Staying Organized during COVID-19

Just a reminder, there is no right way to feel right now — Cleo Wade

Hello everyone! I hope all is well especially now that we have to accept the new normal of social distancing. Our governor has already announced that schools are closed for the rest of the year. Before that though, my graduation has been moved to December and all of my classes were moved online. Like most of you, I was not prepared for this abrupt disruption of my life. I’ve been taking things one day at a time, social distancing, and taking the necessary precautions. I’ve also attempted to get my life together. These past two days, I sat down and updated my resume, created a rough gap year outline, and set some goals for the next few months. I felt super motivated to take on my new normal and finish up my last few classes of undergrad. Until those updated syllabi hit my inbox.

Monday was the official start of my new normal and so far things have been alright. A few of my larger projects have gotten dropped (#thankful), but smaller assignments have been added. This means even more due dates to keep track of which will be a true test of my organization skills. I seem to have found a system that has been helping stay on top of things, so today I’m sharing it with you.

Getting Organized

Go through all of your syllabi

Update your planner/calendar with new due dates or assignments. My wall calendar has been a godsend as I have a bigger visual of all of my upcoming due dates

develop a “loose” schedule

By doing this, you’re creating somewhat of a structured environment without the stress of keeping to a strict time schedule. For example, I wake up at 8ish, admittedly I do a bit of lollygagging, but I get to work at 10 am at the latest. I set goals for what I want to get done for the day and continue to work until I finish those things. I also take breaks as needed.

check for zoom meetings

Lots of professors are using zoom in lieu of traditional class settings. If your professors are anything like mine, these meetings are mandatory. Check to see if there are any specific meeting times and write them down somewhere. I’ve been saving the join links on a sticky note that’s on my desktop.

pick a designated workspace, if possible

Thankfully, I have a “home office” that I’m currently working out of. It’s done wonders for my productivity for sure. Trust, I’ve tried working on the couch and at the kitchen table, it didn’t work. I always ended up watching TV or tending to my dog. If at all possible, pick a spot in your home where you know you will get work done.

Staying Organized During COVID-19

Now, this is the hard part. If you’re anything like me, you probably start each semester with a strong organization system and then… stop using it. Now that pretty much the whole country is on social isolation there’s not really any excuse for not turning something in on time. We’re (supposed to be) in the house all day. Make sure you check your planner/calendar every day. I also suggest that you check your email daily as well just in case your professor changes something. Your planner/calendar/ to-do list should be updated every day. Also, be sure to start each day with a plan to keep from getting overwhelmed.

Okay, that’s it for now. I truly hope you all are following guidelines so that we can #flattenthecurve and not have to practice social distancing until the end of eternity. No, but seriously, be careful and stay safe.