Ways to be More Organised

Coventry University Student Ambassadors

Official Rep

Hello everyone! My name is Roshan, I’m 21 years old and from Singapore. I’ve just completed my first year of BSc International Business Management and will be heading into my Second Year in September. A common struggle that my fellow classmates and I encountered during our First Year, was our ability to manage our time and meet deadlines without rushing through our assignments at the last minute. Through several collated experiences, I would like to share to University, A-Level and GCSE students alike, four tips on how I became more organised and better managed my time.

1. Set Weekly Goals

One method which I used to get organised was to set weekly goals when I had an assignment due. Whether it was writing 200 words, completing the introduction or research, I tried breaking down a large piece of work into bite-size and easier chunks. Personally, I have found this approach to be highly effective, as breaking down the task into smaller, specific goals helped me create a clear plan of action. This method of setting achievable goals that you could complete daily, or even weekly, is applicable in any academic space, be it for studying for an exam or writing a report. Also, at Coventry University I’ve noticed that we are given a reasonable amount of time to complete assignments, so it’s important to make use of all the time that we’re given to prevent procrastinating. By doing so, you’ll be able to track your accomplishments along the way, and this will provide a sincere sense of motivation in preparation for future assignments and goals.

2. Use Your Calendar/Reminders

I also found that using the Calendar and Reminder app on my phone was hugely beneficial in helping me to stay organised. You may already use these apps, but if you haven’t already then you should start doing so! You can do this by entering all of your important appointments, deadlines, and events into your calendar app. That way, you'll have everything in one place, and you won't risk forgetting anything important. As a Student Ambassador, it was a huge help as it reminded me when I had work or a task to complete. Reminders will give you a heads-up before your tasks or events, ensuring that you stay on top of things. You can take it a step further by blocking out specific timeslots for different activities, be it for work, study, or personal projects. This helps you to prioritise and allocate dedicated time to each task. The way in which I use reminders is mostly for those smaller tasks and daily routines that tend to slip my mind. I personally think that since I’ve started using both of these apps, I’ve become a lot more productive and so can you!

3. Student Success Coaches

At Coventry University, we have Student Success Coaches who are a great resource for when you need extra guidance and support. All new enrolments get allocated a Student Success Coach who will provide you with support! While they do not necessarily provide academic support specific to your degree, they have been trained and certified to coach students, and so will help you to manage your time better and collaborate with you to form a personalised study plan which will keep you focused. They’ll also provide extra motivation for you to get organised - Some of the services that they can provide include skills development, peer monitoring, access to services and specialist teams!

4. The Library

At Coventry University, the Lancaster Library and The Hub are spaces on the University compound that provide study spaces, amongst other things. Whenever I wanted to be productive and get work done, I would always go to either The Hub or The Library as I felt like I could concentrate and actually complete my tasks, as the studious environment around me allowed me to be productive. The library is also open 24/7 which is great for you night owls. The library has different floor ‘volumes’ rules which is also very useful:

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Lower Ground (Quiet)

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Ground Floor (Group Discussions)

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Floor 1 (Silent)

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Floor 2 (Quiet with an additional Silent Reading Room)

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Floor 3 (Group Discussions)

Whenever I had an urgent task, I’d go to the Silent Floor which is brilliant as it helped me to concentrate on what I wanted to do without any distractions. However, if you’ve got a task that’s less urgent but you want to work on it while socialising with your coursemates, you can use the Group Discussions floor. I found that putting yourself in a productive environment will allow you to become more organized – At home, I tend to get distracted more easily.

By following these steps, you’ll be able to stay more organised, however, I am sure that you’ll find different ways to stay organised that fit you best! Personally, these methods have worked super well for me and hopefully by following these tips, you will definitely get set on a path to becoming a more organised person.

Best wishes,

Roshan, 1^st Year International Business Management Student