Why Every College Freshman Needs a Physical Planner

As a senior who’s seen it all, I can tell you a physical planner is one of the most overlooked college essentials and dorm room essentials that freshmen should pack.

Digital calendars are great, but a physical planner becomes your command center. When your phone dies during a packed day of classes (trust me, it will), you’ll thank yourself for having your schedule on paper. Plus, writing assignments down helps commit them to memory better than typing them.

Your planner becomes essential for:

• Managing overlapping assignment deadlines across multiple classes
• Coordinating group project meetings around everyone’s schedules
• Planning laundry runs when the machines are actually free
• Tracking club meetings and campus events
• Scheduling study blocks during your peak productivity hours

Pro tip: Get one with monthly and weekly views. Keep it on your desk next to your laptop – it’s as crucial as your student ID or textbooks.