Organizational
Techniques
A GUIDE TO INCREASING
YOUR EFFICIENCY THROUGH
ORGANIZATIONAL
MANAGEMENT
Why Should I Stay Organized?
 Clutter and forgetfulness
increase stress and have
damaging effects on grades
 Students who are organized
exemplify a more professional
approach to their work and are
generally more productive and
efficient with their time
 Being organized is the first
step to a more enjoyable
college experience!
What Does it Mean to be Organized?
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Prioritize tasks
Gain control of your day to
day activities
Meet deadlines
Get enough sleep
Follow through with
commitments
Avoid cramming
Easily locate necessary items
Know what’s coming next!
What steps can I take to become better organized?
Step 1: Assess
 Decide which areas your
organizational skills may be
lacking
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Are you often late to class or
meetings?
Do you have a hard time
keeping track of homework or
handouts?
Do you feel overwhelmed with
projects and assignments?
Do you know where your
notebooks are?
Do you know where you are
supposed to be this afternoon?
Step 2: Separate Materials
and Reduce Clutter
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Too much clutter can hinder productivity and efficiency
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Separate education materials by subject
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Use folders and notebooks
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Designate one color folder/notebook for each class
Label each accordingly
Save and store graded papers and handouts for later retrieval
Discard any unnecessary materials
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Keep a calendar, assignment book, or planner
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Use a computerized scheduling tool
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Designate certain spaces for certain things
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Sticky Note
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Outlook?
Gmail?
Study spaces should be free from distraction and clutter
Organize documents on your computer: Keep everything in separate folders.
Step 3: Make a Schedule
 Make general categorizations of your
events and activities
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Make a schedule of the things in your life that
will not change for an extended period of
time
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For example: Distinguish between events that
are firm on your schedule, (class times,
meetings) and things that you can do at your
leisure (exercise, work on a project, etc.)
 Prioritize assignments and activities in
order of importance by developing to-do
lists
 Plot these items on a schedule.
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Try a daily schedule first, then move to weekly,
and so on
Step 4: Break Down Tasks
 Feeling overwhelmed? Breaking projects
down into smaller, more manageable pieces
makes them less daunting and easier to
accomplish
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Instead of reading four chapters in one day, how about reading
two per day for two days?
Instead of writing a whole essay in one afternoon, what about
writing the outline in one afternoon, and then writing one section
per day until complete?
This type of segmentation will take planning, and discipline to
stick to the plan!
 Don’t procrastinate
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Make a plan and use time efficiently to complete those projects
For example: Need to have a book report completed in two weeks?
Designate 20-30 minutes each day to read the book. Once
completed, designate one day to write an outline for the paper, the
next to write the introduction, etc.
Start this process early enough so that you have adequate time to
complete scheduled tasks.
PLAN FOR THE UNEXPECTED!
Step 5: Reward Yourself
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Motivation is key to becoming organized
and reducing stress
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Rewarding yourself after completing certain
levels of organization can prove very
beneficial
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Plan an enjoyable task for when the task is
accomplished
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Make a conscious effort to not only become
organized, but maintain an organized
lifestyle
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Give it a try and see how your efficiency
improves!
This PowerPoint presentation is the property of
Northern Michigan University’s Academic and
Career Advisement Center. It may not be
reproduced without written consent.
http://www.nmu.edu/acac