Planner Round-Up 2017

A lot of readers mentioned that my Planner Round-Up 2016 was insightful so I thought I'd share a Planner Round-Up 2017.

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For this upcoming school year, I bought the Midyear Day Designer to keep my crazy life organized. Last year I used Day Designer for Target to see if I liked the Day Designer enough to pay the price, and needless to say,  I loved it hehe. It's perfect for balancing a busy college class schedule with clubs, sorority events, as well as personal events. I love that the 'Top Three" section, which lets me know what three things need to get done first.  If you're a college student, or a professional, I would recommend that Day Designer to keep your day organized! 

For this year, I also purchased a thinner Day Designer x Target to carry with me to class. My backpack tends to be full with notebooks and textbooks for studying so it is important to me to still have an agenda that is useful, but one that doesn't take up too much space. 

Several of my friends have Erin Condren Life Planners and they love them. If I didn't have my Day Designer, I would probably purchase an Erin Condren. Plus, who doesn't love all of those customizable options! 

If you don't need a lot of space,  I recommend Rifle Paper Co, Kate Spade, and Lilly Pulitzer for planners. 

Need more planner inspiration? Check out last year's planner guide! 

College Series: The Do's and Don'ts of Classes

Do

Try to purchase all of your textbooks before your first week of classes so that you'll know that you have the textbook. You don't want be part of the outrageous number of students that are lined up at the bookstore waiting for books once classes start. Don't forget to pick them up before classes start to avoid the lines as well. I usually purchase most of my textbooks from a local TIS Bookstore because it's convenient at the end of the semester when I return them. I recommend purchasing your textbooks from Amazon or your local university bookstore.

Do

Purchase new books for classes that pertain to your major if you plan on going to graduate schools. These new textbooks may pay off in the future!

Do

Rent or by used books. I personally don't rent my textbooks, but purchasing used textbooks can save you a ton of money. Plus, you'll save money!

Don’t

Carry all of your textbooks around with you on campus. Two words: back problems. Usually you won't have to take your textbooks to class unless it's a lab or a foreign language class. I only carried my books around campus when I was headed to study for specific classes. Books are heavy!! (Especially if you take your laptop everywhere)

Don’t

Sit in the back of lecture halls. It will be harder to concentrate because you'll see all of the computer screens for the 200 people in front of you. Sit closer to the front to be more engaged with the class. The professor may even notice!

Do

Go to office hours. I didn't go to any office hours until second semester and I regret it. I lost all of my study habits and struggled. Your professors are your largest assets. Don't be afraid to go talk to one!

Do
Make friends with fellow students. They may have some study tips and you may have some great friends and the end of it! I made a lot of friends in my chemistry class so we all decided to take the same class, lab, and discussion classes this upcoming semester.

Don’t

Sit on your phone during class. Put your phone out of reach in your backpack with the sound turned off. I also turn the vibration off. Do not disturb is also a good option.

Do

Try out different study habits to see what works for you! My study habits completely changed in college.

Do
Keep on top of things! Keep an agenda that is updated with important due dates.

DIY Binder Covers

As school starts up again soon (excuse me while I silently sob), it's time to get schools supplies around again. I personally only use binders to keep papers organized for each class. I usually don't carry the binders around in my backpack, so they stay at my desk. I decided to spice up my binder covers this year, so shoutout to my friend Ashley for showing me these covers! 

Step 1: Choose your print. I got these from a blogger named Hope. 

Save them to your computer desktop or to a folder on your desktop .

Step 2: Open up a photo editor. I used picmonkey.com

Step 3: Add Text. Make sure to center it.

Step 4: Save to your desktop. 

Step 5: Print out!

Optional Step 6: The side of the binder. (Still using picmonkey.com)

Step 7: Have a transparent background. 

Step 8: Choose the rectangular overlay and switch how it lays.

Step 9: Add your text

Step 10: Save and print! 

Some other prints that would look great as binder covers: 

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