Narthika, Aston University
Staying organised during an optometry degree is essential as many deadlines and assessments can unexpectedly creep up. Without good organisation, it’s easy to become overwhelmed with stress and anxiety. Over time, I’ve found a few simple strategies that have helped me effectively manage tasks.
One of the best tips is to invest in a monthly calendar. Writing down key dates, such as exams and deadlines and highlighting them makes it easy to track important events. Keeping the calendar in a visible place, like pinned on your wall or above your study desk, ensures you don’t forget deadlines. Crossing off each day helps you visualise how close you are to upcoming assessments, keeping you motivated and prepared.
Writing down key dates, such as exams and deadlines and highlighting them makes it easy to track important events
Another key aspect of staying organised is prioritising tasks. A rule I follow is: If a task takes less than two minutes to complete (like sending a quick email), do it immediately instead of putting it off. This prevents small tasks from piling up and becoming overwhelming.
These small habits can make a big difference in staying on top of work and reducing stress. Although we cannot be perfectly organised all the time, having simple systems in place can help make things feel more manageable!