African American woman smiling wearing cap and gown and holding diploma

6 Steps to Building Better Study Habits This Spring

When you think about building new habits, you probably think about the New Year. After all, this is the time where we all take a good look at our lives and see things that we want to change. However, most people drop out early and do...

So, how can you change this? How can you ensure that you build good habits on any occasion and not only think about them in when the New Year rolls around? Learn the best ways to stay productive on the go with good habits.

The Step-by-Step Process to Building Good Habits

Step #1: Define And Focus On Just One New Habit

Most of us have different habits that we want to change. However, if you try to change them all at the same time, you’re more likely to end up failing. With this in mind, it is a much better approach to simply focus on one new habit that you want to build.

The key to determining the first new habit you want to implement in your life is to think of something that you can do all the time and that fits your daily life. That could be a 15-minute walk every lunch break, swapping soda for flavored water, or going to bed 30 minus earlier.

Step #2: Make A Commitment:

One of the most important things that you need to do when you are building a new habit is simply commit to it. You can even tell your friends that you will do this or that for the rest of your life. If you don’t mean it, it won’t do you any good. Besides, building a habit is more about doing than it is about telling. So, commit to your new habit for at least 30 days.

Step #3: Connect Your New Habit To An Established One:

Motivation rarely lasts. So, what you should do to help make a new habit stick is that you should anchor your new habit to an established one. Unless you do that, you will see your motivation decrease day after day. On the other hand, if you focus on continuing the habit without fail, it will come to a point where it is simply natural. Try pairing your desired action with a habit you already have to improve your motivation.

Tell yourself something like “after dropping kids off at school, I will take a walk around the building.”

Step #4: Take Baby Steps:

Even though you may be eager to build a new habit, the reality is that it will take you time for your brain to see this new habit as natural. So, the best thing you can do is to take baby steps. This way, you will be introducing the new habit in your life slowly but consistently. Just think of things such as waking up each morning 5 minutes earlier or eating one serving of vegetables each day. While these might seem to be very simple, this is exactly why they work.

Step #5: Dealing With Obstacles:

When you think of building a new habit, you are incredibly motivated. However, your motivation tends to start decreasing unless you keep focusing yourself on committing to this new habit every day.

The truth is that you will always end up dealing with obstacles and the best way to deal with them is to prevent them. Some of the most common obstacles include space, weather, time, pain, self-consciousness, and costs.

So, the best approach is to be prepared to deal with them when they come. Let’s say that you decided that your new habit will be to run outdoors every single day for 30 minutes. Everything is going well until the day it rains. Instead of skipping your run, you could plan that you will go to the gym instead.

Step #6: Reward Yourself:

When you want to make sure that you build a new habit, there is nothing better than rewarding yourself when you reach the target. Remember that you don’t need to break the bank to treat yourself. It can simply be doing something you love or going out with your loved one.

Are you working to improve your study habits? UniversityWriting911 is here to help with resources for creating and polishing A+ worthy essays and more.

confident woman holding books while standing in front of college classroom

May 15, 2019May 24, 2019

10 Tips to End the Semester Strong

Are you starting to feel like you might break under the pressure of final papers and exams? Going back to school (especially college) after a long time away is tough! Your brain is in for some real mental exercise, and you need to take care of yourself as you cross that finish line. Here are 10 tips to end the semester strong. You got this!

Take a deep breath

If you’re starting to feel overwhelmed before you even start, don’t worry. Take a step back, take a deep breath, and refocus. It’s easy to feel like it’s all crashing down but starting is the hardest part. You can do this!

Get organized

After you’ve refocused your attention, get organized. A lot of people try to multitask and never get anything done. Don’t let this happen to you. Create a detailed study plan and stick to it so that your organization can guide you through the craziness of finals.

Avoid procrastination

When you have two weeks before anything is due, it’s natural to think that you have “plenty of time.” Yet, when you only have two days left, you’ll start to feel panicked. Avoid procrastinating and avoid panic. It’s as simple as that. Devote a few hours daily to the tasks you need to do, and you’ll get them done in no time.

