Creative Ways To Use Your Agenda

Now that we are a week into August, I hope you have found the perfect planner. If you haven't, then no worries you can check out my guide to finding the perfect planner. So by now, most of you have been using your new agenda for a week.  You're finally acquainted with the single item that contains your everyday needs for surviving a busy lifestyle.  Or you might be one of those people who opts for a new year new agenda, and now you're six months into your planner.  Regardless, it's time to start using your agenda to the maximum! 

I've come to realize how many different purposes an agenda can have.  It's so much more than a place to write down important dates, meetings, and reminders. Check out my suggestions for getting the most out of your planner!

Daily Schedule: This is an obvious way to use your agenda.  Write down your schedule every day to make sure you don't forget a meeting or a class. 

Daily To Do Lists: Create a to do list each day with everything you want to accomplish. 

Goal Setting: Chances are if you are the type of person to utilize an agenda, then you are a goal setter.  Use your planner to keep track of the progress you have made towards achieving your goals. 

TV Shows: Keep track of when your favorite shows are on TV. Make a little note so you never forget. 

Inspiration:  Jot down an inspiring quote at the top of each week. You can never have enough motivation. 

Packing Lists: Use the notes section to prepare for your next weekend getaway. Creating your packing lists in your agenda allows you to refer back to them when you pack for the same location in the future. 

Budgeting: Write out your monthly budget in the calendar lay out. 

Track your spending: Write down what you've spent each day. At the end of the month, you will be able to see how much you spent and where. 

Workout Schedule: Keep track of your workouts.  You'll never fail to forget to go to the gym nor what exercises you ddi during that really great workout at the gym two weeks ago. 

Bill Due Dates: Gross. Not what you want to hear, but a great way to make sure you always pay your bills on time. 

Meal Planning: The perfect place to plan your meals each week.  

Remember important dates:  The perfect location to keep all the important dates you need to know (anniversaries/ birthdays/holidays). 

Mini Phone Book: Write down any important numbers and addresses you may need in the notes section or on the date you actually need them. 

Wedding Planning: If you're getting married or you are in a wedding party, then you know how many dates there are to keep track of. 

Water Intake: I like to keep track of how much water I drink each day.  Not getting enough water explains a lot of things. 

Crafting: If you use a Lilly Pulitzer agenda, then you definitely can recycle it for crafting. There are so many different crafts involving recycled agendas on Pinterest.  You can check out how I recycled an old agenda here. 

Interview Tool: I like to use the notes section to reflect after my interviews. I write down every question that I was asked, how i felt after the interview, what outfit I wore,  and any random notes I might have.  

What are the creative ways you use your agenda?

XOXO

Productivity Tips for the Summer

It's Friday! I don't know about you, but this week has felt really long for me! I worked all day Monday through Wednesday and then was preparing for an interview, which made it a bit of a stressful week. Anyways, I couldn't be happier that the weekend has arrived. Today is the start of my weekend. I took off and am headed for a girls' beach weekend from today through Sunday. I'm excited to have a little rest and relaxation time as well as catch up with friends I haven't seen in awhile. 

It's bittersweet that after this weekend there is only one more weekend left in the month of July.  We pretty much have one month left of summer.  I look back and wonder where the time has gone. I've spent the past month working two jobs, blogging, and getting my summer to do list conquered.  At the beginning of the summer, I made a list of things I wanted to accomplish. Slowly but surely I have been crossing items off of this list. I've realized how getting one small thing done a day leads to a month full of productivity.  Today I thought I would share with you some productive things to do with your time this summer as well as some tips on how to actually be productive. 

If you don't have much going on this summer, then this list will help you make your days more productive. 

Now it's your turn, if you haven't made your list of productive items do so now.  Make a list of about ten items that you can actually accomplish. Impossible to do lists are not any good because they make you feel bad for not accomplishing all of the tasks plus this list is supposed to be filled with items you can actually do to feel productive the last half of this summer.  

Now that you have your productivity list, it's time to get started. How can you actually be productive? We all know that making a list is one thing, but actually accomplishing the tasks on your list is entirely different. We are all guilty of sitting on the couch binge watching out favorite Netflix show, scrolling through social media for what you think are a few minutes but ends up being an hour, or just napping the day away. Well, it's time to get moving and become productive. This summer I feel like I have been mastering this. I have been working two jobs, applying to full time teaching jobs, keeping up with my blog posts, taking adventures, and actually conquering my summer to do list. So yes, it is actually possible to be productive this summer, but you have to make it happen!

Get Dressed

Don't get me wrong, I love the little luxury of being able to spend summer days in my pajamas. However, there gets to be a certain point where you need to get dressed. Pajamas are fabulous, but they make you want to stay in bed our lounge around. When you're doing either of these things chances are you are not being productive. Putting on a cute outfit just motivates me on its own. By no means am I talking about putting on business casual attire just something other than your pajamas. In the summer, my go to is usually athleisure. 

