Hello everyone!
For today’s post I’d like to share some tools that I use to be more organized in my studies and my daily life.
Sticky notes
– One of the ways I use sticky notes is to organize my notes into colour coordinated sections.
– I also have sticky notes sitting on my desk so that I can quickly jot down chores that I have to complete, lectures I want to review, groceries I need to buy, upcoming deadlines for assignments, etc.
Calendar
– Before veterinary school I didn’t use a calendar but it has become my most used item within the past few years
– By using a calendar it is easier to visualize my schedule, review any upcoming deadlines, and I can easily organize what lectures I want to review daily
– I personally like using an agenda but there are tons of free apps available
Cue cards
– I really recommend using cue cards for making flash cards, especially for topics such as pharmacology and anaesthesia
– Cue cards allow you to put all relevant information in one area, which makes studying much simpler
– They are also a great study tool to use before an exam to test your knowledge on main concepts
– You can use handwritten cue cards or apps such as Quizlet
Checklists
– Making lists is helpful for me because it allows me to visualize the tasks I have completed and what tasks I have left
– During exam time, I make lists of lectures I have to go through, which allows me to keep track of my studies
Folders
– I use colour coded folders to separate my courses so that I can find all the relevant lecture notes, practical handouts, and tutorials in one place
– This makes exam time easier because I don’t have to go searching for my notes, and I can feel confident that when I am reviewing, I am not missing any content
Mind maps
– I use mind maps to jot down main concepts and themes I’ve learned
– These serve as a quick cheat sheet to help with review
– I am not very artistic but I still enjoy putting aside time to draw mind maps while watching television or listening to podcasts.
Tables
– I make tables to organize different diseases and conditions to summarize their pathology, epidemiology, clinical signs, diagnosis, and treatment
Organize your desktop
– I recently organized my desktop background to separate extra-curricular activities, important documents, school, and miscellaneous apps.
– This helps me to find documents easier and was fun to make
– Do a quick google search for some inspiration to make your own personalized background that best works for you
Organize your email
– Your email inbox can quickly become filled up with updates from the university, your professors, extra-curricular activities, and general miscellaneous emails that you may be subscribed to
– By making folders within my email inbox it has become much easier to sort through my emails
As you can see, there are many different methods that can be used to help organize notes and daily tasks. Once you try different techniques you tend to find what works best for you! Good luck on upcoming finals and congratulations on the end of another semester.
