It’s that time of the year again when university is just around the corner (for those of you in Australia) and first years will be faced with the seemingly daunting task of having to cope with the transition from high school to university. Staying organised always makes everything so much easier, so here are four simple tips for getting organised before uni starts. 

1. Grab your textbooks early

This sounds quite obvious, but it’s important! You’ll be assigned readings from week 1, so it’s a good idea to grab your textbooks before semester starts, when people are still actively selling their books/stock hasn’t run out yet. University textbooks can be quite expensive, so definitely browse around for second hand copies* (check out websites like StudentVIP, Zookal as well as any Facebook groups within your university), or even e-book copies if you prefer. You could also try borrowing from the library, but be quick - copies are limited and chances are there are many other people with the same idea. 

Once you have your textbooks ready, it’s also a good idea to also have a quick read through a chapter or two just to get a brief idea of the level of difficulty of the material. 

*Note: with second hand copies, double check against your unit guides/unit of study outlines to make sure that you’re buying the correct edition! Sometimes the edition number will matter - particularly for courses like Law and Business - where there is constantly information being updated. 

2. Read through your unit of study outlines

UOS outlines tend to be released during O-week, or sometimes even earlier depending on which faculty you’re in. Having a thorough read before semester starts will give you a clear idea of what you’ll be up against - the assessments which you’ll be tackling during semester, how much each assessment task is worth etc. As you’re reading, if you see any important dates such as assignment due dates, exam dates etc make sure you mark those down in your planner/calendar straight away. Doing this should already give you a good picture of which weeks you’ll be more busy, and as such allow you to plan in advance accordingly!

3. Organise your laptop and workspace

If you haven’t done this already, delete any files on your laptop from previous years which you know you definitely won’t be needing anymore - or simply transfer them to a USB! Not only does this save storage space on your computer, but it also helps to keep your desktop looking neat. Meanwhile, create new folders for your units of study and download any relevant material from your university’s online learning space. Similarly, take some time to clean your desk, sort out your stationery, clear out folders and get rid of any papers which you no longer need. Finally, make sure that you have some sort of filing system in place - this could be as simple as keeping separate folders for each unit of study. It’s always helpful to set one up before university begins so that you can avoid clutter building up throughout the semester! 

4. Create a timetable and stick to it

Creating a timetable is one thing, but sticking to it is another. Make sure that you’re not overloading (or underloading!) too much and also ensure to leave some time for relaxation. Colour code your study, work, extra-curricular activities to see which is taking up most of of your time and make adjustments if necessary. If you’re a digital person, there are plenty of apps out there such as Evernote and Trello that allow you to create timetables and to-do lists. Alternatively, you could also create a timetable using programs like Excel. Make sure you print out your schedule and stick it somewhere visible - preferably near your study space. Another tip is to try and schedule your study times consistently as this will foster positive studying habits.

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And that concludes this post! If you have any questions about anything at all please do not hesitate to leave a message!