| College students who are not inherently organized | | | | speaker, but by writing your thoughts and reactions |
| need to master a system or create one of their own | | | | down, you can continue to listen and not be focused |
| that enables them to plan out long-term assignments, | | | | on your thought. Once the speaker is finished, you can |
| complete them, and turn them in on time. This can | | | | then raise your questions and comments. |
| seem like an insurmountable task to a student | | | | Color-coding is another useful idea. Color is not only a |
| diagnosed with executive function disorder. In | | | | great memory tool, it works well for organization, as |
| interviewing students who had managed to overcome | | | | well. Assign each of your subjects a different, so |
| disorganization and procrastination, I heard some terrific | | | | when you pack your books, it's easy and foolproof; |
| ideas. Read the suggestions below, and try the ones | | | | remember that "red" is math, "blue" is history, etc. Color |
| you think would work for you. Don't hesitate to | | | | coding can also be used when highlighting assigned |
| combine techniques. There is no ONE correct | | | | reading. For example, use a yellow highlighter for main |
| organizational method.The most effective method is | | | | ideas, blue for supporting details, and green for |
| probably the one you invent yourself by cutting and | | | | summaries.This pays dividends when exam time |
| pasting from various methods. | | | | comes, as it allows you to easily create outlines from |
| Disorganized students or those with ADD should | | | | your reading. Students who use color-coding report |
| always carry a small notebook to jot down ideas as | | | | that organization comes more naturally. |
| they occur. This includes keeping a notebook on one's | | | | It's not important which organizational system you |
| nightstand. When ideas pop into your head , write them | | | | use--if gets the job done, stick with it. Of course, if it |
| down immediately, so you can act on the later - | | | | proves ineffective, it's time to test another strategy. |
| otherwise, your ideas will likely be forgotten. This | | | | The important thing is to keep working to improve your |
| includes writing ideas down during a conversation or | | | | organizational habits until they becomes second |
| business meeting.You don't want to interrupt the | | | | nature--students report it CAN happen! |