Eliminate distractions

You hate to hear it, but social media is a distraction. Do you find that you’re on Instagram or Facebook a lot when you should be studying? Delete the apps for finals week! It might be painful now, but you’ll be much more productive. Plus, think of how much of a treat it’ll be when you can redownload them.

Remember self-care

Don’t skip your yoga class, your 8 hours of sleep or hanging out with friends when you really need it. Remember that self-care should extend into finals too. You need to have balance even when things get tough. Take care of yourself and everything else will fall into place.

Reach out

Reach out to professors, to peers, to your loved ones or to anyone else that can help you! When we feel like we can’t do something, we often turn inward and focus on how helpless we feel. Reaching out to others for help can show you that you’re doing exactly what you need to be doing and give you the boost that you need.

Study with a friend

Do you find you have trouble just getting to the library? Get an accountability partner! This person can keep you on track and devoted to what you need to be doing. And it’s less miserable when you do it with someone you want to spend time with anyway.

Prioritize

If you find you’re still overcome (even with your study plan), don’t be afraid to prioritize! What assignment is due first? Focus on that! Work on the other larger assignments as you go as well. Pace yourself and prioritize so that you feel comfortable with your workload.

Give yourself rewards

Money can’t buy happiness, but have you ever eaten chocolate in the library? It’s pretty close, right? Don’t be afraid to splurge a little and treat yo self!

Be positive

School can be tough, but attitude is everything. If you think of it like it’s a chore, it’ll feel like one. You’re earning a degree, and that’s incredible. Stay positive, don’t complain, and you’ll feel that much better throughout the process!

Want even more tips? Join the Back to School Divas Facebook group! We’re more than 1,000 members strong—and full of great advice, joy, and support.

woman wearing red polka dot shirt at cafe on smartphone

April 17, 2019April 17, 2019

3 Ways You Can Use Your Devices To Maximize Productivity

Your digital devices don’t have to be a place for distraction. Take advantage of these productivity tools for students. Did you know that the average person spends ...

Your digital devices don’t have to be a place for distraction. Take advantage of these productivity tools for students.

Did you know that the average person spends four hours a day on their devices?

How much of that time is used being productive? Technology has made our lives easy and interesting but unfortunately, while some people use these technological innovations to maximize productivity, some others just use it to get too comfortable and unproductive. Our phones, laptops, computers, and other devices can either help us to maximize our productivity or make us lazy and unproductive.

As a student, there are tools that you can have on your device to make studying, doing assignments, and projects easier for you. But as helpful as your devices are, they can also be a source of distraction for you especially when you have a lot of gaming apps and social apps installed.

Luckily, there are productivity tools for Mac and productivity tools for Windows for students that can help you get more done, faster.

How To Maximize Productivity With Your Devices

Set Schedules

The first step to being more productive is arranging schedules and setting alarms. Wake up on time, get where you need to be on time, and you’re halfway there, Diva! There are many built-in apps that can help you plan your day, week, and year. Take advantage of your Calendar, Notes, Alarms, and Reminders to keep track of appointments, assignment deadlines, and even to try calendar blocking or other productivity time hacks.

Time Management

There are so many productivity tools for Mac as well as productivity tools for Windows devices designed to help you manage your time. Banking apps make it easier for you to carry out transactions at home and make good use of the time you would have lost going to the bank. Location apps make it easier to locate where you’re going without wasting time asking people around and getting lost. You can even incorporate other time management systems like the 10-3-2-1-0 method into your phone to help you better maintain your schedule.

Performing Difficult Tasks

One major thing that our devices help us with is the performance of difficult tasks. For example, use an app to proofread documents like essays or even emails to your professors so you’re sure to sound professional. Explore apps that help with calculations, language translations, and other things that you might not be able to do on our own. Productivity tools for Mac and productivity tools for Windows can help you manage difficult tasks.

