Whether it’s a list in the Notes app, on a planner, an organizational app or even just going with the flow, each CHS student has a way of organizing their thoughts and must-do tasks.

Freshman Zoe Hillebrand says that on days when she has a heavy workload, she makes a physical list on a sticky note or digital one in her notes app. This list includes all of her classes and the work she must do for each. She is then able to easily cross assignments and study blocks off her list.

Hillebrand has roughly an hour of homework every night, but if a test is coming up, she makes sure to study for that as well. She notes that the freshman workload is not that bad. Moreover, she says that around half of her work is made up of in-class assignments from the day, while the other half is assignments given as homework.

While she always wants to get everything on her list done, Hillebrand prioritizes making time for herself as well.

“I always make myself some sort of caffeine drink while I work, usually an iced chai,” Hillebrand said. “I also make myself a snack and some sort of fruit, and get a glass of ice water also, because I can only really study while I have a drink with me.”

Hillebrand takes lots of breaks while studying or in between studying for different classes, and either goes on her phone or reads a book.

Other students have similar strategies. For instance, senior Nic Villamor doesn’t use an inherently strict and organized planner. He first decides what’s urgent and what’s less urgent, then prioritizes from there.

For Villamor, that usually means keeping track of upcoming deadlines for homework and other assignments. Once he gets home from school or has other pockets of time, he’ll begin working on the most urgent items. He also makes sure to reserve a little time each day up to the due date to complete items that are less urgent. This method ensures that he doesn’t have to suddenly cram on the day the assignment is due.

“This applies similarly to practicing an instrument, especially in jazz or band or orchestra when you chronically have things going on like performances,” Villamor said. “I play tenor sax for jazz, so this is important for me so that I don’t get really stressed right before a gig, due to not having learned the setlist on time.”

Among the busier students, sophomore Anna Chomistek has a system for organizing and planning everything out.

“I’m a section leader in orchestra, and captains in multiple different activities outside of school, so my schedule is really busy,” Chomistek said. “So, I kind of have a list of all the things I need to get done and an estimated time of how long it’s going to take me.”

Chomistek usually adds what she calls a “buffer,” 15-20 minutes of extra time for each task. She then includes when each task is due and whether or not the class accepts full credit for late work.

“I pretty much have [my to-do list] in 5 different spots; I use my notes app, I write it down in my planner, I write it down on a random piece of paper that’s on my desk, a document pulled up on my computer,” Chomistek said.

Chomistek says that she usually prioritizes items on her to-do list based on their due dates.She also has to find time to practice violin, go running and play her sports that take place outside of school. She says that there’s always a challenge of knowing what to sacrifice: sleep, grades, or sports.

“So it’s kind of like, what do you sacrifice? Sleep, grades, or your sports?” Chomistek said.

For Chomistek, the sacrifice tends to be sleep more often than other things.

Planners look different for each person, but Chomistek prefers to write out her plans for the next day or two. She records every assignment she has to do that day, as well as any in-house tasks or chores.

For all of these students, it is important that they have some form of organization for their work. Purchasing planners, using your notes app or using another tracker app may be a helpful form of organization for all students.