Tag: catlettresidencehall

Productivity and Organizational Tips!

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Hi everyone!

I am going to share with you some tips and strategies that I do daily which have allowed me to be productive and organized while living a meaningful day!

Tip #1: The most important part of having a worthwhile day is understanding what’s going to keep you from it. If I don’t have a very productive day, it’s because I spent a lot of time wondering what was on my social media. I recommend downloading the app “Forest” if you struggle with something similar. :)

Tip #2: Your mindset is EVERYTHING, make sure it’s POSITIVE. Some days, you won’t want to feel like doing anything…and that’s okay; it means you need a break. But, you do have to make sure that you’re on top of everything most of the time :) Find ways to keep yourself motivated and accountable. Write down everything that is due for the week in your planner, and then delegate specific tasks to every day to make sure everything gets done. Also, write down anything socially that you are hoping to do for the week. I really enjoy watching shows every week on TV (The Bachelor, Chicago Shows, etc.); to keep myself motivated, I make sure all of my work for the day is done by the time those shows are on so I can relax and enjoy!

Tip #3: Fuel yourself! Make sure to drink lots of water and eat healthier meals to keep your mind functioning the way it should. Throw in a coffee if you need to wake up a little. :)

Tip #4: The atmosphere you are in throughout the day is so important. Make sure it’s clean, cozy, happy, and partly technology-free (no turning on the TV or looking at your phone constantly). Straighten up anything throughout the day to make sure your work area/room stays consistently clean.

The way my desk looks throughout the day :)

Tip #5: Start your productive day by not doing actual work. For me, this means having a daily routine that I follow. I will make sure I get all of my morning tasks done before I start any school work. If I don’t stick to my routine, and I’m somewhat lazy when I get up, I won’t continue my day being productive.

Tip #6: Take breaks. You shouldn’t be go-go-go all day because then you will tire

These are my “morning to-do’s” that I will be sure to get done right away!

yourself out and won’t be able to stay motivated to complete all of your tasks. I recommend taking thorough breaks for at least a half-hour when you have your meals to give yourself some time to reboot. For shorter breaks, talk to one of your family members, get in a workout, or go to Starbucks!

Tip #7: Wake up on the earlier side during the week, and sleep in on weekends. I’m not saying get up at 5am, but I would say to make sure you are crawling out of bed by 8am during the week to have a productive day. Get your much-needed rest on the weekends and leave only a few assignments to complete. :)

Thanks for reading! Have a beautiful rest of your day. :)

Quote of the day: “Always deliver more than expected” ~ Larry Page

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University of Iowa Prep #2: Shopping

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Hi everybody! I’ve been thinking about all of the items I need for my return to school. These are my must-haves for this next semester to make sure I have the most healthy, organized and productive one possible! For those who are prospective freshman, I hope this list will provide you some help when it comes to packing for school because I know that can seem a little overwhelming. For returning students, I hope this can spark your memory of things you may need prior to going back to Iowa.

Item #1: Healthy Snacks!–it is so important to be sure that with all of the stress we are facing right now, you do whatever you can to take care of yourself. I am guilty of having a lot of unhealthy snacks in my dorm room first semester, so for the very busy days, I wanted to look for snacks that will be able to hold me over until I can sit down and have a meal!

Item #2: Gum!–I bring gum with me EVERYWHERE! It’s the perfect addition to your purse for when you leave your favorite coffee shop in Iowa City, or to just take a piece quick right before class.

Item #3: Mac N Cheese/Ramen!–It is absolutely PERFECT for the late nights studying when the cafeteria is closed :)

Item #4: K-Cups!–If I don’t have coffee first thing in the morning…I will not make it through the day.

Item #5: Organizational tools!–I have found that with having classes online, things can get cluttered in your room. Containers for utensils, small bags for makeup products, drawer organizers, etc. are perfect for keeping everything together whether you are on the go or having some cozy and productive time in your room! If you are looking for these products, I suggest Amazon.

For specific food or necessary product ideas you can check out my shopping vlog on my YouTube channel.

Have a beautiful rest of your day :)

Quote of the day: “I am not a shopaholic. I am helping the economy”

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University of Iowa Prep #1: Online Classes

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Hello everybody!

With the new semester approaching, I wanted to provide you all insight on how I am getting ready to return back to campus. I have begun a series of YouTube videos about my preparation for beginning school again. This first video is about getting ready for online classes! Throughout the video, there’s information regarding scheduling classes, customizing your technology, and more! Other videos you will see in this series will be on shopping for all of the goodies I need to move back in, packing, and moving in! I hope you all enjoy.

Have a beautiful rest of your day :)

Quote of the day: “Spectacular achievement is always preceded by unspectacular preparation” ~Robert H. Schuller

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