Organisation: The Core Element of My Motivation

So the first rule I have when it comes to doing my work is making sure everything is organized. It’s pretty much a deal breaker. If everything around me is a mess, I just can’t function and I waste my time clearing it all up. I’m so far from being perfect at it but, I try my best to keep stuff organized!

Once I’ve tided and put things in their place I generally feel 10x’s better about doing my work – everything around is neat and organised – you just feel like you’re on your way to success and can do absolutely anything (while I do anyway). Plus, I’m a major stationary lover so I have all my pretty desk organizers to look at and it makes me feel oh so fancy, very Sex and The City. But, you don’t have to go on a major spending spree to be organized; as long as things are tidy and in the right place I’m sure you’ll feel just as good as I do. It gives you the breathing space to do your work and you don’t have to spend time rummaging around your mess to find things! 

It’s not just my space that needs organizing, it’s my time. I talked about routine in an earlier post, so check that out. When it comes to organizing out my weeks I have my fantastic Paperchase organizer to keep me on track. I also have my Dad’s old time manager organizer. I use my Paperchase one for appointments and events that are happening throughout the week, stuff that aren’t day-to-day. Because it’s an A5 version that’s all I really have room for, but it’s perfect for carrying around with me when I’m in Lectures or out shopping in case I need to jot something down. It includes all the stuff you need: A week every two pages, to do lists, address pages and notes pages. I bought some additional packets just in case I ran out. They’re not expensive but, you might not need to buy them if you don’t use it as much! My dad’s old one I use for more thorough details, like what I’m going to do each day. I tend to plan by hours so I can figure out when I have time to do my work and what day’s I’ll have to do extra work as a consequence of doing something exciting the next day!

Obviously, things change and you can’t always keep to an exact schedule but I always find it better and more motivating. By knowing that if I get my work done in a certain amount of hours on that day, I then have the time to go off and do what I want! It’s an incentive really knowing that I do have time do everything. If you sit around and watch TV like I have done many times and say I’ll do it later the hours pass by, and at the end of the day you realise how much time you wasted. Whereas knowing exactly how many hours in the day I have for me is really beneficial! 

http://www.paperchase.co.uk/stationery/diaries-organisers/organisers Here’s the link to some pretty gorgeous organizers of all sizes! Bonus – They do a 10% student discount!

http://www.timemanager.com/ TimeManager is more for projects but if you have exams or an essay to plan ahead for that you’re serious about this can be a contender!

Once again, I hope this motivates you lovely readers in some way.

FRESHERS: 9 Stylish Back To school Items

 

(From left to right)

1. Small Cactus Notebook from Not Only Polka Dots at Etsy.com : £4.00 + P&P 

If you’re still not quite ready to let go of summer then keep the holiday feel alive with one of Not Only Polka Dot’s tropical notebooks, they’re cute and vibrant bringing a bit more colour to your everyday! They also have a clipboard and larger version of this notebook available!

Link: Not Only Polka Dots

2. Rushton Holdall Bag from Topshop.com : £29.00

Make this one of your cheapest and best investments this year! It’s black and it’s spacious, what more can you need from a bag? This holdall goes with everything and is ideal for carrying all your everyday essentials. It’s both smart and casual.

Link:  Holdall Bag

3. Raindrops Multi List Book from Paperchase.com : £8.00

OK, so admittedly you can probably make your to do lists in a normal notebook if you’re really organised, but what’s the point in being average? What better way to make yourself seem extra pro-active than with a tasteful, bright to do list that is perfect for slipping into your bag.

Link:  Multi List Book

4. Indian Foil Large Stationery Box from Paperchase.com : £12.00

Maybe not an essential, but if you have the extra cash why not opt for this cute box to style your boring University room. Stash those revision cards away in style and for some extra organisation why not add dividers to not only keep them out of sight, but also easy to locate.

