Written by Remi Bampton
It’s no secret that after completing a year of university, our study spaces become overloaded with papers, folders, textbooks and random things we have collected over the year! Our spaces also become cluttered and overrun by stationary and a lack of organisation … well at least mine do!
I know once I finish my last exam, I am not looking at my study space any time soon, hence it’s sits cluttered and unorganised up until the next semester starts.
So, take this as your sign to come along and clean up your space with me and get ready for 2026 session one!
Let’s do it
Here is what I’m working with:
The first step I take is to remove everything from the space, wiping everything down as I go, including the desk.
Now that everything is taken off and clean, I sorted all the loose paper and books into: keep, bin or file. In my case I also have a return to library pile for the textbooks I have borrowed and need to return.
For the papers and resources, I am keeping but will not need any time soon, I file them away in folders for safe keeping. Folders are a student’s best friend for organisation and easy accessibility if you need to refer to previous work.
Now that I have gotten rid of/filed all the past year’s clutter, it is important to only put back into the space the essentials for the upcoming semester. I do this to remove visual clutter and keep my head fresh and not stuck in last year’s work.
Some starting point essentials to put into your space include:
- Pens
- Highlighters
- Whiteboard markers
- To do list pads
- Notepads / notebooks
- Sticky notes
- Flash cards
Remember to add anything that helps you study and remove things that aren’t important or would be a distraction!
Here is my space after, organised and essentials only.
Now that our space is in order, it’s just as important to get our mind in order. Like a workspace, if our mind is cluttered it’s hard to organise our thoughts or work to the best of our ability.
Some resetting tips:
- Set a routine and stick to it! This includes a sleep schedule! Go to bed at a reasonable hour and wake up at the same time every day. Our brains need rest to learn and absorb information.
- Exercise! Exercise is important to relieve stress. No one needs added pressure, and exercise helps manage stress and keep us healthy.
- Mindfulness, like journaling or meditation. I like to write down my small wins and reflect on what may not have gone to plan, this helps me move forward and learn from my wins and mistakes and organise my thoughts
I hope you feel prepared for the year ahead and feel decluttered and refreshed!
Charlie blog is a SSAF funded initiative.
