Miss T

Help, I don’t know where to start!

Dear Miss T,

I have been in school since August, and I struggle everyday with keeping track of everything. I have a little sister that I watch after school, and I have homework almost daily. I sometimes start the day stressed out with all I have to do. I have no time for friends, and I don’t know what to do. I sometimes can't even start homework because I don’t know where to start. Please help me figure out what to do!

Signed,

Scattered

Dear Scattered,

I understand how you feel. I felt the same way while I was going to college. I had grandkids to babysit and homework piling up everyday. Let’s start with organizing the homework. You need to invest in a planner. Some folks says they could never use one, they don't have the time to fill one out, or they just aren't’ organized enough. The habit you start with your planner now, will help keep you organized later.

Sometimes schools give them away. Check with your school office and see if they have any. If they don’t, the local dollar store sells them for a dollar, and they work just as well as the expensive ones. Once you have your planner, pull out each syllabus for each class. For each syllabus record test dates, quiz dates, then project dates from now to the end of the semester. Don’t worry about any prior assignments, only today on. Record the homework and dates due, so you know at a glance what is due that day. If you don’t have a syllabus for each class, carry your planner with you and record the homework the teacher assigns and when it’s due. This will help you keep all assignments together in one place. It can also help you keep track of what needs to be done with your little sister and her appointments if she has any. Now that you will have all your assignments written in one place, you can now determine what to start first. I would start with the homework assignment due first and go in order of due dates. This could help you to stay calm and work one at a time, and possibly have time for a friend. Maybe you could have a studdy buddy now that you know what is due when.

I never used a planner, but when I started college, it was necessary. I still use a planner today. I hope this helps you. Take care and good luck. 

Miss T

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Drowning in a sea of emails

Dear Teresa,

I have just recently started using email. I didn’t want to, but my daughter recommended I get more techy. I have more emails in my Inbox than I know what to do with. How do I keep track of what I have?

Signed,

Drowning

Dear Drowning,

Welcome to the digital age of mail! I didn’t use email until I started a job years ago, and I had to figure out quickly how to organize and keep up with all my emails. It was easy to end up with a hundred emails in my Inbox by the end of each day.

I would recommend setting up folders in your Inbox. Think of these folders like folders in your filing cabinet. If you online shop and receive confirmation emails then create a folder for the company from which you are buying. If you receive emails from your utility companies, create a folder of each of the companies you pay. If you receive emails from your bank, create a folder with your bank name. This will help you sort through all your emails and file neatly away for future.

Now that you have created your folders, it’s time to start moving emails. Look at your first email. Determine if you need to keep this email to reference at another time or if it trash. If you need to keep this email, move to the folder you created. If you still need to create a folder for this email, its ok. Do it now. Go through each email and either delete for trash or move to a folder. Now that you have sorted all your email, the next task it to keep up with it as it comes in. Keeping your email organized every time you log in will keep you from getting overwhelmed with email.

I like to leave the emails in my Inbox if there is something that I need to do regarding that email. For instance, I’ve received an email reminder about an appointment I have. I will leave that email in my Inbox until I return from that appointment. Once I have returned from my appointment I have taken care of that email; I am free to delete it. Now I can work on my next email.

This will take a little time for you to develop the habit of keeping your email organized, but once you have mastered the habit, you will no longer be drowning in your sea of emails. This process works for me, so I hope it works for you too. Good luck and enjoy reading!

Mrs. T