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[dashewsummerbucketlist-blog]

Back to School Organization Tips

Can you believe school starts in a week? It’s time to finalize your class schedule, buy your books, and get organized! Organization in college is a key to success more than you may think. Here are some of the things that help me stay organized day to day:

1. Invest in a Planner

Plan. Plan. Plannnn. Planners are one of the most important things to own in college. It’s a great way to keep track of everything going on in your life: from homework to internships, to birthdays and appointments. As soon as you get you class syllabi, write down when all your assignments, midterms and finals are for each class. That way you can plan ahead. Plus, planners come in all shapes and sizes, and you can even order them custom to you!

2. Maintain a Clean Desk/Workspace

Feel like you can’t focus on writing a paper? Clean your desk first! It may seem obvious, but an organized space and organized mind go hand in hand. If your study space is cluttered, your mind will be too. Try to clean up after every study session: put away writing tools, get rid of scratch paper, etc.

3. Use Phone Reminders

Let’s be honest: we usually have our phones on us 24/7. This makes them the perfect tools to use as reminders of important things coming up throughout the day. And with so much going on in college, it’s easy to forget things. Schedule a reminder on your phone and it will notify you for whenever you schedule it. For example, it can be anything from “take out laundry” to “go to financial aid office” to “call mom”. This way you don’t need to keep these things in your head, but will get to them when the time comes.

4. Get Some Highlighters

There’s going to be a lot of reading assigned in your college classes. The material at times may be tedious, so add some color to those pages! Highlighters make reading and taking notes not only more organized, but also more fun.

5. Stay True to Your Sleep Schedule 

In college there are so many things to do that sometimes we forget one of the most important things for our bodies—sleep! Schedule your sleep routine and try to maintain it as much as possible so that you get plenty of rest and are ready for your tasks the next day. Of course, don’t forget to have some fun! But don’t stay out till 3 AM every night, that’s what the weekends are for! 

Good luck and have a great school year! Thanks for sticking with us for our #dashewsummerbucketlist series. Stay tuned for our new blog coming up soon this fall! 

Share below how you like to stay organized :) 

Lana

[dashewsummerbucketlist-blog]

Shop ‘til you Drop!

You know you haven’t had the full LA experience until you’ve almost maxed out your credit cards. But shopping around LA isn’t just about buying the clothes; it’s about relaxing, making new friends, and eating good food! Each shopping center is unique in its own way. Experience it for yourself! Here’s a few ideas:

Westfield Century City (1.7 miles from UCLA)

This newly renovated mall has a good mix of high end stores like Tiffany and Co., Free People, and Nordstrom but also has stores such as Macy’s, Adidas, and American Eagle. Want to get away from campus but still have a lot of studying to do? La Colombe Coffee offers tables and outlets, so grab a coffee and start studying! Or, enjoy a movie with some friends at the AMC!

 3rd Street Promenade (5.4 miles from UCLA)

If you’re planning on going to the beach anyways, why not stop by the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, an outdoor shopping area just blocks away from the water! Check out the street performers as you shop on this bustling street. All your favorites are here! Pacsun, Urban Outfitters, Forever 21, Brandy Melville, Vans, you name it!

  Melrose Ave (6.4 miles from UCLA)

Melrose Ave features unique designers such as Vivienne Westwood, Fred Segal, and DASH. Take a picture along the famous pink wall of the Paul Smith store. Grab a coffee at Alfred Coffee or get lunch at Urth Café. Celebs are always here, you never know who you might see!

 The Grove (4.9 miles from UCLA)

 Located south of Beverly Blvd, the Grove has stores such as Anthropologie, J. Crew, Barneys, and Athletica. Find a new book to read at Barnes & Noble or indulge in your sweet side at Sprinkles Cupcakes. If you’re looking for some holiday magic, visit the Grove in the winter season to see the famous big Christmas tree and falling snow.

Did any of these catch your eye? Comment below where you love to shop around LA! 

 Happy shopping!

Lana