One of the most effective ways to stay organized throughout the academic year is by utilizing a study schedule. However, making an optimal schedule that is easy to follow may seem intimidating. You can use the following suggestions as guidelines to create your own personalized daily schedule.
Written by Kimia Asgari
Things to do before you make a study schedule:
Analyze your current study habits and learning styles
Pay attention to how you utilize your studying time throughout the day. Are you more focused and productive at certain times of the day? Do you prefer to study immediately after a lecture or do you need a break? Are you a visual learner or an auditory one?
Create a list of all subjects you need to study and prioritize your list
Writing down all your responsibilities, such as tests and assignments, for each subject helps you visualize how much you need to do.
Analyze your current schedule
Write down all of your standing commitments such as lectures, work, extracurriculars, etc to determine your available times for studying. If you don’t have enough studying time, try to rearrange your schedule or consider what can be cut out to make more time.
After completing the aforementioned steps you should:
Divide your available time into study blocks
Try to study around the same time each day to create a routine, which can positively impact your study habits. As concentration on a specific subject begins to rapidly decline after about 2 hours, study blocks should ideally range from 30 minutes to 2 hours. Switching up the subject of study can help maintain your study efficiency.
Develop your study schedule
Assign each study block to a subject to stay on track and organize your time.
Schedule breaks
To maintain your productivity, schedule 5 to 10 minute breaks within your study blocks. Set an alarm at the beginning of your break and use the time appropriately. Try not to engage in activities that may prolong your breaks.
After you create and begin to use your schedule, you should routinely evaluate it to optimize your schedule and ensure you are using your time most effectively. Once you have developed your study plan, stick to it! A great way to ensure you follow your schedule is to create accountability by having a study partner and scheduling progress deadlines with your partner. Remember to not beat yourself up if you fall behind on your schedule or miss a study session. Instead, try to free up some other time in your schedule to make up for the lost study time.
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