Productivity Tools For Your Devices

Productivity Tools For Students:

As a student, these are some major tools that will help you to be more productive.

Tools for Mac:

Schoolhouse
iRecorder
Knowledge NoteBook
Flashcard Hero
Studyper
Gigi

Tools for Windows:

Word Web
Typing Trainer
My Study Life Chrome
Rosetta Stone Free Trial

Other helpful tools:

Sticky Notes
Office Lens
Microsoft To-Do
Todoist
PDFpen
MindNode
Grammarly

Want to REALLY get productive? Download the Back to School Divas printable planner for FREE and track your to-dos, assignments and meals like a pro.

Sources:

https://www.inc.com/melanie-curtin/are-you-on-your-phone-too-much-average-person-spends-this-many-hours-on-it-every-day.html

African American nurse smiling at elderly patient in hospital bed

February 13, 2019February 13, 2019

How Registered Nurses Can Balance Work and School Like Superheroes

A registered nurse’s daily schedule is not easy, and now you want to head back to school? How on earth are you going to manage? Balancing nursing school with work and family is a big commitment. You’ll have to find the time to attend...

A registered nurse’s daily schedule is not easy, and now you want to head back to school? How on earth are you going to manage?

Balancing nursing school with work and family is a big commitment. You’ll have to find the time to attend classes, do your research, submit assignments, and stay focused on your work. Before you think this is a task that only a select few superheroes can achieve, know that many women before you have come out on the other side. You just need the right tools in hand.

Let’s have a look at how you can better manage your work, school, and home lives as a working nurse.

1. Communicate With Your Family and Work

Communicating with your family about your desire to go back to school is very important, especially in the early stages. You’ll need to make it clear to your partner what going back to school will mean to you so that you two can figure out a way to re-evaluate your responsibilities, and you’ll have time to concentrate on your studies.

Let the kids know to expect some changes in the house as well. If they are older, they can take on more responsibilities to help lessen the load. Consider assigning daily chores and tasks and keeping them all in a central place. This is a great time to structure personal responsibility, and help outsource to-do’s around the house while you adjust to your new schedule.

Finally, it could be beneficial to let your workplace know about your schedule changes and updates. Your job may be able to assist you financially with your return to school.

2. Understand Your Peak Study Periods

There are certain times of the day where you’re simply more productive. It may be in the early hours of the morning before the kids wake up, or late at night while everyone’s asleep and it’s super quiet.

Once you understand your circadian rhythm, you’ll be able to use it to your advantage. Schedule your studying times around this time so that you get the most out of your sessions.

3. Consider a Support System

Of course, you can always turn to close family and friends to give you that motivational speech you may need when you feel like giving up, but consider a support system from people who know exactly what you’re going through – your classmates.

You may be surprised to find out that there are plenty of other mothers in your class. Make friends. Share tips and even share babysitting recommendations.

Knowing that you’re not alone and there are plenty of other mothers out there in similar shoes who can help to give you that boost you need from time to time.

4. Look into Part-time Programs

If you’re a registered nurse and have a family, you are more than likely already spread thin. Adding school work to this equation is, without a doubt, not going to be easy.

One option you should definitely consider is part-time programs. Although they may take a little longer to complete, it might be what you need to keep sane as less of your time will be required each week. This is the principle of many online schools today—including one of the most popular, University of Phoenix.

In the Back to School Divas Facebook group, we’ve got members from around the country who are working mothers going back to school. We asked for their tips to help you power through:

LaTonya Grant said, “I work at the states mental health inpatient hospital…Stress is an understatement…I work two 16 hour shifts and one 8 hour each week…Plus school…Praying…Relaxing…And exercising helps me with my stress.”

Chanda Delia Wilson added “I worked as a contract nurse through the state and federal. I did this so I can make my own schedule.”

Bottom line: you’re not alone.

