The beginning of a new term can be exciting, but there is always that saying: If you fail to prepare, prepare to fail. Knowing how to organise your study time can make all the difference.
There are only so many hours in the day and, before you know it, you can get behind on assignments and find yourself in a game of catchup that you’re never going to win.
However, if you take the time at the start of term to organise your workload and properly arrange your time, you will be able to stay on top of work while also minimising stress.
Prepare Your Term Calendar
Before you get overwhelmed with homework, assignments, or just general school or uni life, take some time to organise your calendar.
This will keep everything in check and minimise the likelihood of allowing chaos to overtake you.
Of course, how you organise your calendar will differ from person to person. However, you could choose to format it by writing down assignments with due dates, mock tests, extra-curricular activities, etc.
See also: How To Find Your Learning Style
Weekly Schedules
Similar to preparing a yearly calendar, you will benefit from a weekly schedule. This will give you some structure and allow you time to start getting yourself into a routine that benefits your academic performance in the long run.
Here are a few examples of things you can do as part of your weekly schedule:
- Create a list of topics to revise during the term and assign a few topics to each week.
- Review class notes from the week and condense them for easier digestion when you come back to revise them.
- Set aside time to take a break. Block off an hour or so each day to chill and take time away from your workload.
Carving out time specifically dedicated to revising, studying or preparing for an exam is wise. If you just sit for hours on end looking at your notes, you are highly unlikely to actually get anything meaningful done.
However, if you focus for 40-50 minutes on a topic and then leave for a short break, this is proven to be most effective.
Find A Place To Study
Even if you make the time to study at a specific time, lots of students spend the first 15 to 20 minutes actually looking for somewhere good to sit.
If you can find a cafe or a library that is a good place to study, make that your go-to place.
The last thing you want is to spend half of your dedicated study time looking for a seat.
If you know how to organise your study time, you can get straight down to the important stuff and not worry about getting there in the first place.