Create a to do list

Each Sunday, I create a to do lists with the tasks that I want to accomplish throughout the week. I fill it with tasks that can actually be accomplished not with things that simply can't be done in the limited amount of free time I have. My weekly to do lists usually has no more than ten items on it. I write it down on a piece of paper, then break the tasks down by day in my agenda.  Weekly and daily to do lists will definitely help motivate you to be more productive.  Try to accomplish one to two items on the list a day, and then by the end of the week you will feel pretty good with all that you have gotten done!

Establish Routines

Routines are crucial to success. This summer I have been working on waking up earlier to get more done. I wake up, take care of my puppy, and then workout before heading off to work.  Running in the mornings gives me a great jumpstart to the day.  I also create a mental to do list during my workout. It's the time I take to organize what my day will look like.  Another routine I have is eating breakfast each morning. I am most productive during the morning hours, so I try to get most of my tasks done then. Fine the time that your work best and schedule your tasks to be completed during this timeframe. 

Timed Tasks

Don't let these boring tasks take you all day. Giving yourself a time allotment to get something done ensures that you are using your time efficiently and not wasting the day on something you don't actually want to be doing.  

Make Time For You

Part of being productive includes being inspired. Be sure to set aside time to do things for yourself. You don't need to be productive 24/7.  I like to make sure I have time to read each day as well as watch an episode of one of my favorite TV shows.  Taking breaks allows you to refresh yourself.  Some great breaks include reading, coloring, working out, catching up with a friend, or taking a 20 minute power nap. 

If you liked this post, then you may want to check these out:

Motivation Monday: June Edition

Creating Your Morning Ritual

5 Things To Do Instead of Checking Your Phone

Things To Do With Your Free Time 

What are your tips for being productive this summer?

XOXO

Planning for The Perfect Planner

Can you believe that we are closer to August than June? The summer is flying by. I was running some errands last week and I noticed that stores like Target and Walmart already have their big back to school displays up.  

* Cue the anxiety here* Currently, anything back to school related just reminds me how I am still job-hunting for a teaching job for the school year. We're about a month out from school starting and I am still searching. Anyways, I'll spare you from my anxious thoughts for now and continue on with something more exciting to read about- selecting the perfect planner. 

My love for agendas started back in high school. Post concussion, I had trouble remembering my assignments so I started writing things down in the agenda that was issued to us by school.  It slowly began to have more use to me than solely just a hall pass. My freshman year of college is when I truly relied on an agenda to get me through each day.  It became the place I kept track of important dates, assignments, wrote to do lists, and kept important information like passwords and class schedules. Throughout the rest of college I continued my love for agendas. I began to color code items and events, which was incredibly helpful. 

Last year I actually had two agendas. One that I used for lesson plans and student teaching related items, and the other agenda I used for personal use to keep track of social events, bills, blogging etc. I used two different styles of Lilly Pulitzer agendas for these.  

Around July each year, I begin my research to pick out the perfect planner(s) for the upcoming school year.  Over the years, I feel like I have become quite the expert. I've used several different types of agendas and have researched a good number of others.  I thought it would helpful to breakdown each agenda for you to help you decide the perfect planner for you whether you are still in high school or college, a teacher, a mom, a business woman, or just someone who needs some extra help organizing their life. 

Lilly Pulitzer 

$22-$35

These come in several different sizes. It is a seventeen month planner with monthly and weekly planning pages.  Each month has a side bar that allows you to jot down any important reminders.  There are sections for notes, packing lists for trips, and important dates.  There is a pocket folder at the front. A unique feature to the Lilly agendas is that they are filled with gorgeous artwork and inspiring quotes at the beginning of each month. Each agenda also comes with a set of stickers to help you plan out your life. 

Kate Spade

$36

These only come in one size. They are fairly similar to the Lilly Pulitzer agenda. They have 17 months (August 2017-December 2018) and include both monthly and weekly planning pages. You get a set of fun stickers at the front of this agenda. Included are pages for notes, holidays, and dates to celebrate. A pocket folder is located in the agenda, and all of the monthly tabs are laminated. 

Lauren James

$28

This is a twelve month planner that comes in one size.  The layout is a little different. Each weekly outlook includes features such as a method to track how much water you have drank, fitness goals, and a meal planner.  A notes section is included at the back of the planner along with a smaller set of stickers to help keep you organized. 

Erin Condren

$55-$65

This company offers many different styles. They even have a customizable teacher planner. The traditional Life Planner allows you to plan for 18 months. It includes a mini month spread, quotes, goal setting pages, a monthly calendar, weekly calendars, lined pages, dot grid pages, coloring pages, four pages of stickers, a folder, and a pouch to store your agenda accessories. These agendas have lots of options to customize them however you wish. 

