how to get organised during the summer in 15 days

TL;DR

Build a core organization system early (paper binder/folders or digital file management) so research and materials have a home.

Briefing Cornell Notes

Briefing

A 15-day “back to school” organization challenge lays out a step-by-step plan to rebuild school or work readiness—offline and digital—before the new year starts. The core idea is simple: use a short, structured sprint to set up systems (supplies, planning, schedules, budgets, and goals) rather than relying on last-minute motivation. The payoff is a calmer transition into the school year, with a working routine, a clear calendar, and an organized physical and digital workspace.

Day 1 starts with a playlist to “set the tone” for the year, followed by Day 2 research: check a new school’s website and ask questions if switching, or download key class materials (regulations, syllabi, class guides) if staying put. Day 3 then establishes the main organization system—choosing digital or paper, and creating dividers by subject, month, or topic. From there, the plan moves into procurement and planning: Day 4 lists supplies and prioritizes mandatory items over helpful extras, including subscriptions like Grammarly or Evernote and textbooks. Day 5 creates preliminary guides such as class guides, strategy guides, or a project planner; the example given is building a dissertation project planner for an eight- or nine-month stretch.

The middle of the challenge focuses on time, money, and scheduling. Day 6 uses calendar blocking to test an “ideal schedule,” incorporating workouts, study sessions, time with friends, and a consistent sleep routine—then adjusting until it fits. Day 7 builds a yearly budget, tracking major spending, setting monthly savings targets, and adding strategies to cut back. Day 8 begins the forward-looking calendar by filling in already-scheduled appointments and key dates like exam season, potential tests, doctor visits, and major deadlines.

The second week turns toward cleanup and setup. Day 9 sorts old office supplies into keep vs. donate, with an optional shopping trip to restock. Day 10 declutters the workspace and prepares a study corner, including desk cleaning, containerizing supplies, and improving lighting and mood. Day 11 handles digital decluttering: moving old files to an external hard drive, setting favorites for academic resources, and maximizing desktop productivity.

Days 12–14 complete the system across everyday contexts. Day 12 sets up a planner tailored to personal preference, including divisions, “things to look forward to,” and monthly plans while integrating the Day 8 calendar. Day 13 redesigns a carry-on system to reduce what’s brought to class and improve organization inside a bag. Day 14 brings productivity to the phone by deleting unused apps, installing motivational and time-management tools, backing up files, and arranging the home screen so calendar, email, and note-taking apps are immediately accessible.

The final day is goal setting and visualization: using the organized planner to list next-year goals and the strategies to reach them, then making a daily promise to work toward those targets. A free downloadable PDF printable with checkboxes is offered to track progress, and the challenge can be repeated anytime for ongoing productivity and organization.

Cornell Notes

The 15-day challenge provides a structured way to get organized for the school year by building systems in three areas: planning, environment, and daily tools. It starts with research and a core organization system (binder/folders or digital file management), then moves into supplies, preliminary guides, calendar blocking, and a yearly budget. The second week focuses on decluttering—both physical supplies and digital files—followed by setting up a personalized planner, a streamlined carry-on setup, and a productivity-focused phone. The process ends with goal setting and visualization using the planner, supported by a free PDF checklist to track each step.

What happens in the first three days, and why does that sequence matter?

Day 1 creates a playlist to set the tone for the year. Day 2 shifts into research—either contacting a new school for details or downloading next-year materials like regulations, syllabi, and class guides. Day 3 then builds the main organization system by choosing digital or paper and setting up dividers (by subject, month, or topic). The sequence matters because research informs what needs organizing, and the organization system determines how those materials and tasks will be stored and found later.

How does calendar blocking fit into the challenge’s planning approach?

Day 6 uses calendar blocking to design an “ideal schedule” by experimenting with routines and habits. It explicitly includes workouts, study sessions, time with friends, and a steady sleeping schedule. After testing, the plan calls for moving things around until the routine works. This is followed by Day 8, which fills in already-scheduled appointments and fixed dates like exam season, doctor visits, and major deadlines—turning the experiment into a usable calendar.

What does the challenge recommend for budgeting, and what should it include?

Day 7 asks for a budget for the next year that covers major spending habits and needs, the amount to save each month, and strategies to make saving realistic. It also includes cutting back on some spending. The goal is to pair organization with financial planning so the year starts with a clear picture of both time and money.

What are the physical and digital decluttering steps, and what outcomes are expected?

Day 9 sorts old office supplies into what to keep versus what to donate, with an optional shopping trip to restock. Day 10 declutters the working space by cleaning the desk, arranging supplies in containers, and setting up lighting and mood for a better study corner. Day 11 handles digital decluttering by moving old files to an external hard drive, setting favorites for academic resources, and maximizing the desktop for productivity. Together, these steps reduce friction—less clutter means faster access to materials and fewer distractions.

How does the plan extend organization beyond a desk and into daily life?

Day 12 sets up a planner tailored to personal preference and integrates the Day 8 calendar, including divisions and monthly plans. Day 13 focuses on a carry-on system to minimize what’s brought to class and improve organization inside a backpack or bag. Day 14 then upgrades the phone for focus and productivity: delete unused apps, install motivational and time-management software, back up files, and arrange the home screen so calendar, email, and note-taking apps are readily accessible.

What does the final day require, and how is progress tracked?

Day 15 is goal setting and visualization. Using the now-organized planner, it calls for listing next-year goals and the strategies to reach them—whether academic performance or maintaining a regular study schedule—then making a daily promise to work toward those goals. Progress can be tracked by downloading a free PDF printable with checkboxes for each organization item, and the challenge can be repeated during the year for continued productivity.

Review Questions

Which specific tasks are assigned to Days 2 and 3, and how do they feed into the rest of the 15-day plan?
How do Days 6 and 8 differ in their approach to scheduling, and what should each accomplish?
What changes are recommended on Days 10–14 to make organization work across your workspace, carry-on, and phone?

Key Points

1
Build a core organization system early (paper binder/folders or digital file management) so research and materials have a home.
2
Use Day 2 research to either gather next-year class documents or ask a new school targeted questions before classes begin.
3
Create an ideal routine with calendar blocking on Day 6, then lock in fixed commitments on Day 8 using a simple calendar.
4
Set a realistic yearly budget that includes monthly savings goals and specific strategies to reduce spending.
5
Declutter in two layers: physical supplies and the workspace (Days 9–10), then digital files and desktop setup (Day 11).
6
Tailor your planner to personal preference and integrate your calendar into it (Day 12) rather than treating planning as separate from scheduling.
7
Finish by turning organization into action: set next-year goals and strategies, then track progress with the downloadable PDF checklist.

Highlights

The challenge treats organization as a system-building sprint: research, storage, scheduling, budgeting, and goals—done in 15 days.

Calendar blocking is used to prototype a routine (including sleep, workouts, and study), then the calendar is finalized by entering fixed dates.

Decluttering isn’t just physical; it explicitly includes digital cleanup—external hard drive backups, favorites for academic resources, and a productivity-focused desktop.

Phone setup is part of the plan: delete unused apps, install time-management tools, back up files, and arrange the home screen for instant access to calendar, email, and notes.

A free PDF printable with checkboxes is provided so the steps can be tracked and repeated later in the year.

Topics

Back to School Organization
15-Day Challenge
Calendar Blocking
Digital Decluttering
Goal Setting

Mentioned

Mariana Vieira