Keep Organised!

A lot of people have been asking me how I keep sane/organised.

I understand where they're coming from. I'm a full-time student taking seventeen credits, I have an internship that requires around 12 hours a week in-office as well as an e-board position on a society at my school. I even find time to write on this blog (semi-regularly).

To tell the truth, I've no idea why I'm still sane. I can never get a full eight hours a sleep and I'm always hustling to go to a prior engagement. However, I do have a tips and tricks I use to keep on top of my schedule, grades, and tasks.

1. Avoid Procrastination:
This is the most obvious one and I suppose that is why it's first. If you get something today, try to do it today or as soon as possible. If you leave it until later, many other things may pop up and you may forget about it altogether. You will thank yourself later for taking the stress off your future self.

2. Keep a whiteboard in plain sight:
I have a whiteboard on my bedroom wall right on my work desks. On that whiteboard, I  use markers to write a checklist  of my tasks for the week. Whenever I had a small notebook, I NEVER remembered to open it and whenever I put my task on electronic devices I always got distracted. Having that big reminder on my wall that I can see whether I want to or not lets me know exactly what I should finish by the end of the week or at the end of a fortnight. It also makes me more productive as I am driven to tick off each task.

My bad handwriting is for my eyes and my eyes only. Don't judge.

3. Turn of WiFi, 4G, or block social media websites whilst working:
When I'm typing a paper I have already researched for or am doing written homework I turn off the WiFi, turn off my cellular phone, and switch off the television. In other words, all electronic distractions cease to exist for that time. If I need the internet for research, then I block Facebook, Twitter, and the like for the duration of my work. This helps me to keep focused on the task at hand. A good website you could use to block social media sites is ColdTurkey.com.

4. Write notes in alternating colours of ink:
Yeah black and blue ink are fun, but sometimes when it’s three o’clock in the morning and you have that cumulative History final the next day, it can all mush together into an uninteresting mess. By writing important points such as definitions, formulae and NBs (Note Bene) in coloured ink, your eyes are captivated by the information and are less tempted to gloss over it. I also find it much more appealing to my eyes than highlighters.

5. Pack at night:
When my mum used harass me about packing my rucksack for school in the night I got annoyed and huffed and buffed. But now, I thank her for getting me into the habit. At night, you can take your time and pack leisurely, remembering what you need for the following day. In the morning you are hectic, watching the clock, and regretting sleeping for that extra half and hour. It saves you the time to have a calm sit-down breakfast then just pick up your back and go!

 

6. Utilise calendar apps:

Every cellular phone, computer and tablet nowadays comes with a stock calendar app. Even if you do not like the stock one there are many alternatives in the different app stores. Set the calendar to alert you two hours before your next appointment. That way, even if you forget, you've got time to get ready and leave for it.

7. Set your watch fifteen minutes ahead:

This is a habit my father got me into. When your watch is a quarter-hour fast, you will get anywhere fifteen minutes early (or if "late" then on time). When hurriedly checking your watch you will forget about it's prior settings an just work on the time you see.

These are the small things I do that help me keep organised and on top of things. I hope they help! Do you have any organisational tips and tricks? Feel free to comment below and share!

xx

Alternative Storage

My apartment is quite small, as a result, so is my bedroom. Because of its size, keeping it looking organised and devoid of clutter is a challenge especially when you're really busy. However, I have found a few ways to help decrease the mess.

Spice rack as cosmetics rack: I use a regular spice rack to store the hair, body and nails bits I use regularly. Right now it houses my daily cleanser, toner and moisturiser, deodorant, face masks, seasonal nail polishes and bodily moisturiser.

  Rubbermaid Take-Alongs: These tupperware bowls are a godsend!  In them I normally store things I'm not using but want to have close at hand such as non-seasonal nail and make-up bits, nail polish remover, my toothbrush charger, etc.











 







Suction Cups: These magical little cups have saved me from nailing or screwing things into my wall which would have been more dangerous for me than the wall (DIY was never my strong suit). They are strong enough to hold up the afore-mentioned spice rack and clothing hangers. I've tested it out on a heavy winter coat and a 4-pants hangers. I even use them to hang the next day's outfits when I choose them at night. All you do to affix them to the wall is hold them steady, and screw the triangle in a clock-wise direction until you are unable to do so. The suction is then activated and it's sturdily stuck to your wall. Then, pull the hook through the lowest hole and voilà- wonderfully strong suction power.

 Multiple article hangers: I wear a lot of skirts, shorts and trousers but I don't have the space to horizontally pack the hangers. So, I use these. They have four pairs of clothes pins which hang vertically  which allow for one hanger to do the job of four. 

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 Using empties as helpful pots: After I use my Bodyshop Body Butters I don't want to just throw away the little pots they come in. Instead,  I use them to hold small bits and bobs like rings, earrings, hair pins and extra buttons. They're compact and stackable, perfect for neat storage!