Link: Large Stationery Box

5. Harry Potter Notebook from Simply Notebook at Etsy.com : £5.30+ + P&P

For all those Harry Potter fans out there, what better way to distract yourself from the reality of uni than imagining you were casting your spells at Hogwarts? Simply Notebooks has a beautiful collection to suit all types of personalities, from stylish marble covers to more graphic planners there’s one for everyone, see whats on offer on their website!

Link: Simply NoteBooks

6. Stardust Stationery Set from Accessorise.com:  £7.00

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a massive fan of stationery, and when it comes to it I quite like for them to be matching and as well as that I’m a  big christmas fan and this is why this stardust set is perfect. It has a christmassy feel with its golden colour scheme and star patterns and gives you everything you’re realistically going to need, get some post-stick notes and you’re ready to go!

Link: Stationery Set

7. Baxtor Dome Backpack from Accessorise.com : £35.00

Accessorise always have plenty of bags to choose from, but this season along with the blue Amani Mini Backpack this has to be my favourite. The autumn colour as well as it’s backpack style makes it the perfect day-to-day bag. With two additional side pockets, you should be able to fit everything you’ll need whether you’re going to campus or going into town.

Link: Backpack

8. WHITE OUT 2016-17 Academic Year Wall Calendar from Shot Tower Studio at Etsy.com :  £15.00 + P&P

Subtle, yet, classy. If you’re not into having pictures of some random dogs or cats on a calendar why not go for a more slick and sharp option that’s a lot more pleasing to the eye. Then you don’t have to worry whether it matches your wallpaper or get impatient waiting for the month with the picture you like the most. They have more to chose from, but most keep the formal and simple vibe.

Link: Shot Tower Studio

9. Umbrella Pencil Case from Elena Illustration at Etsy.com : £8.00 + P&P 

Unlike no.1 if you’ve finally accepted that the sunshine is disappearing and the nights are getting longer than embrace the weather by buying one of these adorable watercolored pencil cases, that despite the weather they represent remain colourful and cute.

Link: Elena Illustration

 

 

 

FRESHERS: 6 Alternatives to a Night Out at the Club

When people think of students and the uni lifestyle, something that instantly springs to mind is the drinking culture. Now don’t get me wrong, I love a good night out, but sometimes the thought of dancing for hours in a packed room and spending money on overpriced alcohol simply doesn’t appeal. So here are some great alternatives to a heavy night out.

The cinema

Because who doesn’t love a trip to the movies? The cinema is a relatively affordable way to spend your evening if you don’t fancy a big night clubbing. It’s a great way to see friends and to get out of the house. Most cinemas have a particular day where it’s cheaper so keep a watch out! Also Keep an eye out for your university cinema as they often show new blockbuster films much cheaper than the local cinema in town!

Movie night

If you really don’t want to leave the comfort of your own house (only enough to rush out for snacks), then perhaps one of the simplest and most enjoyable alternatives to a night out is a good old fashioned movies night. Pop to Tesco’s to pick up a supply of m&m’s, biscuits and crisps, change into your PJ’s, settle down on the sofa in a pile of blankets and enjoy your movie!

Cook

Whilst you could pop out to dinner to a fancy restaurant (well as fancy as you can get on a student budget) it can be just as fun to cook a meal! Make an effort to buy all the trimmings, spend the time cooking and settle down to enjoy some good food. One of the favourites in my house was fajitas, simple but delicious!

Music

You honestly can’t beat live music. Whether it’s a band at the local music venue, an open night mic, or a new music event somewhere you can’t go wrong. Keep an eye out at different venues for cheap tickets, most pubs will have live music at least once a week. You’re student Union also normally offers a great ranges of artists!

Cocktails/Pub

Sometimes you may not feel like going on a big night out, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make a trip to the local pub for a pint! Cocktail bars often have happy hours and student discounts, so if you only fancy one or two drinks this is a great and relatively cheap way to spend your evening. You can’t beat a pub quiz or a bit of karaoke at your student bar!

Board game night

Sounds simple I know, but board games can provide endless amounts of fun, especially those that go on for hours. But be warned, make sure you know the people you’re playing with, these games can get extremely competitive and even jeopardise relationships.

By Niamh O’Connor