Balancing Student Life and Freelancing: How I Stay Organized with Notion, Google Keep & More

Juggling student life and freelancing isn’t easy. Between classes, assignments, deadlines, and client work, it can feel like your brain is constantly in overdrive. I’ve been there—and honestly, I’m still figuring things out—but using the right tools has made a huge difference in how I manage my time, energy, and priorities.

Here’s how I stay organized and sane with the help of Notion, Google Keep, and a few simple habits.

---

1. Notion: My Digital Headquarters

If my life had a control center, Notion would be it.

I use Notion to:

• Plan my weeks: Each Sunday, I make a “Weekly Dashboard” with my classes, freelance deadlines, and personal goals.

• Track assignments: I have a database for all my coursework—complete with due dates, priority levels, and links to resources.

• Manage freelance projects: I use Kanban boards to track each client’s tasks from “To Do” to “In Progress” to “Done.”

• Take smart notes: During classes or research, I take structured notes that I can revisit later. Notion's organization keeps everything searchable.

Pro tip: Use templates. There are tons of student and freelancer templates available, or you can create your own based on your workflow.

---

2. Google Keep: Fast Ideas, Sticky Notes, and Reminders

Google Keep is my go-to for quick capture.

Why I love it:

• It’s like a digital sticky note pad for ideas, to-dos, or grocery lists.

• I use labels and colors to separate categories like “Quick Tasks,” “Shopping,” “Class Notes,” and “Client Ideas.”

• It syncs seamlessly with my phone and laptop, so I can jot something down anytime, anywhere.

I use Keep for things that don’t need a full Notion page—just fast reminders and thoughts that come in the middle of a busy day.

---

3. Google Calendar: My Time Manager

Having all my schedules in my head? Not a chance.

I rely heavily on Google Calendar for:

• Blocking time for study, freelancing, and breaks.

• Getting automatic notifications before class or meetings.

• Color-coding: Classes in blue, freelance work in green, personal stuff in purple—it helps me visually balance my week.

Time-blocking changed my productivity. I treat appointments with myself (like studying or writing) the same way I treat meetings with clients—non-negotiable.

---

4. My Daily Routine: Structure with Flexibility

Tools are great, but routine is what brings it all together. Here’s a look at my typical weekday:

• Morning (7:30–9:00 AM): Quick review of my day in Notion + class prep

• Midday (9:00–3:00 PM): Classes and academic work

• Afternoon (3:00–5:00 PM): Freelance tasks or client calls

• Evening (5:00–7:00 PM): Gym, dinner, or recharge time

• Night (7:00–10:00 PM): Wrap up work, light studying, plan tomorrow

It’s not perfect every day, but having a structure helps me adapt when things get hectic.

---

5. Bonus Tips for Staying on Track

• Batch similar tasks: Group things like emails, editing, or study reviews together.

• Turn off distractions: Use Do Not Disturb and block notifications during deep work.

• Celebrate small wins: Cross off tasks, check your progress, and give yourself credit.

---

Final Thoughts

Balancing student life with freelancing isn’t about doing everything perfectly—it’s about finding a system that works for you. For me, Notion keeps the big picture clear, Google Keep handles the small stuff, and Google Calendar keeps my time in check.

It took trial and error, but now I’m more focused, less stressed, and way more productive.