Organize that homework station!

Organize Your Homework Spot and Change Your Life!

by Gail E. Hedrick

It's time to start your English assignment. Where's a pen? Paper? It's due when? Oops, where's your calendar? Does this sound familiar? Hunting for stuff robs you of time—time for talking with your friends, watching videos, or actually finishing your homework. Conquer that whole "lost time" thing by starting with the basics—organize a homework spot. It won't matter if you have a desk if you have a plan. Make a list of what you need to do homework and poof—your plan is in motion!

Step 1: Collect Stuff

Your list might look something like this:

  • a dictionary
    		•
  • notebook paper
  • computer paper
    		•
  • pencils, erasers
  • pens (blue, black and red)  
    		•
  • a flash drive
  • a calculator
    		•
  • highlighters
  • a calendar
    		•
  • a ruler
  • markers
    		•
  • stapler and staples
  • paper clips
    		•
  • rubber bands
  • tape
    		•
  • sticky notes
  • scissors
    		•
  • a bulletin board

    • Grab the list, find what you can, and make a pile.

    Step 2: Enlist Help

    Let your parents know your plan and show them the list. They might loan you some items or if the family budget allows, let you buy some things. Be prepared: they'll be thrilled that you're being so proactive!

    Step 3: Get Busy

    If you have a desk, clean off the top, empty the drawers, and divide its contents into two piles: KEEP and TOSS. No desk? Proceed to step 8. The TOSS pile goes in the trash. Box up anything you don't need for homework in the KEEP pile. Tackle that project another day.

    Step 4: What Goes Where?

    No brainer. Put things you want to find easily on top of your desk. A dictionary, pens, pencils, highlighters, paper, a ruler, stapler, and calculator will probably be on your short list. A lamp, photos, and if you have one—your laptop—finishes out the desktop. Infrequently used items like ink, extra paper, folders, rubber bands, and erasers can go underneath in drawers or cubbies.

    Step 5: It Goes in What?

    Use trays or wire baskets to hold your suplpies and a supply of paper. Put pens, pencils, scissors, a ruler, and highlighters in a cup or mug. Sectioned plastic utility trays are perfect for little things like paper clips, flash drives, rubber bands, sticky notes, and tape. Small gift boxes without lids, mini bread loaf pans, and little baskets also make for great and inexpensive storage.

    Step 6: Great-to-have Items

    Extra printer ink, index cards, a recharging station, music, and a bookshelf are all nice (but not essential).

    Step 7: What About the Fun Stuff?

    Things like a bulletin board, calendar, thumbtacks, stickers, colored stamps, and trash can are opportunities to liven up your homework station. Beware, though: too much decoration can distract you from what you're there to do...and keep you there longer! Skip to step 9!

    Step 8: No Desk?

    WARNING: Keep clutter to a minimum. The more you can focus, the better—and faster—your homework will be.

    Not everyone has a desk, and people with desks probably do homework on their beds. Your focus should be on where to keep homework stuff...and lucky for you, your homework area is mobile! You need a deep, plastic storage bin (preferably with a lid) and a crate. Turn the crate on its side to store reference books, notebooks, and folders. You can use the crate top as a mini table for a lamp and a mug filled with pens, pencils, markers, and scissors. The bin serves both as a desk and as storage. Keep your extra paper, ink, calculator, and index cards inside, and take them out only when you need them. You can nest a bunch of small containers, boxes, or baskets in your bin to help organize.

    Step 9: Make good choices

    If you have a computer, be super-careful about the Internet sites that you visit. Guard personal info, and if you have younger sibs, set a good example for them. Also, when they see your homework station, they may want one, too! Help them make a mini-version using a cake pan and a lid. Give them a pen, pencil, some markers, and paper from your stash. Maybe throw in a few stickers for style! They now have a place to hold their homework just like their big sis!

    Step 10: The Tah-Dah!

    Approach your homework spot, and gaze upon your work. Imagine starting your homework and not yelling, "Where's my _________?!" Okay, you may still have to sort your KEEP stuff, but that's a project for another day. Right now, by applying a bit of self-discipline, you've organized a big chunk of your life. Today, it's your homework, and tomorrow? Well...tomorrow is up to you. You have time!

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