Practical tips tailored to university and college students

As a university or college student, juggling studying, socializing, self-care, and still managing to keep your space organized can feel tricky. However, keeping your space clean and organized can actually enhance your productivity and overall well-being.

1. Utilize storage spaces

Whether you are living in a dorm room, apartment, or house, these smaller spaces require creative storage solutions. Making the most of the limited space you have can be the difference between living in comfort or not. Everything can have a space – and that space does not have to be the floor.

Under-bed storage

The area underneath your bed is often underutilized and can be valuable real estate that shouldn’t go to waste if you can help it. Using it to store items you don’t need on a daily basis is the best use. This could be things such as off season clothes, extra bedding (link), suitcases, etc. If you are someone like me that went 3 out of 4 years without a real closet, this hack will become a lifesaver.

Vertical space

Walls also offer tons of potential for storage. Using wall-mounted floating shelves for decorative items are a great way to keep clutter off of your desk and nightstand. I suggest installing wall or over-the-door hooks for bags, coats, keys, towels, scarfs, or any other miscellaneous items. Putting these hooks over the back of your door is ideal because it can also hide clutter when your door is open.

2. Declutter desk and study space

At the end of the day, maintaining an organized space is about positively influencing productivity. A clean desk is essential for mental clarity when writing papers or studying for exams.

3. Digital clean-up

Digital decluttering can affect your productivity just as much as physically decluttering. So much of our life and university experience is spent online so taking the time to organize this space will do wonders.

As much as we all think we are going to go back and use everything we download, in reality we never do. Properly labelling files from the get-go makes file management more efficient and makes the task of digital clean-up a little less daunting. Deleting files as you go limits unnecessary space being taken up on your devices as well.

In my experience, you have the best chance of staying organized if you setup your desktop at the beginning of the semester. Spending some time on this task each semester makes staying on top of your schoolwork much more manageable.

Tip: Create a deadline calendar with every due date you have at the beginning of the semester for a good overview of assignments and exams.

4. Make your bed every morning

Don’t knock it till you try it.

This simple hack had to be included because it instantly sets the tone for your day and automatically makes your space feel organized.

Seriously, just try it.

5. Embrace the “clean as you go” mindset

Cleaning up your space doesn’t always have to be an overwhelming task. When you have many commitments to balance, you don’t want to have to add “clean room” to the list. By integrating small, consistent cleaning habits into your daily routine, you can prevent clutter from piling up and keep your space feeling fresh without dedicating hours of your time.

After meals

One of the worst feelings is when you realize you have a large pile of dishes to do and the bigger it becomes, the less you want to do it. Taking a few minutes after each meal to clean up your space is indeed a productive use of time.

Tip: 24 hour rule. If you have difficulty committing to cleaning after each meal, give yourself 24 hours to complete the task. Therefore, you can still limit the chances of growing a massive pile of dishes without the burden of doing dishes 3x a day.

Study break

Using cleaning as a study break may be seen as a procrastinators justification – and don’t get me wrong, I often used cleaning as a way to avoid schoolwork – but it is still a productive use of time.

Study breaks are essential for memory retention so rather than using those 10 minutes in between chapters for scrolling on TikTok, use it to put in a load of laundry or do your dishes from breakfast.

Set a timer

This can go hand in hand with taking a study break. Setting a timer for about 10-15 minutes for a quick cleaning session can make all the difference to incorporate this habit into your daily life.

Sometimes, schoolwork can feel so overwhelming that finding even 10 minutes feels impossible. However, breaking the task into smaller, manageable chunks allows it to fit into your schedule, helping you avoid the feeling of it becoming too daunting.

Consistency

The key to this habit is to stay consistent. Overtime, this task will become second nature and keeping your space clean and organized will be a regular part of your routine.

6. Use scent to keep it fresh

A clean room isn’t only about how the room looks but how it feels. A fresh, pleasant scent can instantly elevate the atmosphere of your space, making it feel more clean and inviting. Scent also plays a role in reducing stress, boosting productivity, and improving your mood.

Air fresheners, essential oils, and candles

You can enhance the fragrance and ambiance of your space with any of these items. Whether that be in the form of a spray, wall plug-in, or diffuser, they are simple and effective ways to create a clean-smelling environment. Having specific scents can also signify relaxation, energy, cleanliness, or whatever you desire your space to feel like.

Homemade scent sachets

If you are living in a dorm (or in some rental spaces), candles and diffusers are sometimes not permitted. However, incorporating scent into your room does not have to be complicated or expensive. You can create your own sachets using dried flowers, herbs, and essential oils.

By filling small fabric pouches with lavender, rose petals, rosemary, or other natural mediums and putting them in places like your drawers or closet, you can fill the room with the scent.

This is great for those following dorm rules or those looking to stay away from artificial air fresheners.

7. Tidy before bed

Cleaning at night is one of the simplest and most effective ways to consistently keep your room clean and organized (and my personal favourite time to clean). Ending your day neatly reduces your stress levels, especially if you are already feeling mentally exhausted.

Make it enjoyable

You can make it more enjoyable by incorporating small touches that feel rewarding. Whether that is lighting a candle while cleaning or listening to your favourite song, it makes the activity less of a chore and more like a reward. This will also help you stay motivated to maintain an organized space to help you focus and thrive.

Conclusion

Staying on top of keeping your spaces clean and organized as a university student may feel like a constant challenge, but with the right habits and strategies in place, it can be much more manageable. By embracing small, consistent actions – such as utilizing storage solutions, keeping your desk clutter-free, and incorporating a “clean as you go” mindset – you can create an environment that fosters both productivity and peace of mind.

Remember, a clean room doesn’t just mean less mess; it means a clearer mind and a more focused approach to your studies, personal life, and overall well-being. By following these 7 realistic tips, you’ll not only keep your space looking great but also cultivate habits that will help you thrive all semester long.