My issue in life is that I like things a certain way, I’m overly organized and a bit of a perfectionist. I can’t do homework when I know the dishes need done. I can’t read for fun when I know I have laundry to put away. I can’t submit an assignment early unless I’ve looked over it a million times. All of this leads to nothing but additional stress in my busy life. Learning to prioritize and get organized has saved my life. Not literally, but still. Here’s a few tips for living a more organized life, especially with midterms approaching quicker than we’d like to see:

1. Make lists

Doing this helps you see everything you need to get done. Make a homework list, make a shopping list, make a to-do list. Cross them off as you go!

2. Prioritize

If you have an exam coming up, that might be a little more important than binge-watching Netflix. Maybe not, but that's up to you.

3. Organize

Don’t let things pile up. Keep your notes in a folder and keep it on you. Write down due dates and appointments so you don’t miss them.

4. Don’t be lazy

If you can do it in under 10 minutes, just get it done. Don’t drag things out and spend forever on something that shouldn’t take you very long. You’ll end up resenting it even more.

5. Don’t procrastinate

To me, being lazy and procrastinating are different. Being lazy could mean that you’re working but not putting your complete attention into something. Procrastination is fully putting something off. If it needs done, do it.

6. Get things done early

I always try to give myself an extra day for things. So if something is due Sunday night, I tell myself it’s due Saturday night because I know I’ll put it off until the last minute.

7. Make time to relax

I try my best to get all work-related things done during the week and school-related things done by Saturday. This is so I can spend Sunday in bed, recovering from the previous week and preparing for the next.

8. Keep yourself healthy

Drink enough water, throw in some veggies here and there, and attempt at getting an appropriate amount of sleep.

9. Keep it clean

For me, things go a lot smoother in a clean environment. If you clean a little each day, you don’t have to spend hours cleaning up when you finally decide to.

10. Early to bed, early to rise

I’ve found that I’m most productive when I get things done in the morning. I know it’s hard to get to bed on time because of FOMO, but it’s worth it when all your work is done by the afternoon and you can spend the rest of the day doing whatever you want.

11. Know when to put things off

This goes along the lines of prioritizing, but sometimes your mental health is more important than homework. Identify things that can wait, and do something for yourself instead. Whether that’s finally spending time with family or taking a well-deserved day off from homework, we all need it sometimes.

12. Find a release

Whether it’s a hobby, exercise, or something as simple as taking a bath, find something that helps alleviate stress.