My Top 10 Organizing Tips

Hello hello, future nurses! I know I promised this last week, but to be honest, I wasn't ready to write this. After only one week of being back to school, I still didn't have my supplies and class materials organized how I felt was most efficient. Who would want helpful hints from a girl who needed help herself. Probably, not many! So, I took another week to get my self together and really solidify the best way to organize everything. Here it finally is for all of you. I hope this gives you some great ideas and motivates you to get a little more organized.

1. Binder covers

Binder covers are so easy to make and you can be extremely creative with them! I make one for every class using Microsoft word and Fontspace.com. You can include the course name, professor and time the class meets. I usually add some fun images or a background to make them more custom to my personality. Pinterest has a ton of ideas but even googling “binder cover” gives you many, many options. Just make sure it is something you wouldn’t mind everyone else seeing and isn’t breaking any school/program policies.

2. The pencil pouch

I purchased this pencil case at Staples for $6.00!!! You cannot beat that price especially for the durability of this pouch. When I first saw it, it reminded me of an emergency kit! It has separate compartments for those slightly OCD organization people (me!!!). I love this pencil pouch because it is small enough to toss in my bag but holds a crap ton of pens, pencils and highlighters. You could even put your sticky notes, erasers, whiteout, etc. in this case! There is plenty of space for all of your class necessities.

3. Keeping extra supplies on hand

You might think, “Ashlyn I don’t need to carry any more supplies on me.” TRUST ME. I didn’t realize how much this little trick would come in handy. I have the entire front pocket of my backpack filled with extra supplies: pencils, black pens, stickers, notecards, tabs, markers, sticky notes, etc. I did not realize how often I reach for these now that I have them. Before keeping all of my odds and ends in my backpack, I would be trying to organize at school and realize I did not have what I needed. This really doesn’t take much time or space in your already slammed full bag.

4. Double up on the necessities

This ties hand in hand with the previously mentioned tip. Having EXTRA supplies that are easily accessible will change your life. Instead of making 8,000 trips to Wal-Mart throughout the semester for this and that, just stock up and store it all! I have a couple drawers in my room that have my “overstock supplies”. It helps so so so much. When I run out of note cards, I have back-ups on hand. I always have extra paperclips, staples, and tape…the NECESSITIES. That is key to staying organized and not cluttered, necessity supplies only.

5. Tab inserts / dividers

PowerPoint’s, study guides, handouts and syllabi. Have you ever had that moment in class where you are flipping through so many pages of your notes looking for that ONE thing? Yeah, me too. I purchased a few packs of page dividers and keep them tucked in the front pocket of my binders. I organize my binders (specifically my nursing courses) by sections and it makes looking for assignments quick and easy! I have one section for concept maps, one for PowerPoint’s, one for handwritten notes, one for handouts and so on and so forth. It really is up to you how to divide each section, just make sure you start doing it!

6. Color-Coding…everything!

IF YOU DO NOT DO THIS, PLEASE START! In my very first blog post I mentioned color-coding basically your entire life! Get the biggie pack of colored pens and then buy 3 or 4 different brands. This helps so much. In my planner, there is a key breaking down every color you would see. Using color-coded note cards is so much simpler than trying to find all of chapter one amongst the ten chapters you have note cards. Starting your color-coding journey might seem harder than it really is. Just pick up some colorful supplies and start. It is a time saver and creates a stress-free environment.

7. Using a utility totes

“31” bags can be expensive, but not investing in a good backpack can be even worse. I have a medium sized, multiple pocket utility tote (all decked out with my name and errrything) that I carry all of my text books in. Not only does this make my back happy, but also it keeps my books neatly stored. I really strongly suggest making sure the tote has multiple pockets because then you can eliminate carrying a purse and you’ll have room for plenty of snacks! This is a SLIGHTLY random hack that I JUST started practicing this year but it has helped me a lot. I don’t struggle carrying 5 books in my arms and my backpack isn’t 200lbs. You can find tote bags literally anywhere; Target, Walmart, Michaels, ETSY. They are especially nice to customize!

8. Assignment scheduling

This may be super obvious to some of you but bare with me. I read this book called “The Nursing School Survival Guide” (future blog post!) which gave me this idea and they were HELLA RIGHT. Not only do I keep a laminated copy of my course schedule in each binder…Hi, I’m Ashlyn and super paranoid I’ll forget an assignment…but I also created the mega, collaborative schedule. In Microsoft excel you can literally type in the course, assignment name and due date. Then, in the tools, you can select “organize by date” and BOOM! All of your assignments are in chronological order. Were you just amazed as I was?

9. Online calendar / reminders

Yes, my planner is my holy grail, but it can’t text me saying “Reminder: Next week quiz 3 is due.” like Google calendar does. Again, hi, I’m Ashlyn and super paranoid I’ll forget an assignment. The calendar on my phone is an exact, virtual copy of what my physical planner reads. Work, appointments, family plans and class are all in there; yes color-coded and yes it matches the colors in my planner. The most important thing I do, is set reminders periodically to tell me of up and coming events I need to keep in mind, such as a quiz, project, paper, etc. This keeps all of my time management in check.

10) Taking time each day to breathe!

YOU DESERVE A BREAK. Self-care is extremely important right now with all the stress of college and nursing and it is okay to take a step back to just breathe. Make sure you aren’t using “I need a break” as an excuse for procrastination, but if you are working hard, accomplishing our goals and keep pushing forward, then take 10! Turn off your brain and be quiet for a little. Find a way to decompress and relax with art, yoga, or simply ENJOYING a great cup of coffee (enjoying is the key part right there). I personally love naps, pizza and a hot bubble bath! Remember that you are going to hit highs and lows throughout nursing school. Some days you, getting at of bed will be the biggest accomplishment. Other days, you will feel on top of the world! It is life. We didn’t sign up to become nurses because it was easy. We chose to dedicate our lives to others because it is a passion.