A growing trend among college students and other young people, often referred to as “Millennials,” is personal organization. Surprisingly, the use of home electronic devices such as tablets and cell phones, has inspired a new generation to get organized. Looking for ways to gain a competitive edge, many Millennials choose to organize themselves without the help of their electronic devices, citing online security concerns and overall costs.
Not only are Millennials poised to spend close to $1 billion on school supplies and electronics this year, they are also ready to excel at school and work. They are increasingly using laser labels to organize numbered dividers and reduce clutter. Printable sticker labels also help them in school when it is time to learn a foreign language: they can print labels for everyday objects and study foreign vocabulary words just by looking around their dorm rooms.
Many tablets and cell phones do come with budget software, but many Millennials grew up watching their parents reckon with bills and paperwork by hand and are organizing their lives the old-fashioned way: on paper. With a little practice, and sometimes using computer programs as a way to back up files, many college students report success with record keeping and filing on paper.
Most people — about four out of five — report that being disorganized can make them less efficient. With the price of attending college increasing on a yearly basis, just shopping for school supplies can cost over $600 per semester. Some college courses may also require advanced calculators or other course materials that can raise total costs.
A D ring binder coupled with laser labels and a few folders can mean the difference between turning in important homework on time and having to repeat a semester’s worth of work at great personal expense. Many Millennials are relying on pen-and-ink methods of organization, forsaking their electronics for a more reliable means of organization.