To get even further, and stay organized in the process, be sure to download the free Back to School Divas planner. This free resource includes templates for goal setting schedules, meal planning, grocery lists, and more.

young woman smiling while using a planner

January 10, 2019January 14, 2019

Best Planners to Organize Work, School and Life

Diva, when you’re a student, professional, or a stay-at-home spouse or parent, the responsibilities that you have to juggle through on a daily basis can be overwhelming. You have so much you want and need to do. Where do you start? &n...

Research shows us again and again the writing down your goals is the best way to achieve them. That’s why looking into some of the best planners that help you track your goals, objectives or achievements all in one place goes a long way.

Which Planner is the Best Option for You?

The answer to this depends upon your preference, your needs, and what you want to focus on.

At Back to School Divas, we want you to have all the tools you need for success. That’s why we designed an exclusive planner download pack! You can now have your very own functional, systematic planner without breaking the bank.

Download the official Back to School Divas planner printable for FREE! Get pages for monthly and weekly planning, goals, meal planning, grocery lists, assignment trackers and more.

With that being said, if you’re ready to invest in a way to get organized, here are some of the best planners that could help you achieve those goals in 2019.

Best Overall Professional and Student Planner: Panda Planner

Panda Planner is known as the professional, personal and student planner for everyone.

When Panda Planner’s founder, Michael Leip, struggled through multiple physical and life challenges, he identified a need to organize his life in the most optimal, simple way.

Over years of work, Leip has eliminated the clutter and only kept the most important organization tools within this planner. His strive for excellence makes Panda Planner one of the most well-rounded on the market.

Here’s what makes Panda Planner so great:

Undated, so you can buy it any time during the year and start with your organization.
Segmented in monthly, weekly and daily sections, so you can plan over a stretch of a few days or over a smaller period of a few hours.
Lots of space to write, brain dump and take notes.
Comes with bookmarks for additional organizational support.

The Panda Planner does have its shortcomings:

The ‘box’ segmentation in all planning pages may make organization seem monotonous.
The design is simple for those who want more character out of their planner.

Best Customizable Planner: Eric Condren LifePlanner

If the Panda Planner is the best overall professional, personal and student planner, then the Eric Condren LifePlanner is its equivalent in customization.

What sets the Eric Condren LifePlanner apart is the focus on delivering in aesthetics as much as it does in planning.

This planner comes in a classic coiled design with colorful pages to boot. Choose your favorite design and customize with sticker packs and more!

Here’s what makes the Eric Condren LifePlanner one of the top options for efficient student planners:

Weekly layouts are available in multiple options: vertical, horizontal, or even hourly.
In addition to undated weekly and monthly planning, this organizational tool also has separate notes pages and a dreams notes segment.
Colorful design includes inspiring quotes and feminine, fun color schemes,

LifePlanner shortcomings:

The classic coiled design could serve as either a blessing or a curse. It is easier to flip pages, but can be quite a task to handle as opposed to usual hardcover or paper bound designs.
Personality in colors may be overwhelming to those who like to keep their planning simple.

Best Professional Planner: Full Focus Planner

The Full Focus Planner by Michael Hyatt is considered to be more than a planner, designed for organization and targeted at mostly “Type A” personalities who want the utmost management out of their daily schedules.

The Full Focus Planner is mostly used by professionals such as business executives, including C-Level execs such as CEOs.

This planner uses its own terminologies, making it different from other planners out there, and has gained a cult following that sets it apart from its competition.

Here’s what makes Full Focus Planner a good choice:

Unique planning system includes detailed guides by the creator. A great option for those who like a complete management program.
Apart from the system, there are daily, weekly, and monthly options, as well as a section for notes.
Comes with multiple bookmarks for quick referencing.

But Full Focus Planner also carries its own little list of challenges:

The planning system can take some time to learn, which poses a disadvantage if you are already swamped with disorganization and want to get going with planning and tracking immediately.
Doesn’t offer much in terms of aesthetics. and appears a bit bulky.

Best Dated 2019 Planner: Passion Planner

Available in dated, undated and academic versions, Passion Planner can be the planner for those who want to juggle between a few responsibilities at once.

