College students face daily challenges of juggling classes, work and social lives. Luckily, there are products available to assist them in achieving a balanced life.

Thousands of busy individuals around the world use planners — monthly, weekly or daily — to organize their lives.

“I always tell my students that this is one of the best well-kept secrets: the planner,” said Professor of Nursing Ernestine Davis.

Davis said she encourages her students to use a planner everyday and helps students set up planners to make sure they keep organized.

Students need to prioritize their lives in order to be successful, she said.

“Sometimes students become burdened with social activity and personalization of their life,” Davis said. “They lose focus of why they’re here. Prioritizing is the name of the game. If you don’t prioritize, you’re doomed.”

Students need to set aside time for school, work and personal time, she said. It is important for students to devote time each day to relax.

Although some students do not use planners because of the cost, Davis said she thinks a physical planner is more effective than an electronic planner.

“I’m a broke college student,” said junior Marianne Gaston. “I eat peanut butter everyday. I don’t have the money to go out and buy an expensive planner.”

While there may be a niche market for fancy planners, UNA provides a free spiral-bound planner for students to use.

The “Guide to the Pride” student handbook and planner spans August to June. It includes a planner and information about university events and organizations.

Sophomore Veronica Lewis is a member of the Presidential Mentors Academy. All of the PMA students are required to use a planner.

“I didn’t use a planner in high school because to me it seemed like I was breezing through everything,” Lewis said. “I didn’t need to study in high school. But when I got to college things got harder.”

Some students depend heavily on a planner to keep their tasks in order.

“I used a planner a little bit in high school,” said senior Brittney McKelvey. “But when I got to college, I really started using one.”

McKelvey currently uses a $50 Erin Condren planner.

“Basically, if I don’t write something down in my planner, it won’t get done,” she said.

The “Guide to the Pride” is available in the Registrar’s Office in 119 Bibb Graves.

Editor’s note: Veronica Lewis is a student writer for the Flor-Ala.