As college students, one of our most precious commodities is time. We always need more of it, and we never seem to have enough of it. Time management is a very important skill to have, and one of the first steps toward it is getting organized.

From little things like our backpacks to our office area as a whole, it’s really important to utilize the space we have as efficiently as possible. This could be by labeling things and putting them in stacks or even assigning entire shelves to them. Not only will you be able to locate things easily and as you need them, but you will have a better understanding of what all you have and what you need.

My dad has a house rule that he’s been trying to enforce for years: “If you take something, put it back exactly where you found it.” We always seem to ignore this rule, and before you know it the house looks like a war zone. I try to implement that rule now that I have my own place, and realize how practical it is. Now, I spend less time searching for the remote when my favorite show is about to come on and more time relaxing.

I know that it has happened to me a million and one times where I’m looking for something that I misplaced, go out and buy a replacement, then end up finding it two days later in a completely different place. If I had put it in a proper location in the first place, I wouldn’t have run into that problem.

Some of us are paying our way through college and then there are those of us who have help from home. Wherever your money comes from, you should keep track of where it comes from and goes to. You can save yourself a lot of trouble by organizing your finances and balancing your checkbook. You may find you even putting have a few dollars extra dollars to put in a savings account here and there.

Another advantage of staying organized is managing deadlines. Studies show that the more organized a person is, the more likely they are to use their overall time efficiently. This means you can finish that paper before the weekend, and relax for the rest of the time. You’ll be less likely to forget things like exam days, birthdays or making that phone call home because you were too preoccupied trying to finish your Webassign.

You don’t have to wait until spring. Take a little bit of time out this weekend when it is cold outside and you’re stuck in your room or your house to reorder everything. Put things in a more efficient place. Find ways to locate your belongings effectively. Maybe even turn it into a full-fledged overhaul of your place.

All in all, spend some time to get your organization on. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at how useful it actually is. From keeping your bookbag and room orderly, to managing your time and budget, being organized and staying organized can have you a lot of trouble and, most importantly, helping you stay sane in college.