Target

$17

This is your basic academic planner. It has a monthly outlook followed by weekly pages for each month. There aren't many bells and whistles that come with this type of agenda, but it is great for basic organization. 

Day Designer

$49-$59

These have been really popular lately. I think partially because they have been sold in stores like Anthropologie. These are built to last you from May 2017 through June 2018. Included in each of the daily pages are scheduling from 5am-9pm, to do lists, what to make for dinner, gratitude spaces, and more. The actual agenda also has goal setting sheets, daily quotes, weekend pages with a weekly overview, monthly tabs, two page monthly overviews, and two page yearly overviews. 

 Happy Planner 

$20-$35 

This is an eighteen month planner ranging from July 2017 through December 2018. It has sturdy laminated front and back covers, laminated tabs, year at a glance pages, monthly, and weekly pages.  Each month includes goal setting pages. Included in the agenda are also notes pages. The neat thing about these agendas is that you can add and take out whatever you like. The company offers lots of different options. I saw these when I was in Michael's last week, and it reminded me of a scrapbooking agenda. I thought it was neat how you can change what you don't like. 

 As much as I rely on technology,  I don't think I will ever be able to digitalize my calendar. There is something about physically writing on paper that I just love. 

XOXO

The Art of Decluttering

Change is definitely a good thing. Sometimes I find myself craving it actually. Small changes that is! I have a habit of cleaning and getting rid of the junk I've accumulated every six months to a year. I am a fairly organized person, but I do seem to collect random stuff and can never find a place for it. I think we all have those one or two places where we just shove the random stuff we can't find a place for. For me this place seems to be the desk in my room. It just seems to be the catch all for the items that I neglect to put away or have no idea what to do with them.  I come home and don't have enough time to put my belongings away..they end up on my desk. I can't decide what to wear, so I raid my closet and try on outfit after outfit without putting away the clothes I choose not to wear.. they end up on my desk.  The random mail that I don't feel like sorting and filing gets shoved in a folder on my desk. I think you're probably getting the point by now. Anyways, after a certain amount of time I just get tired of looking at all the clutter that has collected.  

Once I muster up the time and energy, I begin to de-clutter.  I begin by sorting the items that are just randomly placed in piles (bobby pins, hair ties, etc. belong in the bathroom, clothes belong in the closet, etc.) I sort the items until the loose items are gone. The next step is to put these random items back to where they belong. Sometimes this even means purging a few items. The next step I like to take is to re-organize.  I focus on one area at a time. Within each area I remove everything sort through it disposing of items that I no longer need nor use. If I haven't used it in the past year, then there's no point keeping it. I make two piles- one for trash and the other for things I plan to donate. I then take what is left and organize it in a way that minimizes clutter and maximizes organization. 

Before... 

After...

Desk organization that works for me

Filing Important Papers

I like to use pretty filing folders to store important papers. I currently have four folders. One for all of Brody's vet records, a folder for all of my teaching credentials, a folder for bills, and another folder for miscellaneous important papers like contracts. I like to use cute filing folders because they double as a practical item and a bit of decor. 

Organizing the random stuff

We all have that small collection of random items that we use regularly, but just can't seem to find a neat way to store them.  I use a small wicker basket for these.  The basket makes everything appear as organized even though it's actually not. In my basket I keep koozies, my dollar jar, lemon wipes, sunglasses, etc. You can find some great baskets and bins at the dollar spot at Target or even the dollar store.  You'll be amazed at how quickly using a few storage bins changes the look of a room. 

Books

I love to read, and I also love the collect "coffee table" books. I clearly don't have a need for a coffee table yet since I live at home with my parents and my only personal space is my bedroom. However, I still insist on collecting these pretty books filled with fun pictures and information.  I use them as a decor item in the cubby of my desk. Storing them horizontally rather than vertically makes them look more organized and intentional rather than a pile of books that are just randomly collecting. 

Writing Utensils

I have always loved colorful pens, pencils, and markers. I've shared my love for new office supplies many times on here.  Well, it's no surprise that I have lots of writing utensils.  I keep them organized in a storage bin that I found at The Container Store.  The bin was a little pricy, but it helps to keep e everything organized. Some other ways to store pens and pencils would be to put them in a cute mug or cup, in a small container, or in a pencil case.

When it's all said and done, decluttering feels a lot like hitting the reset button. It makes me feel refreshed and inspired. 

XOXO

Before Bed Routine

I don't know about you, but I love reading about others' daily routines. I think it's fascinating to find out what people do on a daily basis. I am a huge fan of routines, so I'm always looking to better mine.  I figured I would start my nightly routine in the afternoon (around 4:30), since this is usually when I get home from working (substitute teaching or working at my retail job). 

