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Organizing in 3+1 Steps – The Great Life Tidy-Up Before Exams
May is here, bringing yellow rapeseed fields, blooming cherry trees, lilac-scented evenings, and spring showers. It also marks the beginning of the exam period.
Research shows that studying is much easier in a clean, organized environment, so our student union has some tips to help you become a master of tidiness. Let's get packing! 😉
1. Closet Cleanup
Have you ever felt like you have "nothing to wear," even when your clothes are overflowing from the wardrobe? It's time to change that! Take an inventory of your clothes to quickly decide what you love wearing and what has been untouched for months (or even years). Make your life easier in the future by learning to shop consciously: choose versatile basics that can be combined in multiple outfits and fit your style.
Pro tip: If you're not yet familiar with your color type, you can categorize yourself into one of the four basic color types (spring, summer, autumn, winter) based on your skin, hair, and eye color. Knowing your color type helps you avoid clothes that wash you out and highlights those that enhance your appearance. Shopping based on your color type can save you both time and money.
2. Goodbye, Desk Clutter!
Your desk is probably your most important workstation due to schoolwork. If you open a drawer or cabinet and find years of "treasures" spilling out, it’s time for a cleanup. Choose practical drawer and shelf organizers to avoid chaos. As you go through the items accumulated over the school years, ask yourself: Do I need this? Can it be replaced? When did I last use it? Would I buy it again if I saw it now? Based on your answers, decide whether to keep or discard the items.
For a desk, the key is to keep tools that aid your work or study close at hand. This way, you won’t need to keep running for something and disrupt your studying. Once you've tidied up, wipe down the desk, shelves, and drawers with a damp cloth, and you're done!
3. Digital Decluttering
During school, it's not just the physical desk cluttered with notes, books, and notebooks, but also the virtual space. Get rid of emails, files, programs, and apps you don’t use that are just taking up space. Review the photos, music, documents, etc., on your computer, and if you don’t open them regularly, save them to an external drive! Deleting is also an option, but always think twice before saying goodbye to something permanently.
Next, organize: create a folder structure that is easy to navigate and helps you find files in no time. The exam period is tough enough; make your life easier by not spending long minutes searching for study materials.
3+1. Be Patient and Mindful!
It's never easy to part with your belongings. Some items may hold dear memories, others were gifts, or you cling to them for no particular reason. It’s okay if you don’t finish tidying up a room in one day; just make sure nothing distracts you! The exam period isn't the best time to hold a fashion show with old clothes, reminisce over your elementary school memory book, or lament over your high school report card. These can all wait until summer.
Good luck with your exams! And if you think you can fit in some work alongside studying, check out Y Generation Student Union!
