It took me four years to find out the best way for me to keep track of my homework. I had sticky notes on my desktop and all over my laptop screen, I carried around a heavy day planner, I put in notifications on my phone. I’m pretty forgetful, but also anxious so I rarely actually entirely forgot about assignments, but I knew there had to be a better way… 

Flash forward to the August before my fourth year and I was strolling in Winners wasting time, as you do. I found this silly Britney Spears to-do list that says, ‘Oops I Forgot It Again’, as an ode to an iconic Britney song. Naturally, I had to get it. 

This teeny-tiny purchase changed my life. I know that sounds dramatic, but I am being absolutely serious. I love crossing things off of the list, ripping off a new page like a fresh start. I love counting how many items are on there, feeling a moment of stress for the week ahead, and making a game plan. Seeing everything at once makes it feel more manageable and tangible instead of thinking ‘I have so much to do’ I see I have 8 things I want to do by Tuesday, let’s get to it. 

The organization these to-do lists have given me is unmatched. The sense of accomplishment and progress with the checkmarks or scratched-off item is an affirmation to myself- I know I am getting things done.  

Sometimes I write due dates, sometimes I write the items in the order I hope to complete them, sometimes it is just random affairs like ‘Get groceries’. Having a to-do list pad on my desk at all times has helped me keep track of my entire life and also it is a place to write down miscellaneous notes when things come to mind as I sit in classes at Teams University.  

Speaking of Teams University, I recently discovered a life changing feature, which is the to-do list. As you can tell by everything above, I stand by my pen-and-paper list, but I can appreciate good technology for when I want to take everything to Cranewood or Aida’s or the Library. To access this glorious feature, go on Teams, click the three dots, and add ‘Tasks by Planner and To Do’. You can organize tasks with due dates, by importance, even create new lists if you prefer to put all your homework for the year in one place and sort by class.