Bautista: How to get organized this semester

College is a circus, and Google Calendar is the only thing keeping me from being eaten by the lions. 

One minute you’re writing a paper on Plato, the next you’re racing across campus for a club meeting, and before you know it, your friend is texting you: “Are we still on for College Night?” Somewhere in between, you’re supposed to sleep, eat, and perhaps think about your post-college future.

The truth is, if you don’t get organized, college will eat you alive. That’s why I’ve learned to treat my schedule like a sacred text, and no, that’s an exaggeration. Organization is the secret sauce that makes college survivable and, more importantly, prepares you for the job world that will demand even more. 

For me, it starts with Google Calendar, my lifeline. Every hour of my day is meticulously planned out, from my five classes to e-board meetings, events with Student University Programmers (SUP), and interviews with sources for The Whit. I even schedule in time to grab a coffee at High Grounds with friends. 

Some people say scheduling for fun while in college is impossible. I say scheduling time for fun is necessary. If Taylor Swift can plan a world tour down to the second, I can schedule time for fun activities with my friend.

That’s why my first piece of advice is simple. I encourage you to schedule downtime as though it were a class. When you block it out, you’re more likely to stick with it. And when someone asks you if you’re free, you can kindly say you’re booked. However, a calendar alone isn’t what’s keeping me from falling apart. There’s also where lists come in. 

I keep assignment lists, story ideas lists, and even lists of things I should do but probably won’t get to. Otherwise, my brain turns into that spinning rainbow wheel on a Mac. Here’s the trick, though: I don’t just write one giant list. I make two, one for things I absolutely must do, and one for things future me will regret ignoring. That way, I know that I’m responsible for both present and future versions of myself. And part of taking care of that future self means setting them up for success, not just with big picture planning but with everyday stuff like class notes. 

Of course, none of that matters if you don’t actually understand your class notes when finals roll around. That’s why I go hybrid. I take notes by hand in my free time because studies have shown that you’ll remember it better that way. However, I also ensure that I type them up in a Google Doc during class to keep a digital copy in case I misplace my notebooks. Now, I get the best of both worlds: the memory boost from writing things down, and that digital safety net when coffee inevitably spills on my notebook. 

My advice here? Make sure you are doubling up on your notes; your sanity will thank you during exam week. 

If you think organization stops at my notebook, then you’re wrong. Even my closet is organized. Laugh all you want, but knowing exactly where my suits and dress shirts are saved me from showing up to a TV Newscast course last semester with a light blue long-sleeved shirt that has 1989 imprinted on it. 

I separate items I actually wear every week from my “I’m ready for my close-up” outfits. Trust me, when you’re scrambling, this system will be the difference between looking like a professional and looking like you just rolled out of bed. 

The tip here? Organize your closet by practicality, separate the clothes you actually wear from the ones you only reach for on laundry day.

Finally, here is the part that many students forget. Being organized isn’t just about assignments or interviews. It’s also about making time for the things that bring you happiness. If you don’t make time for the things that fulfill you and give you nourishment, then stress will take that time slot in your calendar instead. So my last piece of advice is to treat yourself as though you are a priority because, at the end of the day, you are valuable. It belongs in your schedule just as much as classes and work do. 

Here’s the bottom line: Being organized isn’t about being uptight. It’s actually about making room for what matters most in your life. When my calendar, lists, notes, and even my closet are in order, I can focus on telling stories that matter and spending time with my friends.

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