After I get a snack (popcorn or chips and salsa), I usually head upstairs to unload my bag and get changed. My go to outfit is usually some type of athleisure (yoga pants and a comfy sweatshirt). I then head to the bathroom to take off my makeup and wash my face. I usually use Burt's Bees Makeup Remover Wipes, wash my face with this Clinique face wash, followed by Clinique Step 2 toner, grape seed hydrating spray, and OSEA moisturizer. Washing my face after a long day is quite refreshing. I like to wash it earlier in the night because it ensures that I take my makeup off before bed. After washing my face, I usually end up throwing my hair up in a high ponytail or messy bun.

During the gap of time between getting changed and eating dinner, I like to unwind a little bit. I will catch up on any TV shows from the night before. Yes, reality TV shows on Bravo are my guilty pleasure.  I like to use this time to relax before getting things done. You can usually find me watching tv, knitting, reading, browsing pinterest, catching up on the social media I missed during the day, or taking a quick power nap. Anyone else a fan of a quality 20 minute power nap?

Prepping dinner. I usually make dinner or help my mom make dinner. Within the past month, I have taken on a larger role in the kitchen due to my mom's busy schedule/ post work long to do lists. I am a huge fan of cleaning up as much as possible before I eat dinner. It just seems to make things so much easier after dinner. 

At some point while making dinner, I take a break to feed Brody and let him out. Once dinner is cleaned up, I like to spend some time playing with him. He still has tons of puppy energy!

After dinner, I like to work on my blog while binge watching something on Netflix. My current show is Grey's Anatomy. I use this time to schedule tweets, draft posts, and read some of my favorite blogs.  I tend to be a more focused writer in the morning, so I try to use this time to edit my posts and schedule future posts. I know you're not supposed to eat after dinner, but I do love a small sweet treat after dinner.  I tend to snack on something small during this blogging time. 

After I put my computer away, I like to take out my agenda to make a game plan for the next day. I generally use this time to figure out what I'll be wearing, pack my tote, pack my lunch, and set my clothes out for the next day.  Doing this makes the following morning go much smoother, especially if I'm planning to squeeze in an early morning gym session.  When I feel prepared for my day, I then head to the bathroom to brush my teeth and remove any jewelry I might still be wearing.  

By this time, it's time for my favorite part of the night- before bed cuddles with my puppy. We usually lay in my bed and finish watching whatever episode of Grey's Anatomy is on, read, and then fall asleep. This is a typical work week night for me right now. I'm sure once I start teaching it will be filled with more school work than relaxing, but for now I am taking full advantage of this laid back nights. 

I'd love to hear if your nightly routine it similar or different than mine!

XOXO

Things You Can Do To Seem More Put Together

HAPPY FRI(YAY)! 

When we talk about people being put together, a certain image comes to mind. I'm sure we can immediately all list several names of people who come to mind.  These people might be friends, mentors, acquaintances, or even celebrities regardless a specific image comes to mind.  For some reason there are just some people who really do have it together, but there are others who do several things that make it appear like they have it together when in reality that might not be the case.  We all would love to give off those put together vibes 100% of the time, but that just is not realistic. Nobody is absolutely perfect all of the time.  We all have a slight hiccup in our lives every once in awhile.  Yes, me the perfectionist is admitting to not actually being perfect! Anyways, from time to time I get the comment from people that I literally have my whole life together. I would definitely disagree with this statement, but I guess from the outside it could appear that I do.  Lately I have been thinking about how I am giving off these I have my life together vibes to people.  I created a short list of little things that I do that could possibly give people these vibes as well as some things that I think of when I picture my list of people who I know who seem so put together. We all could use a little advice every once in awhile, so I thought I'd share my tips and tricks with you guys!

Make your nails a priority

Okay, I know this sounds silly but it really does make a difference. There's something to be said about a woman who has well manicured hands and feet.  I'm not saying you need to pay money to get your nails done every week, but spend some time to give yourself a fresh coat of polish followed by a quality top coat. This will definitely give off a more polished look to your peers. Also I don't know about you, but when my nails are done it just makes me feel good. Plus, painting your nails can be therapeutic. 

Dress to impress

Looks aren't everything, but they do help with making a good impression. You don't need to be dressed to the nines all day every day. However, spend some time to put together a cute outfit whether it's a pair of running shorts and a cute tank or a Lilly shift dress. You should always dress comfortably, but never be sloppy. This could even  mean just taking the time to iron your clothes. Also, when you look good you feel good!

Simple accessories

Do a little accessorizing, but not too much. Play around a little bit over the next few weeks and figure out what you're essential accessories are.  When you're leaving the house throw these on to finalize your look. For me my go to items are a pair of pearl earrings, my fitbit, a watch, alex and Dani bracelets, a bar necklace, or my monogram necklace. I don't wear all of these at the same time, but I throw on some combination of these items on before heading out. 

