Column: What you never learned; Lose the clutter

It happens every year.

You start out the semester with a clean notebook and new pens and by the third day, your backpack is cluttered with random papers, every sheet is wrinkled, you’ve got your roommates homework in your binder, your homework is lost again, you’ve got cookie crumbs covering the inside of your backpack and your room looks like the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

If you don’t have time to do it right the first time, when are you going to have time to do it again?

Being organized takes very little effort and saves you time in the long run. Start off the new year clutter-free and make it a resolution to keep it that way

1. Organize all of the materials for all of your classes in one place. Keep them all in a multiple-subject notebook or use an accordion folder with sections reserved for notes and handouts. Pick up a one-inch binder and divide it up between all of your classes. Keeping everything together will reduce the chances of letting something get lost.

2. Use a planner! It doesn’t matter what kind. It can be as simple as a blank notebook, but create a system of writing down everything you have to do that day. You don’t have to spend a lot or record your day hour-by-hour in order to get everything done. Just find a system of writing things down and be consistent.

3. Be reasonable. You are not going to get all of your mid-term studying done, go to work and get your grocery shopping done, pay your bills and go to lunch with your roommates all in one day. Be reasonable in how much you give yourself to do each day to avoid rolling over your to-do list to the next day.

4. Prioritize. In my planner, I will write timely things down in one color and open-deadline assignments in another. You need to be able to tell the difference between things that must get done and things that can be pushed back. This will help you make sure you get the most important things done first.

5. Set a bedtime. This may sound lame, but if you have to take a nap during the day, you are losing valuable time during business hours that you could be productive. Sleep at night and work during the day. Get into a regular schedule of going to bed at a decent hour to get at least six to seven hours of sleep and wake up early enough to get a good start on the day.

6. Keep a file box in your house of important papers you need to save. Make files for your bills, bank statements, receipts, school transcripts and any other papers you need to save. This is an easy way to keep track of those things that can end up cluttering a junk drawer or getting lost somewhere between moves.

7. Clean is key. Clean up once a week.

8. Do not store things under your bed unless they are in labeled containers. Clear plastic are great or even cardboard boxes work, but make sure everything is labeled so you know what it is.

9. Take it home! If you’re not going to use it in the next 4-6 months, don’t bother keeping it here. Take home seasonal clothing or momentos from friends that you’d like to keep, but are taking up space.

10. Box up clothing you no longer wear if you are hoping to return to a smaller size. Box up and mark (Women’s – size 6). After a year or two, get real and donate them. DO NOT OPEN THE BOX FIRST.

11. Store warranties, appliance manuals, iPod instructions, cell phone manuals, etc. in a portable accordion file or a three-ring binder with plastic sleeves. Staple the receipt from each purchase to the warrantee/booklets/manuals.

12. Books, CDs and videos can be stacked on their sides (horizontally) as well as vertically, creating more space.

13.Think of other ways to save your favorite memories: If you don’t ever wear the nightgown Grandma gave you, take your picture in it, send it to her and give the nightgown to someone who could use it. Instead of storing all your favorite T-shirts, make a T-shirt quilt.

14. File, don’t pile. Put stuff away before you set it down. Don’t keep moving your syllabuses from one place to another. Make a spot for it and keep it there.

15. To stay organized, try different things and find a system that works for you and then stick to it. Consistency is key to organization; you’ve got to keep up on it. There is no point to organizing if it will be a mess again in two weeks.

Emma Tippetts is a junior majoring in print journalism and law and constitutional studies. Please send any comments or how-to questions to

ETippetts@cc.usu.edu