The university semester is well underway, and most students have settled in and are adjusting to university life. Semesters are usually thirteen weeks, and with such a long amount of time, it can be hard to wrap your head around all the events that are happening and assignments that are due. A semester plan is extremely helpful in organising your time at university and gives you a glimpse of the bigger picture. Here are some tips on planning your semester.
Types of Planners
There are many different types of planners and deciding on the planner that works for you depends on what you want out of it. Below are some of the types of semester planners you could choose from.
Diaries/Journals
Diaries and journals are ready made semester planners. Some universities will give out diaries for free, but you can also find cheap ones at stationary or department stores. It’s easy to find diaries suit your needs, whether you want to view your semester by day, week, or month. Diaries are also great if you want to be more creative and artistic with your planner.
Electronic Planners
If pens and paper aren’t your thing, then using your computer or phone for a planner is another option. There are many programs and apps you can use to create a semester planner. Apps like Tiny Calendar and Planner Pro are great for organising your events and assignments, but the calendar app on your phone or computer does the job just as well. Most university websites will also have a planner tool that you can use to organise your semester.
Wall Planner
Wall planners are great for being able to visualise your semester and change events to suit your needs. Stationary stores like Typo offer more stylish and aesthetic wall planners, whereas more inexpensive planners can be found at stores such as Officeworks. You can also make your own erasable wall planner using a whiteboard. Whiteboards are a great space to create a planner on as it is easy to add and erase events throughout the semester. If you don’t have a whiteboard, laminated paper or cardboard used with a whiteboard marker have the same effect. The way you design your planner is really up to you and your individual tastes.
Start Your Planner
What you put on your semester plan is up to you, but there are a couple of things that may help organise your life and make the semester a bit easier to manage. A timetable of your university subjects is good to keep track of your week. You may want to include exams and assignment due dates on your semester plan, so you know when they’re due and when to start preparing for them. University-free days are also good to include. These might include winter breaks, public holidays, SWOT (study without teaching), revision, or reading weeks.
You also might want to include special university days, such as fairs, festivals, or carnivals. The semester plan you create will be tailored to you so make sure you include personal events, especially if you know they will impact your study. Colour coding your planner can help visualise and coordinate your events and assignments.
Its never too late to start planning, so jump in and get yourself organised!