Do your hair

Unless you are one of the few woman who can just hop out of the shower and have naturally awesome hair, you need to put a little effort into grooming your hair.  By no means am I saying you need to spend hour making sure your hair is curled to perfection.  But spend a couple minutes to fishtail a side braid, pin up a cute chignon, master the top knot, or throw your hair in a pony tail and run the flat iron through it several times.  When your hair looks well kept you look like you have things under control. 

Natural makeup

Natural makeup is definitely a go to.  You don't need to wear makeup every single day. When you do your makeup don't over do it. You want to wear just enough to cover up any blemishes, but definitely don't pile it on so you look orange and have raccoon eyes.  Try using a BB cream, a nude color eye shadow, a little mascara, and a light pink blush. This soft natural look is very feminine.  This also gives off the vibe that you tried but didn't try too hard. If you're feeling bold add a little color to your lips with a pink lipstick. Wearing lipstick also can go a long way for your appearance, but remember appearance definitely is not everything. 

Be on time

This is such a simple task that you can do with ease.  One of my coach's told me that if you're on time, then you're actually late. If you always plan to be somewhere 10-15 minutes early, then that will ensure you arrive on time.  This adds cushion time for traveling, traffic, getting lost, etc.  Being on time is so important. It signals to people that you respect them and their time. Being late is definitely not a sign of being put together because people think that you might not be good at managing your time. 

To Do Lists

These are your best friend. I literally cannot live without to do lists. I make them on the regular.  These help me keep track of what tasks I need to do. They prevent you from forgetting anything. When making to do lists, be sure not to make them impossible to complete. When you get things done it definitely looks like you have your life under control. Plus it gives you purpose each day. 

Establish Routines

Establishing routines can get you so far in life.  Routines are good because they give you consistency in life.  When you do things regularly people think you have a plan of action, which can be a good thing.  Also, it gives you guidance on a regular basis.  These routines could include before bed rituals, washing your face regularly, making your bed every day, working our regularly, eating breakfast everyday, etc. Also, when you have routines for long enough then you actually will have your life together. 

Buy an agenda

Okay, so you need to do more than just buy an agenda. You actually need to use it. Find an agenda that works for you, then figure out a system that works for you (color coding, making to do lists in it, using the calendar, etc). Using an agenda will keep your life organized, help you plan ahead, and will ensure that you don't miss an event. When you are on top of things you definitely are more put together. When somebody asks you what you're doing on a certain day and you can tell them, that certainly gives off those put together vibes. 

Be confident

If you take anything away with you from this post, I hope it is the importance of being confident in yourself. Now days I feel like it's easier for millennial to be insecure than it is to be confident. The world gives us so many reasons to not be happy with who we are or how we look. Regardless of what anyone tells you, be comfortable with who you are and what you stand for. Rock that confidence with you on a daily basis and it will take you far in life. 

I'd love to hear from YOU! What do you do to seem more put together? 

Have a fabulous weekend!

XOXO

The Final Countdown to the End of Undergrad Classes

Y'all it's mid April! 

This month is exciting for me because I'm quickly approaching the end of my undergraduate career.  This semester is my last undergraduate semester taking classes. In the Fall I will be student teaching and then graduating in December.  I cannot believe how quickly the time has gone, but I am beginning to get more excited about what the future has in store for me.  It's rewarding to know that all of my hard work and long hours studying are about to pay off. While my peers are having all the feels about having to graduate in May, I'm over here enjoying the fact that I don't have to start adult life for another semester.  I have a lot of work to do before I can start worrying about getting a big girl job and all of that fun stuff. 

This month is hands down one of the most stressful months of Spring semester for all college students. It's that time of the semester again where we realize that there's less than a month left but so many assignments and exams to complete.  This is the point where any and all procrastination begins to catch up with you. At some point during this month most students have a mental breakdown over the fact that they have so much to do and so little time. There's also the struggle between wanting to soak up every last moment of the year and having to live in the library in order to get everything done.  If your lucky enough to stay organized and on top of your work all semester, then you will never experience this.  However, I'm willing to bet that the average college student experiences this frenzy at this one semester during their four(ish) years of undergrad. 

Currently, I'm somewhere in between being cool/calm/collected and a little stressed.  I've worked really hard this semester to stay on top of my work, but I have a few assignments that I have definitely put off until the end of the semester. Each semester, especially towards the end, I like to share some tips and tricks to help decrease your stress levels. If you're looking for some advice, then you can check out my Guide To College.

The Final Countdown List

I love lists (shocker!). I mean who doesn't love the satisfaction of crossing something off of that long to do list?  Making an end of the semester to do list that contains all of the assignments that you need to do, papers to complete, and exams you need to study for will help you prioritize the end of the semester tasks. 