Passion Planner offers monthly and weekly layouts while also providing a roadmap along with to-do lists. You can plan future appointments, write the list of groceries that you want to pick up the next weekend, or track anything else you like.

What makes Passion Planner a great all-rounder:

Since it’s available in undated as well as dated formats, it can be used by those who want printed dates on their planners. The dates are also available in academic formats, perfect for students and teachers.
Available in multiple sizes so you can choose one that you’re comfortable carrying around.
Challenges section makes it easy to set and track goals.
Stay motivated with roadmaps, to-do list sections, quotes and monthly reflection segments.

But as with all the other best planners on this list, Passion Planner does have its shortcomings.

If you get the dated version, your planner has an expiration date on it.
Little space to take notes or jot down to-dos, especially in the weekly layouts.

If you’re interested in a totally customizable planning system, check out our post on the totally Pinterest-worthy bullet journal system.

Remember, you can launch your 2019 strategy for FREE right now when you download the official Back to School Divas planner printable!

How are you keeping track of your goals this year?

group of friends having dinner together in a holiday setting

December 18, 2018

How To Juggle Family, Friends and School With Holiday Priorities

Having holiday cheer is always one of your holiday priorities, but how many times does the stress of the season leave you feeling than "in the spirit?" Rather than stressing about all the things you have to do, spend time this holiday se...

Having holiday cheer is always one of your holiday priorities, but how many times does the stress of the season leave you feeling than “in the spirit?”

Rather than stressing about all the things you have to do, spend time this holiday season doing things you care about with people you love (and still get things done!)

Here are some of our best tips for juggling family, friends and school with your holiday priorities.

Set Priorities.

Do your best to remain focused on your end goals. Make a list of what matters most to you (family, travel, earning a 4.0 GPA, health & fitness) and keep it handy when you have to choose whether or not to add another holiday cocktail party to your holiday priorities agenda.

Ask For Help.

The American Psychological Association noted in a poll that 25% of Americans reported being “extremely stressed” during the holidays. 69% of those participants noted a “lack of time” as being the culprit. Help curb stress by asking for help when you need it. Stressing over hosting the annual holiday party? Ask a friend or two to help decorate or bring food. Struggling with your workload? Ask a coworker to help cover some of your projects. Make your mental health one of your holiday priorities by asking for help when you need it.

Be Proactive.

Life’s full of craziness (like unexpected overnight guests), but when it comes to things like deadlines, appointments, and expectations, think ahead. Don’t let small things turn into big, scary stuff due to procrastination.

Get Enough Sleep.

“Easier said than done,” you might think. When there’s family, friends, and plenty of eggnog involved, it’s easy to start feeling like you’re running on empty by the time real life strikes. Make rest one of your holiday priorities by setting a bedtime for yourself and sticking to it.

Be Ok Saying No.

For some, this is one of the hardest holiday priorities to put into practice. When another coworker or friend invites you for a White Elephant, don’t feel the need to say “yes” right away. Take a moment to consider if you have the time, the energy, and the funds to attend. If the answer is “no,” you can say it. Try “oh man, I already have something planned!” If you’d rather be more honest, say “I can’t make it.” No hurt feelings for them, no anxiety for you.

Leave Yourself Room for Error.

No one’s perfect. No matter how much you plan, things can always get a little wild during the holidays. Cut yourself some slack and self-care one of your holiday priorities. Even just a few hours a week can make all the difference to your sanity. Try to be fully present in your moments to recharge (AKA Netflix bingeing doesn’t count.) Get lost instead in an activity that promotes full presence, like doing a crossword puzzle, taking a walk, or cooking a healthy, delicious meal.

Make time for others and take care of yourself with these tips! To learn even more about holiday priorities from other Divas like you, join the Back to School Divas Facebook group!

close up of three students taking a test

December 8, 2018

Final Exam Survival: Your Guide To Nail Your Final

You’ve been working hard the whole semester. You’ve put in the hours on your class assignments, tests, and reports. You’re well on your way to getting a respectable grade. There’s just one more hurdle to overcome – you need to survive your ...

