I’ve always been an unorganized person—getting dates wrong, arriving late to school, procrastinating on assignments until a few days before they’re due. Being a night owl doesn’t help; I stay up way too late, which messes with my sleep schedule, and getting up in the morning is a struggle. I set at least five or six alarms, one every 10 minutes, just to make sure I eventually wake up, though even then, it sometimes feels hopeless.

Recently, though, things have been getting better in terms of productivity, and I’m going to tell you how I managed it. With the new school year starting almost two months ago, I decided I needed a new mentality. I committed to improving my productivity, and thanks to a few strategies, I’ve spent the first few months of school feeling a little less stressed than usual.

One of the first things I did was start scheduling things in a calendar. It doesn’t matter if it’s on your phone or a physical one on the fridge—putting events in a calendar is helpful, and I found it relaxing, which is a bonus. Another key change is sleeping earlier. I still struggle with this, but on nights when I manage to sleep around 8 to 10 p.m., I feel much more energized than when I crash at 12 to 4 a.m. and still have to wake up for an 8 a.m. class (which should be a crime!).

Staying ahead of assignments also helps, though it’s something I still work on. But I keep trying, just like I’m working ahead on this article. Another tip is to reduce distractions in your workspace, whether you’re at home, school, or the office. Getting rid of visual distractions, like bright colors, or finding ways to minimize noise—like investing in headphones—can make a big difference. Of course, not everyone can part with certain objects or afford noise-canceling gear, but to each their own.

The baseline is that streamlining our work environment makes working and staying productive easier and simpler. Whether it’s improving sleep, managing time with a calendar, or reducing distractions, there’s something we can all do to keep ourselves productive.