I've shared about this list here and here, but I'll provide a brief overview in case you have no idea what I'm talking about.  First you'll want to take out all of your syllabus to figure out what assignments you have left and when they are due and then write these down on a fresh sheet of paper. The next thing you'll want to do is write down any other tasks that you need to complete (i.e: move out, clean apartment, return textbooks you rented, sell textbooks, etc.). Now that you have everything written down, it's time to organize everything into a mega list. There's a few different ways you can make your final countdown list. The first option is to write everything down in the order that you want to complete the tasks (most likely by their due date).  The second option is to split your sheet of paper into different sections so that each class has it's own section and then you can add a miscellaneous column for random things.  The second method is what I decided to go with this semester.  Each time I complete a task, I highlight it so I know it's finished.  

As the semester comes to an end, remember to treat yourself, have a little fun, work hard, and remember that no matter how stressed you feel right now it will end. 

XOXO

The Organized Student: In Class Note Taking

My Advice today is on College Note taking:

Spring semester has arrived, which means it's time to start taking notes in class again.  I take a lot of notes in class.  I'd imagine all of you have done the same, if not recently then definitely at some point in your life.  Well, in case you didn't know I am an organization freak!  Needless to say my notes are pretty organized, and yes they are color coordinated too.  Everyone has their own method of note taking that works for them, so today I am going to share what works for me. 

I take notes in class,after class, and while I do my outside reading (depending on the class).  However, my approach to them is about the same.

In Class Notes:

This is what my in class notes look like.

I prefer to take these notes on my computer, then after class I go back and re-write them.  Re-writing your notes can be time consuming, but it is a great method for studying.  

• The key to good note-taking is paying attention!
• Use at least 2 different colored pens or pencils- I like paper mate marker pens and plain black pens.
• Highlighters! Use them, they are really helpful!
• Color Coordinating- I color coordinate headings, sub headings, equations, examples, and key terms. This really helps with the organization of your notes.
• Make your notes attractive. The more attractive they are the more likely you are to look at them again.  I know this sounds really silly, but believe me it is true! (This is where colored pens and highlighters come into play)
• If there are PowerPoints online: print them out and read them prior to class.  This will help you follow along with the lecture much easier.  With power points, I tend to take notes on the handouts in class, and then I rewrite them in my own words after class.  This provides as a nice built in review too. 
• Use Post It notes: I use these when I have questions or to draw my attention to important things that the professor hints at, will most likely be on the exams.
• Lined paper is perfect for classes where outlining is needed, but don't be afraid to use blank paper too this allows you to make your notes the way you want them to be, visually.
• Date things: I always put the date at the top of my paper and if handouts are ever given in class, date them too.  This helps when you go back through everything when exam time comes.

These are my reading notes for Science.

Good luck!

Xoxo

Weekly Goals

It's important to set goals.  They serve as a great motivational technique in all stages of life.  I use this for college, but my mom also uses this in her classroom and at home. In college, I like to set goals as benchmarks to help me reach a goal by a certain time.  These goals remind me to  do things I might forget to do otherwise, sometimes they are obvious things, and other times they are things I'd like to do but not sure if it's possible.  I begin each week by setting new goals.  Creating short term goals helps me get to tiny accomplishments that will eventually help me achieve larger goals.  

Goals can come in many different shapes and sizes. My weekly goals come in the shape of six square post it notes.  I create six goals each week. Usually these are things that would be on my to do list.  After I complete a task, I take the post it note off of my goal list.  The goal list is conveniently hung over my desk, so I am able to access it easily while working. These goals also serve as a great time management tool! 

How to create your own goal list:

• One: Purchase a small piece of poster board (11" by 14")
• Two:  Out line the layout in pencil.
• Three: Trace over the pencil in a fine tip sharpie adding any creative touches you wish.
• Four: Add your post it notes

XOXO

Assignment Sheet for Fall Semester

The Fall semester is always much more busy for me than the Spring semester. Due to this I like to make sure I begin each year really on top of things.  This is my fourth semester taking eighteen credits or more.  Managing six to seven courses plus labs can become a little bit challenging.  In order to prevent myself from forgetting any important assignments, I like to create a semester assignment sheet.  This assignment sheet contains all course readings, days of labs, days when classes are cancelled, online modules, exams, quizzes, homework assignments, papers, readings that go along with certain lectures and any other assignments.  The first week of classes I take the time to read through the syllabus for each class, and then I gradually compile all of the dates and assignments into one large document.  I know it's the third week of classes, so if you still want to create one of these it's still not too late! Below you will find the steps I take to turn six syllabus into one document.

One: Read through each syllabus 

Two: Order your syllabus in the order that you have your classes (example: 1st- MF 11am class, 2nd- MWF 1pm class, 3rd- MWF 2pm class, 4th- Tues/Thurs 9:30am class, etc.)

Three: Open up an excel spreadsheet or a word document.  I recommend using whichever one you are more comfortable navigating. Personally, I prefer to use word. 

Four: Create a table with four columns and lots of rows.  The number of rows will be adjusted depending on the number of assignments you have. 