How You Used To Do It

Exam time naturally comes with a lot of pressure. You’ve done the quick meals, lack of sleep, and cramming sessions route but they always leave you tired and the nerves don’t seem to subside. There has to be a better way to nail your final.

How It Should Be Done

There are plenty of top tips you can have in place to ensure that you’re well prepared and nail your exams. Here is our final exam survival guide:

Get Some Rest

This may come as surprise to you. Why on earth should you be resting when you could be studying? Well, besides the fact that studying for extended periods of time without rest will leave you exhausted, in order for your brain to remember all you’ve just studiedand transfer it to “permanent long-term memories”, you need to take frequent breaks. This includes getting some shut-eye and avoiding your smart devices while doing so as they stimulate the brain.

Get in that Vitamin B

A study conducted by scientists from Boston University revealed that learners who had good exam performances, had a lot of Vitamin B in their system.

You can find it in foods such as chicken, broccoli, pumpkin, lentils, and eggs, to name a few.

Don’t Procrastinate

The last thing you want to do is have an all-night study session the night before a major exam. Besides the fact that this will hinder your brain from remembering all you’re trying to get in, cramming also doesn’t help with the nerves. And we all know that nerves are the enemy of trying to get a good grade.

So do yourself a favor and prepare well in advance. Put together a study time table that includes resting times and try to stick to it as best as you can. You’ll be glad you did this one.

On Exam Day

When it comes to the day of your exam, it’s often true that the most basic advice is the truest.

Multiple Choice Exam

Most exam papers will have a multiple choice section. In order to nail this part, make sure that you follow the following steps:

Read the entire question
Use the process of elimination
With the remaining possible answers after the process of elimination, select the answer that makes the most sense to you
If you find that 2 or 3 answers seem like the correct answer and the other options may also be correct, then choosing the “all the above” option might be the correct choice.

Essay Exams

No need to be intimated when you come across an essay exam. Here’s how to nail it:

Read the question and instructions carefully
Draft your essay by outlining the important points you want to focus on
Also draft your evidence, quotes, or studies that will support your statements
Time yourself carefully. Make sure you’re not spending too much time on the essay, and neglecting the rest of your exam questions.

Take A Deep Breath!

Now that you have our final exam survival guide, go out there and nail your finals! For more useful tips to use at school and at home, be sure to join our email list.

October 20, 2018October 29, 2018

Must-Follow Life Do’s & Don’ts For Women Going Back to School

The Internet is full of “life hacks” for juggling it all, Diva. Maybe you’ve heard of some th...

Must-Follow Life Do’s & Don’ts For Women Going Back to School

The Internet is full of “life hacks” for juggling it all, Diva. Maybe you’ve heard of some them:

Wake up at 5 AM every day (and never hit snooze!)
Study while you workout so you can knock out two things at once
Forget about music and listen to motivational speeches on your commute

But is all that waking up early and multitasking every aspect of your life really going to help you juggle it all?

As women who have been where you are, we put together a list of real-life do’s and don’ts for going back to school as a woman with enough already on her plate.

DO Wake Up Earlier

Sorry about this one, Divas. It is true: waking up earlier can help you be a better boss at life! In fact, according to Forbes, a 2008 Texas University study showed that “college students who identified themselves as ‘morning people’ earned a full point higher on their GPAs than those who were ‘night owls’ (3.5 vs. 2.5).” The data is in, and it pays to wake up even an hour earlier each day.

DON’T Drink Caffeine All Day

It doesn’t matter if it’s coffee, Red Bull, or pre-workout: having caffeine after about noon is just a no-go.

Researchers from the Sleep Disorders & Research Center at Henry Ford Hospital and Wayne State College of Medicine found that having caffeine even 6 hours before bedtime affected sleep amounts by over an hour. Skip the caffeine and try an energizing 7-minute workout to give yourself a mid-afternoon power boost.

