard 8am - 6pm time blocks but still had room for the other things. Frustrated, I created my own, so I can keep it organized in a way I like, and only keep about a month’s worth of information in it at a time so I don’t get overwhelmed (or the planner itself get too heavy and bulky). I started with a regular 3-ring binder, but recently upgraded to a much nicer Circa notebook (and have since decided to use them for all of my class notebooks too… much more space efficient and have the same organizational and convenience of a binder). </p>
<p>In the planner I have a monthly calendar (where I write down all of my important due dates: bills, exams, birthdays, etc), and on the back of it I have a budget worksheet, then a bank register. I also have a monthly to-do list (where I write down the big stuff that is either more than a week or so away or will take me more than a week to get done) and daily pages (with a 7am - 11 pm daily schedule with 30 minute time blocks, a daily to-do list, and assignments due/received section). As a place finder, I use a 1/3 piece of colored card stock with a weekly to-do list on it, so I can easily refer to it when I’m making my daily to-do lists. </p>
<p>Since it’s a letter sized planner, I also have a section for reference where I can put any items I might need (semester schedule, book lists, etc.) and I have a pocket divider so I can keep things that shouldn’t be punched (scholarship apps, letters of reference, etc). </p>
<p>Without my planner, I’d be lost. I have a lot to do in each 24-hour period, so I like blocking off my day and being able to check and see if I’m on schedule (note: I do allot more time than necessary to each task, to account for unexpected things and to give me some down time when I get it all done). I honestly don’t know how I survived my first semester of college without this thing. So glad I have it now. </p>
<p>I made the “planner” aspect of it… as in designed the templates, assembled the dividers and such. The notebook itself was purchased, and I fill it with my own stuff (I did have to purchase the special punch, but considering I’ve started started using Circa notebooks for all my notebook purposes, it’s been well worth it).</p>
<p>I condense my syllabi and post them onto the wall directly in front of my desk, highlighting assignments as they are finished. I also keep a to-do list gadget on my computer’s desktop… which sometimes gets built up but usually I manage to do everything on it each day, a pretty good feeling. To keep school work together, I have one folder for each class and only one binder… that way I always have everything from each class in its folder. I was horribly disorganized in high school, but this system worked pretty well my freshman year…</p>
<p>I’ve read Cal Newport’s books and tailored his organization method to fit me personally. </p>
<p>I have a small planner I carry with me to classes, and my iPhone in case I forget my planner. I jot down deadlines and to-dos in the planner whenever needed.</p>
<p>Actually, I have made all the templates available online for free so they can be printed & put into a 3-ring binder… only costs paper and ink. The actual notebook, however, was purchased from Levenger (a bit pricey for a notebook, indeed, but I wanted something nice for my planner so I would be guaranteed to stick with using it).</p>
<p>i have this 7-day whiteboard calendar that i keep on my wall. i write stuff on it when i have homework or exams or whatever. i also use my iphone calendar to keep track of all major due dates, and i try to start/finish assignments the day that they’re assigned. no procrastination.</p>
<p>I’m a super organized person in general, so it’s not too difficult for me to organize my schoolwork. I keep everything constantly neat and easy to find. I’m glued to my agenda for most of the semester. I also organize all of my e-mails by subject. I also have a general folder that I keep for administrative-related handouts (e.g. letters from my school). I make to-do lists every now and then, but otherwise everything tends to turn out just fine in the end. I hate using electronic planners or calendars; they’re just too odd for me.</p>
<p>I will also write any significant due dates or exam dates on a whiteboard and stick it against my wall in the middle of my desk.</p>
<p>I archive hard copies of previous (and relevant) papers and/or course notes for my major. On my laptop, my past and present assignments are just placed in one general “documents” folder. I clean out irrelevant coursework on my laptop every now and then.</p>
The actual notebook, however, was purchased from Levenger (a bit pricey for a notebook, indeed, but I wanted something nice for my planner so I would be guaranteed to stick with using it).</p>