Time Management

Why set up a study time management plan?

In the course of your studies you will have many study tasks to perform and only limited time in which to perform them. It is therefore essential that you manage your time efficiently to complete all tasks on time with minimum personal stress. Planning your time management will help you allocate appropriate amounts of time to each task and avoid conflict of assignment commitments and a last minute rush (nobody consistently produces their best work at 3am the night before the assignment is due).

Expertise in time management is highly valued by employers, so as well as helping you succeed with your undergraduate study, practicing time management planning will give you a highly marketable skill.

How do I set up a time management plan?

Here are some steps to follow:

Identify the tasks that have to be done;
Rank these tasks, according to what needs to be done first, what is most important, what is most time-consuming, etc;
Be aware of the natural human tendency to give time to tasks we find easy or agreeable and not enough to those we find difficult or disagreeable;
Sequence the work, giving a realistic allocation of time to each activity. Discipline yourself to stick to this allocation;
Remember to allow time for social and personal commitments;
Become aware of time-wasting activities (talking on the phone, watching TV, etc.) and avoid them or keep them under control; and
Be realistic about how much you can achieve in each study session and remember to schedule short breaks every hour or so. If you work for too long without a break your concentration may begin to flag. However make sure that you keep breaks to about 10 minutes.

When is the best time to study?

Here are some suggestions:

After lectures. This allows you to review and reflect on what you have just learned.
Before tutorials. This allows you to do required reading and to prepare you to learn from and contribute to the session.
Before exams. Avoid last-minute 'cramming'. If you have been following a well-designed study time management plan you should need only a general revision to remind you of what you have learned over the semester.
Observe your own personal preferences. For instance, are you a 'night person' or a 'day person'? Plan your heaviest study for the time when you are most productive.

Weekly planning

At the beginning of each week refer to your semester timetable and use this as the basis of your weekly plan. Print the weekly plan template. In addition to the activities indicated on your semester timetable, you will need to make provision for additional study tasks which you did not anticipate at the beginning of semester. Also make a note of social and personal commitments. From this information, plan how you will organise your week and complete your weekly plan.