Five:  Title the columns as follows: Due Date, Date Completed, Class, and Assignments.

Six: Begin by creating a row for each of the weeks. I usually include the week's dates and the week number in these rows.

Seven: Open up the first syllabus to the list of due dates and assignments.  Begin by entering all the due dates for week one for this class.  Once you have done this, then move on and complete this for each week of the semester.  

Eight: Repeat step seven until you have entered the dates for each of your courses.

Nine:  Bold any quizzes or exams. This will help them stand out more. 

I bring this sheet with me to every class.  If professors change any due dates, then I simply take some white out and adjust the due date.  As I complete each assignment I write down the date it is completed, and then I  use a highlighter to highlight that the assignment has been completed. This assignment sheet is helpful for planning out my weeks.  By referencing this sheet, I can easily view which weeks are going to be busier academically and when I need to start studying for quizzes and exams. 

If you have any questions setting up your semester assignment sheet, then feel free to email me!

Like these posts, view similar ones:Start of Spring Semester & Syllabus Organizational Tips

XOXO

The Essential School Supplies

Today I'm here to share with y'all my first post in the Bloggers Back to School linkup series. Nicole of Empire Styles and Cathleen of Classy Cathleen have collaborated to create this  wonderful link up. This week's topic is school supplies. I've said it before and I will say it again. I love school supplies. It's hard for me to go into my local Target without wandering down the office/school supplies isles.  I love to color code things and keep a neat calendar.  I like to keep my school stuff incredibly organized, which calls for certain school supplies. Staying organized in college looks a lot different than your high school organizational techniques. So how do I  stay organized in college? These items play a huge role in keeping my schoolwork organized. 

Agenda: This is where I write down all of my assignments, to do lists, meeting times/locations, and sorority events. My agenda helps me remember where I need to be and what I need to do on a daily basis. 

Folders: I have two folders. One that I use for my Monday/Wednesday/Friday classes and another one I use for my Tuesday/Thursday classes. I keep all of the syllabuses in these folders along with any papers I need for the week. At the end of each week, I empty my folder out and put the papers in my binder. 

Binder: I use one binder a semester. This binder usually isn't something that I bring to classes unless we are studying for an upcoming exam.  This binder contains all of my papers for each of my courses. 

Dividers: I place one divider for each class into the binder. I prefer to use dividers that have pockets in them because I can place papers that haven't been whole punched there.  At the end of the end of the week, I whole punch each of the papers and place them in their correct section. 

Notebooks: Since I don't bring my binder with me to classes, I use the notebooks to take all of my notes in. I usually write my notes during lecture and then re-write them when I am studying. 

Black Pens: I prefer to use G2 ball point pens for my black pens because they make my handwriting look more neat.  I like to use black pens for my lab assignments and to take notes. I also use them to write my to do lists as well. 

Highlighters: I use these for my agenda organization, for in class note taking and when I am studying. Using colors helps me remember what information is the most important. 

Colored Pens: These help to make note taking more interesting. I also use these to help me keep my agenda organized. I mentioned color coding at the beginning of this post, and these pens are basically what I use to color code things. 

Now that it's the second week of classes, it's time to start getting organized. I hope my list of school supplies helps you start your year off more organized than ever!

XOXO

Coming Soon!

The past month I have been working hard to increase the number of posts that are published from my little corner of the internet. I have been brainstorming and asking some of my regular readers what are some things that they would like to read about. After doing some self evaluating on the blog and talking to readers, I have some exciting things to share with y'all! In the near future you will be able to find the following via The Shore Life According to M:

Shore Life According to M's Guide to College:

Over the past few years I have given out tons of advice on college life. People have asked me about my organizational tips, decorating dorm rooms, questions about greek life, being a college athlete, and more. I have finally created a tab on my page where you can find all the links to posts related to college. I will also be adding to the collection of posts, in the upcoming weeks, too. 

Organize Me:

In case you haven't been able to tell by now, I love for things to be organized. I love taking the time to ensure everything is neat and organized. I love color coding. I love creating organizational systems, and I do a lot of organizing. I am constantly being asked how I stay organized, so I have added another tab to the blog where you can access all my organizational tips.  As the semester progresses, I will be adding more to this page. 

LINK UP #BloggersBTS

Bloggers back to school is a link up series hosted by Empire Styles and Classy Cathleen. Over the course of the next few weeks I will be participating in this series by posting about many different topics related to going back to school including: clothing, office supplies, DIY, desks, organization, and so much more! 

Guest Blogging: Sisterhood Redefined

In the upcoming months I will be writing posts for a blog called Sisterhood Redefined. This site works to provide readers with a realistic depiction of what life as a sorority woman is actually like.  My first post will be all about recruitment workshops and why we spend so many hours doing them! Check out Sisterhood Redefined and look out for my upcoming post!

