So, are you are starting graduate school soon? How do you think you should organize your things and time to be successful? While some people are naturally organized, not everyone is. Here are some tips on getting organized for graduate school.

• Create a schedule. From your work hours to class hours, to meetings with your advisor. Plan these times out on your schedule. Plan out study time too and time for family. Get it all on the schedule so you can be prepared to complete the next goal in plenty of time. Do not wait until the last minute to write papers. Writing papers takes time and several sessions of edits in order to do it well.
• Create a study place. Decide the best location for you to study, read, and write your papers. Clean up this area and get it organized. What are the KEY items to keep at your study location? Remove the clutter and keep only those KEY items in your study location.
• Be sure to have file folders and drawers to keep important papers. Research/thesis/dissertation ideas. Thesis/dissertation references (divided up into additional files for each topic). Exam materials. As you prepare for comps, will have copies of old exams, study materials, and references. Professional credentials – vita, sample cover letter, research statement, etc. Continuing education materials and certificates, reprints and professional articles, organized by topic. Life (bills, taxes, etc.).Teaching materials (organized by topic).
  • Get a desk organizer for all those loose pens, pencils, and paper clips. Use a planner of some kind paper and pencil or electronic to keep track of due dates, work schedules, and household tasks. Get a desk organizer for all those loose pens, pencils, and paper clips. Use a planner of some kind paper and pencil or electronic to keep track of due dates, work schedules, and household tasks.
  • Use a memory stick or external hard drive to back up all files. Keep a copy of every paper you write and all assignments you submit. Use a file naming system that is descriptive. If you limit yourself to Smith_J_assignment_1 you will have to look through hundreds of files by the end of your program to locate something, you wrote. Instead use a more descriptive naming system, for example, Smith_J_course#_nursingphilosophystatement_01_01_2023. Then when you edit this document just change the date at the end to a new date, so you do not lose older files.
  • Learn and use a citations manager. These will help you with organizing the literature you will be reading and citing references in your papers. Search your university’s library to determine which citation managers your library prefers. There are some that cost you money, other that are free. I’ve listed a few free sites here: Zotero, Mendeley, Scribbr, JabRef, Docear,  Wikindex, Bibfilex, and  KBibTex.
  • Organize email. Create folders in your email for important emails that you should keep. Delete the email you no longer need. Set rules to move some items directly to those folders before you read them. Set rules to throw out junk email so you can stick to the most essential items.
• Keep a notebook handy. Always keep a notebook with you so you can write down a note, a reminder, or add to your To-Do List. Keep a notebook at your bedside, so if you wake in the night with an idea, you can quickly jot the idea down and go back to sleep.
• Plan ahead. Pack your lunch and set out you are clothing and personal items the night before. Pack your backpack/bag for school so it is ready to grab and go.
• Finally, build relationships and keep track of those relationships in your planner or phone. Jot down their contact information and why it is important to remember this relationship. Get to know your faculty and the departmental staff. Create study groups and contacts. These will be valuable in the future as you set out in a new career.