High school is a difficult time period for many students. It’s much harder than both elementary, and middle school combined. The workload is way bigger, and classes are more demanding, so staying on top of everything can be incredibly difficult.

There are many tips and methods for studying and staying organized. These can be extremely helpful to many high school students.

Being in a clean, bright, and organized space when studying or doing everyday things is very important.

Having places to put loose papers such as folders or binders is great. Making sure that all of your things are separated by class is very helpful. Though it can begin to seem like a waste of time when you are working till the bell and need to stuff your papers in your bag to get to your next class, a little truly goes a long way.

Color coding your notes is a good way to organize your notes, as well as finding what note-taking method works best for you. Methods such as the Cornell Method, Outlining, or Mind Mapping are very helpful in keeping track of information. Highlighting, or color-coding, also helps important information pop out.

Having an organized sleeping and eating schedule is also extremely important for maintaining energy and focus throughout the day. Though it is easier said than done, it is worth every last bit of effort! Making sure to eat three well balanced meals a day, and making sure to eat at regular intervals is necessary.

And staying organized isn’t the only way to be successful, it’s important that you also study for your classes whenever possible. There are multiple studying habits that are helpful to develop.

Re-reading your notes is a useful tool, but it isn’t always the most effective way to regain information. Making things such as flash cards or mnemonic devices are helpful in terms of memorization, just as practice is helpful for things that are more applied.

Re-writing your notes from memory is useful for exercising your memory

It’s also beneficial to take breaks during your studying, as your brain can only process so much information all at once. There are multiple methods to balance work and breaks.

The pomodoro technique is said to be helpful for people who struggle with procrastination. It’s a method where you work for 25 minutes, take a break for 5. You repeat this process for 4 rounds, and then take a 30 minute break.

Another common method is to work for 45 minutes and break for 15. This is said to prevent burnout and improve overall focus.

Any effort in improving organization will still show great improvement in not only your work ethic, but your overall mental well-being. Consider using more of these tips throughout your school year!