NEW TIMES 2025 BACK TO SCHOOL GUIDE 26 Aug 14th- Aug 20th, 2025 phoenixnewtimes.com PHOENIX NEW TIMES A Student’s Guide to Staying Organized All Year Staying organized during the school year can feel like a never-ending balancing act. Between assignments, sports, extracurricular activities, and a social life, it’s easy for important deadlines to get lost in the shuffle. The good news? A few smart strategies, combined with the right tools, can help you manage your time, reduce stress, and make the most of every semester. Whether you’re in middle school, high school, or college, this guide will walk you through practical ways to get organized and stay on track all year long. 1. Start with a Master Planner Think of a planner as your personal GPS for the school year. It helps you see the big picture while also keeping track of the daily details. The key is finding a format you’ll actually use, whether that’s a traditional paper planner, a digital calendar, or a hybrid of both. Paper planners are perfect for visual learners who like physically writing things down. They make it easy to color-code subjects, doodle reminders, and flip through months at a glance. Look for one with monthly and weekly layouts so you can map out both long-term projects and short-term to-dos. Digital planners and calendar apps like Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, or Notion — sync across devices, send you reminders, and are easy to update on the go. You can even share calendars with classmates for group projects. Pro Tip: Whichever style you choose, make it a habit to check your planner at the start and end of each day. That way, you’re always aware of what’s coming up and can adjust your schedule if needed. 2. Break Down Big Assignments into Smaller Steps One of the biggest mistakes students make is waiting until the last minute to start a big assignment. Not only does this create unnecessary stress, but it also affects the quality of your work. Instead, chunk large projects into smaller, manageable tasks and set mini- deadlines along the way. For example, if you have a research paper due in three weeks: Week 1: Choose a topic, gather resources, and create an outline. Week 2: Write a rough draft. Week 3: Edit, proofread, and submit.
