Education is a valuable resource that can take you far in life. If you choose the route of formal education with a college degree, you’ll have the opportunity to get the experience of dorm life, school clubs and late nights filled with studying. A formal education is also a really major financial investment. It’s very important that you avoid squandering this educational opportunity, because it costs tens of thousands of dollars.

There are a few things you can do to make sure you experience success during each school year. One of the main things you can focus on involves cultivating a dorm environment that contributes to a successful school year. You can make this happen through following a few key points.

1. Organization

One of the best things you can do is make sure your room is organized. Create binders for each of your classes and keep all your materials labeled. Each item needs to have an assigned home. Keep all of your pens, highlighters and pencils in a specific container or pouch. Collect notebooks, journals and loose paper and organize it in a specific bin along with other school supplies.

Make sure that your clothes are organized by season. If it’s fall, organize the spring items and store them away for the next few months. Loose papers can be the downfall of many students. Use folders and store the papers away in the properly labeled folders such as financial aid, history class notes and more.

2. Cleanliness

So many people have lived by the mantra that “cleanliness is next to godliness”. Even though this isn’t in the Bible, there are so many reasons why cleanliness is an important habit to cultivate. For starters, cleanliness is important for sanitation purposes. If you share a dorm room with other people, it’s best to be considerate of their space and maintain a clean environment.

It’s also good to keep a clean environment because it’ll help you focus on your work in a better way. If your environment is dirty and cluttered, this will directly affect the way you study and how well you operate. Always keep a broom, mop and all-purpose cleaning solutions available to keep your area tidy. Routinely take out the trash and avoid letting things pile up over time.

3. Comfort

You’ll want to make sure you’re comfortable in your dorm space. Knowing this, you should gather a few pieces that will make your dorm room more like a home. Pillows, comforters and clean linens are perfect for making sure you get quality rest. Get a chair that’s comfortable for you to sit in for long periods of time while you’re studying.

4. Designated Study Area

Keep a specific area of your room that’s only for studying. You don’t want to get accustomed to studying in your bed. Your bed is a comfortable place and if you’re too comfortable, you’ll fall asleep. Make sure that your study area includes a desk and good lighting. Keep a sweater at your desk for the nights when you get a little chilly. It’s also nice to keep a fan or a space heater near your desk if you need some reinforcements.

5. Space-Saving Furniture

Dorm room furniture can feel bulky and heavy at times. If you decide to add your own pieces, make sure that they are efficient in saving space or creating more space. It’s okay to use a storage space when you have a lot of items that can’t fit in your room are you prefer living simply. It’s also great to try items like bed risers because they create storage space underneath your bed. They also allow you to create a more customized bedding arrangement.

When it comes to school, you’ve got to make sure you’re in an environment that’s conducive to your success. Since you’ll spend a lot of time in your room for studying and getting work done, make sure it looks and feels as awesome as possible. When this happens, you’ll be more likely to ace those tests and pass those classes with flying colors.

Ani Oaks is a freelance writer and web enthusiast. You can read some of her published work on her Google+ page. 

This article was shared with us by CollegeWeekLive.