DO Try A Block Schedule

Ever felt like you’re checking email, texting friends, reviewing social media notifications, listening to a lecture and completing an essay all at the same time? You may feel like you’re doing it all, Diva, but multitasking can lead to feelings of overwhelm.

Instead, try a block schedule! With this simple method, you set up blocks of time (in your actual calendar or phone) for certain activities. Here’s an example:

3-3:30 check email
3:30-4:00 draft essay
4:00-4:30 listen to a lecture
4:30-5:00 text, call, and check social media

Everything has a chance to be done at its own time and place! You can relax knowing you’ll get to everything you need to do so that you can focus on one thing at a time.

DON’T Procrastinate

This one’s easier said than done, but there is hope! Waiting until the last minute begs for trouble, stress, and less-than-your-best performance. Set aside even 15 minutes each day before a big deadline to complete one task on a project. Pretty soon you’ll be done!

Let’s say you have a paper due in a week. On Monday, you can find 3 sources. On Tuesday, you can take notes on key points you can use in the paper. Then, on Wednesday, write the thesis and build an outline. On Thursday, write a draft. By Friday, you’ll be breezing through the editing process and hitting “Submit.”

DO Give Yourself A Break

Literally and figuratively speaking, remember to cut yourself some slack! If you know you’re doing your best, try not to feel negative about your productivity. You are worth more than just how much stuff you get done!

Take a break from time to time to watch Netflix, get some sun, or just take a nap. You’re doing great, Diva.

happy women gazing away with writing journal in hand

October 12, 2018December 3, 2018

The Surefire Way To Organize Your Life With A Bullet Journal

Between home life, work, and school, how’s a girl supposed to find time to just live? The bullet journal, the organizational notebook thought up by Ryder Carroll, could be your ...

The Surefire Way To Organize Your Life With A Bullet Journal

Between home life, work, and school, how’s a girl supposed to find time to just live? The bullet journal, the organizational notebook thought up by Ryder Carroll, could be your solve. At its heart, this simple method acts like a combination of to-do list, day planner and project planner. It’s easy to get started, and easy to personalize (perfect for creative expression!)

The Surefire Way To Organize Your Life With A Bullet Journal

Bullet Journaling — that is — writing things down in a bulleted list or bullet journal as some call it, places our daily, weekly and monthly “to do” list in a sequential order.

Write down the things on your brain:

An appointment
An essay due date
Kids’ activities
Life goals

And get it off your mind.

Why Create A Bullet Journal?

Using a bullet journal can keep you on track. It’s also a great place to write down important appointments, social events, contacts and other items that require your attention. The act of writing can also make your life calmer and keep you more organized as you go about the day caring for your family, your work, and yourself. It’s the best way to keep rocking every aspect of your life like the organized Diva that you are!

As you fill out your BUJO create a method for keeping track of things. The Lazy Genius Collective suggests that placing things in order, starting with an index with notes on all the pages in your journal, and moving into a daily or monthly plot can be beneficial to keeping you using your BUJO effectively.

The beautiful thing about this style planning is that it’s as unique as you are. No more wasting pages on day planners. Create it exactly the way you like, with only the things you need! In general there is no right way to organize your BUJO.

Get Started With Your Bullet Journal

Getting started is easy! Just buy any lined or dotted notebook and a pen—that’s truly all you need. Bloggers at www.simplepurpose.ca recommend that you buy yourself a good planner or notebook, one that makes you feel like you want to write in[1] it. The great thing about bullet journals is that they are customized to your life – you get to make lists, write, and scribble in your BUJO – and you can make it as minimalist or creative as you like!

Make Your Bullet Journal Work For YOU, Diva!

Once you’ve got the basics, you may choose to step things up a little by getting creative. Create monthly themes, plan layouts for tracking class projects, or make space for a gratitude log. You can do what you like! Planning Mindfully is a blog dedicated to the art and creation of handy, beautiful bullet journal templates. If drawing and “making it fancy” aren’t your interest, explore the official Ryder Carroll edition of Bullet Journal 101!

