Planning is different for everyone. I have tried many forms of planning, and I still feel like I am on my way to find the perfect way of staying on top of things. It is important to take into consideration that this advice might not work for everyone, and there might be some simple tweaks that you have to do to your current planning method that will ensure success for the future: just focus on personalizing. Here I leave some of the most important things that I have learned as a chronically busy Ole:
- Google Calendar: this is the most basic tip that you will hear, and you WILL hear this from everyone! Google Calendar is, and has been, the go-to platform for Oles. Even if you might not like the platform, always keep it in the back of your mind. With Google Calendar, you can see the availability of other people as well as your own and plan meetings accordingly. This tool is the left search bar, where you can look up your favorite member of the St. Olaf community and inquire whether they are busy or not. If your classes use Google Classroom, the assignment deadlines will show up on your calendar. I also like to color-code my calendar to differentiate between classes, work and recreational activities!
- Your physical planner: you might not be a planner type of person, and that’s totally okay! But if you like a planner, consider that maybe size and layout can make the difference on what makes a good planner versus a planner that you will only touch for one week, then leave behind. I recommend a blank planner that you can customize to what works for you. In addition to this, I would suggest having one the size of a letter piece of paper, since people are more used to this paper size. Small planners can also be thicker, and harder to keep open.
- Stay an early bird or a night owl: in my search for the perfect study techniques and organizing techniques, I have thought about when the best time to study is, and again the answer to this question is to be completely personalized and true to what works for you. If you are an early bird naturally, don’t try to force yourself to study late at night, and vice versa. I find myself more motivated after an early cup of black coffee between 8 and 9 a.m., so I know study sessions then would work best. Do the methods that work for you, and don’t be afraid to stop compromising your study time and only doing it when your friends are available. I have met people at the library who are willing to sit down and just be productive with each other for hours!
- Romanticize, romanticize, romanticize: creating an inspiring narrative to fuel your studying and organizing time blocks is essential to consistency. Find what inspires you; perhaps it is a Pinterest board. Perhaps it is making study vlogs, or posting cute content and keeping yourself on top of it. Any method that you choose, try to make what you are doing appealing, so that you want to do it again. It might sound obvious, but I would love to study in my dorm more if my desk was cleaner and had more space for me to place my books. I haven’t seen Gilmore Girls, but I heard somewhere that imagining you are Rory Gilmore helps!
Whatever you decide to change about your organizing and study techniques, always remember to look after yourself. We might all look put together, but we all struggle with the busy college life. My Instagram stories might look aesthetically pleasing, but for me it’s hard to balance two degrees, seven jobs, and two ensembles. What matters is that you cater to yourself and remember that there are people out there to support you and to go with you through the turmoil of being a chronically busy Ole.
Ron is from Peru.
His majors are art history & composition.
