Using Time Management to Improve Study Skills
Most students have high expectations at the beginning of each semester. They envision being successful in their studies and school work but they fail to put together a realistic plan or establish a routine that will enable them to acheive academic success. There are only so many hours in a day, days in a week, and weeks in a term. And if you don't pay attention the end of the semester will arrive before you know it -- and catch you by surprise. To acheive academic success you must carefully manage your study time on a daily, weekly and semester basis. The following is a time management strategy for doing this.
Step 1 - Prepare a Term Calendar
At the start of each new term, before you get heavily involved in your studies or other activities, prepare a calendar that covers the entire term. Your term calendar can look like a regular monthly calendar or it can employ a different format. Whatever format you choose your term calendar should record the following:
- Assignments with their due dates
- Tests with their dates
- All school activities
- All out-of-school and extra-curricular activies
Step 2 - Prepare a Weekly Schedule
Unlike your term calendar which is planned out in it entirety at the beginning of each term your weekly schedule is prepared at beginning of each new week. Each Sunday sit down and prepare your weekly schedule. Although you'll prepare your weekly schedule each Sunday you should update your schedule as the week progresses. To prepare your weekly schedule do the following:
- Record on your calendar each class you have for each day of the week
- Take a look at your term calendar and write down on your weekly calendar things that need to be done or are occuring that week (i.e. assignments, tests, events, etc.)
- Go back and review all your class notes and your scheduled from the prior week to see if there is anything you need to add that is carrying over from the prior week.
- Add to your weekly calendar any out-of-school and extra-curricular activities you'll be participating in
- Note down the day and time for each assignment, study session, work group or project you'll be completing during the week. These may be occuring in the evening after school as well as during school.
Step 3 - Prepare a Daily Schedule
In order to effectively manage your time you'd think that a Term Calendar and Weekly Schedule would be sufficient, but they aren't. You also need to prepare a daily schedule. Every evening prepare a daily schedule for the next school day. Place a check mark next to each item to complete as it is accomplished. To prepare your daily schedule do the following:
- Note down everything from your weekly schedule that you need to do for the comming day
- Note down everything from your previous daily schedule that wasn't completed and needs to be completed the next day
- Check your daily schedule for the current day to see if there are any other school activities that you need to include for the next day
- Include any other activities from your weekly schedule that need to in your next day's schedule
You'll notice that one of the keys to effectively managing your study time is to start with the big picture and then work down to the detail. Your Term Calendar provide direction and instruction for accomplishing the big picture. Your Weekly and Daily Schedules provide the detail required to accomplishing everything in your Term Calendar whereby enabling you to accomplish your term goals one day and week at a time.
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