Personal Organization
Introduction
“Organization is what you do before you do something, so that
when you do it, it’s not all mixed up.” — A. A. Milne
For some of us, organizing our folders, our locker, our desk, and our room comes easily. But — and answer honestly here — are you the type of person who lives in constant clutter? If you've experienced any of the following events, you may have to admit that you, my friend, are disorganized:
- Does your backpack contain papers and notes from last year's classes?
- Is your backpack like a black hole: whatever goes in it may never be seen again?
- Do you ever forget your homework or assignments at home?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, then there's a good chance you are disorganized. There's no shame in it. After all, the first step to fixing this problem is admitting that you even have a problem.
Watch
- https://bit.ly/2Ypa771 Links to an external site. – Thomas Frank “How I Organize My Notes, Homework, and School Files – College Info Geek” (YT 5:37)
Key Ideas
- Build a system that means you can always find files immediately, and never be without homework and projects.
- The video sets out some tips:
- Use a cloud storage system;
- Create a tree structure for folders and files;
- Be vigilant about your system;
- Try an online note-taking system;
- Divide up your notebook by topic and use folders to archive old notes.
Apply
- Get tidying: Choose one of the categories listed above and take some time right now to organize it. Choose from the locker, backpack, notebook or folder.
- Research: Look into both Dropbox and Google Drive and decide which you prefer. Create an account and set up an organizational system.
- Create: Set up an integrated system that works between your written/online notes and online files. Start out thinking about what subjects you study, how many lessons/units there are and then plan ahead. Use the tips from the video.