Pick up a planner: 5 tips to start planning

EDINBURG, Texas—The spring semester is already underway, but many of us are still trying to catch our breaths. Some students miss the extended winter break, some are experiencing Zoom fatigue, while others are struggling to balance school with other responsibilities. However, there is one habit that can help students succeed this semester. Keeping and updating a planner. Planners can store everything you need to remember from Saturday’s homework to a concert six months away to your grandmother’s birthday. Planners can be the key to higher grades and provide a sense of security. If you are not worried about forgetting an important assignment, you have more mental energy to do good on said assignment. If you are new to planning, these five tips can help. 

Tip 1: Discover what type of planner works best for you.

If you remember information better if you write it down, paper planners are the best option for you. You can get planners from HEB, Walmart, Michael’s, Target and many other stores. Their sizes range from pocket-size to binders. Some of them are for a year, 14 months or two years. Prices range from $5 to $30 depending on the styles. When buying a planner, consider the layout. Do you prefer to write a to-do list in a straight-down manner? Then grab a planner with a vertical layout. Personally, I prefer a year-long planner with a horizontal layout.  

Find monthly calendars daunting? Remove them with digital planners. Apps like GoodNotes come with planner templates, and there are many websites such as Notion where you can modify an online agenda. Digital planners are convenient because you can check your tasks on your phone when you are in a hurry. Additionally, you never have to worry about misplacing your planner. 

Tip 2: Add deadlines and assignments from your syllabi. 

By now, you probably have your syllabus for every course you are in. Some professors include a schedule in their syllabus. In your new planner, write down what day assignments are due and when exams take place. If your exams are only available for two days, write that down, too. 

It might also help you to write down what assignment you will work on each day. If your assignments are due Friday, write that deadline down. But if you know you want to work on them on Tuesday, block that day and time off. That way, you know you can’t spend too much time on Netflix that Tuesday, but you do not need to rush an assignment that is still a few days away either. 

Tip 3: Customize your planner. 

You have your assignments noted down already. Great! But wait…are you feeling overwhelmed? That’s why you have to customize your planner. If you are using a paper planner, bring out your Crayola markers (sorry, adult coloring pencils!), highlighters and any sticker packs you may have. Open Pinterest and check out header and text ideas. If you like to doodle, express that creativity. You can print out memes or positive messages and paste them in your planner. If your planner is binder-style, add pages that make you happy. For digital users, your planner service has great additions. Even if you are on free versions, you can usually add pictures, use different fonts, embed gifs and add backgrounds. Experiment and see what works for you. There is no wrong way to personalize your planner. 

Tip 4: Recognize your completed work.

One of the perks of having a planner is that you get to see how much work you are getting done. Acknowledge it. When you finish a task, cross it out, put a star beside it or leave a checkmark. However you choose to symbolize your completion, you will feel proud of yourself afterwards. Being a college student is not easy, so recognize yourself when you finish a task. 

Remember that this planner is yours. You decide what counts as a task and what it means to be completed. If you write down “start on midterm paper” and you later come up with an introduction, that deserves a checkmark. If you know you are not in the right headspace for academic productivity, “brushing your teeth” and “eat three meals” are tasks you can write down instead. Those tasks are just as worthy of a star. 

Tip 5: Stick to it. 

If you know a planner benefits you, do not abandon it. Planners can be your best friend during college. They are great for reminding you to get your homework done before “Euphoria Sunday,” so stick to making notes on what needs to be done. In the beginning, you may feel lazy to fill in the pages. However as you get into the habit of marking down important dates, it will become second nature to pick up your pen or stylus and manage your planner. If it helps, keep a mental track of how the planner has benefited you. If you typically forget an anniversary or someone’s birthday, note if that did not happen once you began using a planner. You will stay motivated to update your planner if you can tell how it helps you. 

It is easy to say, “I’ll remember about that assignment before it’s due,” instead of writing it down. If you are taking four courses, you have four different assignments each week that you need to complete. That is assuming each course only has one assignment per week. Will just telling yourself you will remember keep you on task? Probably not. Listen, if you can get a higher grade because of  a planner, why not use it? If you know for a fact that it does not benefit you, then use another strategy. But even if it only provides you relief about not having to memorize deadlines, does that not make it worth it? It is up to you how many times you check in with your planner, but make sure you do. Use your planner!