I hope y'all are just excited for these new additions as I am!

XOXO

Planning Decisions

As you have probably read by now, I love the Lilly Pulitzer agendas.  July is half way over so it's time for me to order my new agenda. Freshman and sophomore year of college I used the large style, but junior year I chose to upgrade to the jumbo size.  I enjoyed the larger version, but the spiral that held it together fell apart mid way through the year and it was a bit too large to carry around.  After last year's mishap I have decided to go back to using the large agenda. I love that the large version has two copies of the monthly outlook of each month. This allows me to keep track of sorority events on one calendar and my personal life on another. This year Lilly has come out with a covered spine version of the large agenda and I can't decide if I should purchase that one or the original version.  These are the two that I am debating between and would love to hear your thoughts!

Option 1 or Option 2

Which one should I buy?

XOXO

Organize Me: the start of spring semester

With the start of a new semester I seemed to have taken an accidental blogging hiatus.  I know last semester I would only post sporadically, but I promise you that is not going to happen this semester. Once I get into a set schedule, frequent blog posts won’t be a problem.

The beginning of a new semester can be difficult.  Setting up routines, figuring out how to balance the new course load, determining how much time each class will require your attention outside of lecture, setting meal times, scheduling social time with friends, organizing your school supplies, and adjusting to waking up at certain times. Needless to say organization is crucial beginning on day one of each semester. 

Those of you who know me personally, know that I function best when I am most organized.  Today I am here to share some tips to helping you have a more organized start to your spring semester. The first few weeks of classes it is good to try out different routines and organization techniques to determine what will work best for that semester. 

One: Establish a routine

Each semester is different.  Your class schedule will most likely not be the same as the semester before, nor will be the time you have to put in studying for your classes outside of lecture.  Your involvement in activities, socializing, working, exercising, etc. will also change.  Adjusting to a new schedule can be challenging, so work to create a routine as quickly as possible.  Having established routines will help increase your productivity.

 This print out is great for keeping track of your classes and free time.

Two: Utilize your syllabus

Every course has one of these, it is a university requirement.  The content of a syllabus will change based on professors preferences.  However, you can generally expect to find a semester calendar, assignments, study tips, your professor's office hours, and what materials you need to succeed here.   It is important to spend some time, within the first couple weeks of school, reading over the syllabus and highlighting important information.  The syllabus will help you set expectations for the course.  After reading each syllabus, write down all of the important dates in your agenda.  This will help ensure that you do not  forget an assignment or exam.

Three: Obtain textbooks

Purchase your textbooks as soon as possible.  Many universities have a section of their website where you can find what textbooks each course requires.  If you are able to purchase your books ahead of time, do so.  The more in advance you purchase your books, the better deals you are going to get.  Waiting too long means you will have to buy your books from the school bookstore, which is nine times out of ten always more pricy.  A great resource for comparing book prices is Slug Books.

Four: Keeping track of notes and other papers

Every semester is different, so your organization needs to adapt with it.  Some courses may utilize a lot of handouts, which means a binder is best.  Some classes may just require you to take notes, which means you only need a notebook and possibly a folder.  It is important to have several systems that you know work for you. Below are some systems that work for me:

1.     The Binder Method:  In semesters where professors hand out a lot of papers or require you to print/annotate articles this is a great method.  There are several ways to organize a binder.  The first method is to have a binder for each set of days.  For example a binder for Monday, Wednesday, and Friday classes and then a second binder for Tuesday/Thursday classes. Within each binder utilize a divider for each course.  The papers will then go in each section chronologically by date.  However, maybe only one of your courses has a lot of papers.  If this is the case, then it might be good to use one binder with several sections in it (readings, class notes/handouts, blank paper, and homework).  Either of these two methods works well.

2.     The Folder and Notebook Method: This is generally my preferred method. The week is divided into two parts: Part 1 (Monday/Wednesday/ Friday classes) and Part 2 (Tuesday/Thursday Classes).  First, determine how many classes you have per day of each set.  This is how you figure out how many subjects you need per notebook.  Generally speaking, a three-subject notebook is good for each part of the week, so that you have two notebooks total.  Each section of the notebook then represents a different course.  The folders are divided up the same way.  You will need one folder for part one and another folder for part two.  Within each folder, paperclip papers from the same course so that they are all together and can be accessed easily.  If one folder isn't enough, then you can always use one folder per subject too.

Five: Set a few goals

After reading through each course's syllabus, I'm sure you will notice some challenges that might arise for you this semester.  It is important to take the time to set some goals and push yourself to be the best you possibly can .  Goals will help motivate you when you have the mid semester blues.  These goals don't need to be unrealistic but shouldn't be too easy either.  To maintain a  balanced life it is important to set both academic and non-academic goals for the semester.

I hope these tips help you have an excellent start to your spring semester!

XOXO