Help with organization?

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Okay, just a little background - I am starting my pre-requisites this fall (technically started this summer, but I don't count it) and am worried about my organizational skills. I'm taking 19 credits this fall and really, REALLY need to buckle down. :smokin:

Typically I start my quarter (we do quarters at my CC) by gathering all my syllabi and writing them into a planner (I need a new one, any suggestions?). Sounds good, right? The problem is typically I use the planner maybe a week or two and by then my classes fall into a "rhythm" and I never use it again because I generally remember what's due when. I'm trying to figure out ways to keep myself using the planner - my mother suggested bribes (I'm 19 and live at home), as in "I can play around for ten minutes after I've done everything in my planner" but...my problem is that I tend to forget such bribes.

I've thought about putting an alarm in my phone to check my planner, etc, but just want to know if you guys have any suggestions/comments. I'm really desperate to learn how to better organize, as it's gonna kill me this fall if I don't. :banghead: Ideas/suggestions/comments ANYTHING appreciated - even different ways to organize.

Thank you very, very much! :redpinkhe

PS - I know this is the nursing student forum, but I figure you guys have a huge hold on organization and might be able to share some tips! :heartbeat

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

i generally remember what's due when. i'm trying to figure out ways to keep myself using the planner

i am not sure i understand the problem. do you end up forgetting when things are due? (that's a bad memory.) end up forgetting to write things into the planner as the quarter goes on? (that's a bad memory, too.) never check your calendar ever again? (that's a bad memory, too.) or are you just late in starting and getting assignments done although you knew about them long before they were due? (that's procrastination.)

i always kept a calendar in the front of every class notebook along with the syllabus. deadlines and test dates from the syllabus got transferred to the calendar at the beginning of the quarter or semester. changes got made to the calendar as soon as the instructor announced something. while waiting for each class lecture to start i took a few brief minutes (5, 10 seconds at most) to check this calendar and the syllabus to see what was due and refresh my memory. if a deadline was in question, especially if it came up in a discussion with other students, i could always bring it up with the instructor at the start of class. i found a number of goofed up assignment deadlines that way that got clarified immediately with the instructors.

i didn't get that you have a memory problem from your post. if you procrastinate, or wait until the last minute to get things done then that's a habit you need to recognize when you are doing it and know the strategies you must play on yourself to overcome it. see this information about procrastination:

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i generally remember what's due when. i'm trying to figure out ways to keep myself using the planner

i am not sure i understand the problem. do you end up forgetting when things are due? (that's a bad memory.) end up forgetting to write things into the planner as the quarter goes on? (that's a bad memory, too.) never check your calendar ever again? (that's a bad memory, too.) or are you just late in starting and getting assignments done although you knew about them long before they were due? (that's procrastination.)

i always kept a calendar in the front of every class notebook along with the syllabus. deadlines and test dates from the syllabus got transferred to the calendar at the beginning of the quarter or semester. changes got made to the calendar as soon as the instructor announced something. while waiting for each class lecture to start i took a few brief minutes (5, 10 seconds at most) to check this calendar and the syllabus to see what was due and refresh my memory. if a deadline was in question, especially if it came up in a discussion with other students, i could always bring it up with the instructor at the start of class. i found a number of goofed up assignment deadlines that way that got clarified immediately with the instructors.

i didn't get that you have a memory problem from your post. if you procrastinate, or wait until the last minute to get things done then that's a habit you need to recognize when you are doing it and know the strategies you must play on yourself to overcome it. see this information about procrastination:

i'll definitely check out the websites you posting. :redpinkhe what i meant by having trouble was that i fill out my whole planner at the beginning of the quarter and use it studiously for a week or two - check it daily, get homework done, but eventually i just stop opening it and do everything from memory or maybe a glance at the syllabus or somewhere the teacher wrote it. i'm starting to think about putting a reminder in my cellphone to check my planner after class every day.

i hope that clarified, and thank you very much for your reply. :heartbeat it helped.

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Medsurg.

Ok here's the thing. I do the same thing. Use the planner for a week, so proud of myself and then after a couple weeks of class I never open it again. I remember when the assignments are due just because I wrote them in that planner the first time. I've come to the realization that..."So what? So I don't use the planner, this isn't killing me I still get everything done on time" So, if you are still getting things done and handed in when due........so what? The end result is the same and if thats just the way you are able to do things then so be it. Don't "force" using it just becuase. Now if you need help organizing your time, studying etc., thats a different story, but if you are only worried about using your planner? face the fact.......you dont need it lol :)

Good luck

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