Organisation is essential for high school study but it certainly doesn’t have to be boring! Get creative with these back-to-school hacks for high school students that will help you sort stationery, coordinate due dates for assignments and tackle subjects with confidence each and every week.

Colour Code by Subject

A visual code, like organising notes by colour, is a smart study technique, helping you identify important information and organise material logically. Research has linked colour with improved memory retention and recall and study.com suggests that the habit of colour coding key ideas in your notes with highlighters will make it easier to revise when test time comes around. Assign each subject its own shade and then utilise folders, tabs, highlighters and labels to ensure each set stays separate and neat. Make sure to use green and blue for two subjects: the colour green has been found to improve concentration, while a blue hue may increase productivity. 

What To Try 

These back to school hacks for high school students will help them get organised quickly.

Keep the Colour Going

When storing notes at home, embrace the same colour theming as above for file storage. Or try storing homework in clear plastic tubs or drawers, using coloured-coded labels to match the colour you have assigned that subject. You’ll be able to instantly find what you’re looking for without having to open files or drawers when on the hunt for a specific project.

What To Try  

Keeping homework grouped together in clear plastic tubs is a study tip that will help students get organised.

Supersize Your Calendar

The closer you get to finishing school, the bigger your calendar will become. An easy-to-see map of your month means you can avoid rifling through notes and simply look up from your homework spot to see what you need to do now, tomorrow and beyond. Look for a wall calendar or planner that you can hang above your desk, then fill it in and decorate; or use a whiteboard or even Post-it notes to create your own version.

What To Try 

One of the best back to school hacks for high school students? Keep a meticulous calendar.

Make a Templated Timetable Sheet

Regardless of whether you have a timetable that is fixed or changes regularly, a ready-to-go template means you can fill it in and paste it into all of your important school books to refer back to. Designing a timetable template on your computer means you can print it so that you have some copies on hand at school and at home, ready to fill out for the new week. Or, if you prefer, create one by hand and scan it to print out copies.

SEE ALSO: 8 Ways to Help Kids Find Study/Life Balance

Stay Hydrated and Fuelled

Trying to study on an empty stomach is like trying to drive a car with no petrol. A full meal can make you feel drowsy, though, so if you’re studying between mealtimes, find an area near your desk you can turn into a snack station. Fill airtight jars with energy-enhancing nibbles such as dried fruit and nuts – foods that are loaded with vitamins and minerals nourish the brain and help it function better – and always make sure you have a water bottle handy. Hydration is key.

What To Try  

Travel-proof Your Tech

Having a protective case or sleeve for your BYOD is essential for safe transport of your device to, from and around school. But you can also go that one step further: as technology becomes a huge part of studying, so do cords, chargers, headphones and more. Keep them tidy and within reach by using a laptop or tablet sleeve with a zippered pocket. Slip all your tech accessories inside and say goodbye to rifling through the bottom of your backpack.

What To Try 

Keep your laptop organisation in check with a handy tablet or laptop sleeve.

Stay on Time

It’s easy to lose track of time when you’re studying, so keep a clock handy to keep you on schedule. While your phone or smartwatch could do the job, a desktop or wall clock is a great option as it is easy to see at a glance and less tempting as a distraction. Establishing effective time management strategies will set you in good stead as your homework requirements increase throughout high school. Research has found that students who can better manage their time have lessened anxiety and that even just feeling in control of your time can improve your grades.

What To Try 

SEE ALSO: How to Get Your Kids Organised Without Breaking a Sweat

Straighten Up Your Space

A neat desk will help you keep your things – and thoughts – in order. Use a desk set to keep study essentials such as stationery, papers and devices in an allocated place. No matter how much of a mess you make during each study session, do a pack-away at the end, so you can start the next day with a fresh and tidy space.

What To Try 

A matching desk set is a simple yet effective high school organisation hack.

Stock up on Study Cards

Flashcards are a classic study technique – and for good reason. They can help you memorise facts, improve your confidence and evaluate how well you know the material and encourage the brain to use active recall, stimulating the memory. Be sure to have lined and blank versions on hand, as you may want to paste templates onto them, write or even sketch on them. Even the act of making the cards is a great way to start learning new facts. 

What To Try 

One of the best high school organisation hacks for study is to use study cards to learn facts at a glance anywhere, anytime.


Create a Family Noticeboard

A family communication area is a great way to avoid mixed messages and to keep parents across important dates in your school schedule, such as final exams, or excursion notes and concert invites they might want to see and reference. Create a spot in a high-traffic space, such as the kitchen, and use a pinboard or magnetic whiteboard to add anything that parents need to action, as well as important messages like “Do not disturb, studying!”

What To Try 

Whiteboards and pinboards aren’t just for classrooms! They can be handy study and family organisation tools, too.