Get your life organized, gain some clarity of mind, and keep working it!

What’s your favorite way to plan? Tell us in the comments!

And if you want even more tips on staying organized, join our email list for weekly inspiration.

Bullet Journaling — that is — writing things down in a bulleted list or bullet journal as some call it, places our daily, weekly and monthly “to do” list in a sequential order.

Write down the things on your brain:

An appointment
An essay due date
Kids’ activities
Life goals

And get it off your mind.

Why Create A Bullet Journal?

Get Started With Your Bullet Journal

Make Your Bullet Journal Work For YOU, Diva!

Get your life organized, gain some clarity of mind, and keep working it!

What’s your favorite way to plan? Tell us in the comments!

And if you want even more tips on staying organized, join our email list for weekly inspiration.

young woman in glasses checking watch while writing in a book

October 12, 2018December 3, 2018

Simple Time Management Tips For Graduate Students

All academics, graduate students, and faculty alike struggle with the challenge of time management. New graduate students are often amazed at how much there is to do each day: classes, resea...

Simple Time Management Tips For Graduate Students

All academics, graduate students, and faculty alike struggle with the challenge of time management. New graduate students are often amazed at how much there is to do each day: classes, research, study groups, meetings with professors, reading, writing, and attempts at a social life.

Many students believe that it will get better after they graduate, but, unfortunately, most people report being even busier as new professors, researchers, and professionals. With so much to do and so little time, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. But don’t let stress and deadlines overtake your life.

How to Avoid Burnout

My best advice for avoiding burnout and getting bogged down is to keep track of your time: Record your days and maintain daily progress towards your goals. The simple term for this is “time management.” Many people dislike this term, but, call it what you will, managing yourself is essential to your success in grad school.

Use a Calendar System

By now, you probably use a calendar to keep track of weekly appointments and meetings. Grad school requires taking a long-term perspective on time. Use a yearly, monthly, and weekly calendar.

Year Scale. It’s difficult to keep track of today and remember what needs to be done in six months. Long term deadlines for financial aid, conference submission, and grant proposals creep up quickly! Don’t find yourself surprised to realize that your comprehensive exams are in a few weeks. Plan at least two years ahead with a yearly calendar, divided into months. Add all long-term deadlines on this calendar.
Month Scale. Your monthly calendar should include all paper deadlines, test dates, and appointments so that you can plan ahead. Add self-imposed deadlines for completing long-term projects like papers.
Week Scale. Most academic planners use a weekly scale of measurement. Your weekly calendar includes your day-to-day appointments and deadlines. Have a study group on Thursday afternoon? Record it here. Carry your weekly calendar everywhere.

Use a To-Do List

Your to-do list will keep you moving towards your goals on a daily basis. Take 10 minutes every night and make a to-do list for the next day. Look at your calendar for the next couple of weeks to remember tasks that need to be planned in advance: searching for literature for that term paper, buying and sending birthday cards, and preparing submissions to conferences and grants. Your to-do list is your friend; never leave home without it.

Prioritize your to-do list. Rank each item by importance and attack your list accordingly so that you don’t waste time on non-essential tasks.
Schedule time to work on classes and research each day, even if it is just a few 20-minute blocks. Think you can’t get much done in 20 minutes? You’d be surprised. What’s more important is that the material will stay fresh in your mind, enabling you to reflect on it at unexpected times (like on your ride to school or walk to the library).
Be flexible. Allow time for interruptions and distractions. Aim to plan just 50 percent or less of your time so that you’ll have the flexibility to handle unexpected interruptions. When you’re distracted by a new task or something that you need to remember, write it down and get back to work. Don’t let a flight of ideas keep you from completing the task at hand. When you’re interrupted by others or seemingly urgent tasks, ask yourself, “What is the most important thing I can do right now? What’s most urgent?” Use your answer to plan your time and get back on track.

Time management doesn’t have to be a dirty word. Use these simple techniques to get things done your way.