How I stay organized in grad school

Staying organized in grad school has led to good grades, less stress and a more fulfilling overall experience. When I am organized, I can focus on learning and developing my skills. I have chosen a few strategies that help me balance classes, assignments, work and my personal life. I have built on habits from my undergrad studies and developed new ones during the past year.

When I start a semester, I make it a point to review, or at least quickly scan, the syllabi. I note key dates in a calendar — project deadlines, assignment deadlines, conferences, and things I find essential to know before that class starts. This helps me get a clear picture of what lies ahead so that I can plan my time better and avoid a lot of last minute scrambles as I end up feeling overwhelmed and unproductive.

I cannot stress enough how much I rely on my to-do lists. I write down everything that I need to do. I used notebooks before, but now mostly everything in on my laptop. Keeping a checklist of what I must do for the day keeps me focused and organized. I also create a weekly list to for major deadlines and goals. Breaking down my workload into smaller and manageable chunks helps things feel less daunting and stressful. And I get the feeling of accomplishment when I check off the things I have completed.

I keep track of all meetings and events. I use a Google and Outlook calendar to note everything I commit to, even planned social gatherings. Doing this, I don’t miss anything important or overcommit. I also try to respond to emails right away if I have time, so that they don’t pile up and make me feel overwhelmed. If I don’t understand something, I don’t hesitate to ask questions. Getting that clarification helps me understand what’s needed of me and I can plan how I’ll do it.

Each week I plan specific study times and chose a few study locations, which vary depending on the things I must do on that week. In the past I studied during mornings, but more recently I discovered that I prefer to use that time to catch up with family and friends back in Kosovo. I find that I’m more productive in the late afternoons or evenings when my phone isn’t buzzing with messages. Setting study times in advance allows me to maximize my focus and make the most of my study sessions.

You must put in some effort to stay organized, but it is absolutely worth it! These strategies help me stay on top of things in grad school and enjoy my time here.

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