The big thing to remember here is that is not the amount of time that you spend doing something that counts; it is the quality of the work you do. I know this sounds like a bit of a contradiction from what I said before about timetabling hours to work and actually working them, but I have also said that if you are not being productive with your work – stop! There is no point sitting and paining yourself, all it will do is make you more resentful towards sitting down and doing your work next time.
So I have six steps towards good time management:
Decide when to study.
We have already thought about when you are going to study when we did the timetable in the first email. It is said that you should read and write notes during the day when you are most alert, but do your memorizing before you go to sleep. So a good plan might be to read through the notes that you made about a lecture that morning before you go to sleep, that way your brain can be working on your notes while you are asleep.
2. Decide where to study
Again I have given you hints on your study area before, but I will just add to that here:
Try to pick a place that you can study in all the time, if you are constantly moving study areas you will find new things to look at that will be distracting. If you work in the library, try to head for the same area each time, preferably in a corner somewhere, because people watching is a good game of mine when I’m in the library!
Make sure the room is a comfortable temperature and is well lit, you should work in low light levels. Make sure you are comfortable, but not so comfortable it is relaxing – and DON’T work in bed!! Beds are for sleeping…and other things…but NOT working!! Also be aware of the noise levels – do you like it silent? White noise? Music? Make it a place that is right for you.
3. Decide what to study
Always begin your study session with planning. For example when I sat down to write this email course, I have set myself an hour to plan the course, then half an hour to write each email, and an hour to go through the whole course to proof-read and check it all makes sense. As I am selling this course, I need to be sure that I am not spending too much time writing it, but still making sure it is quality. You need to be doing the same, giving yourself deadlines to finish a particular type of work. Say you had an essay to write, you might plan it out like:
30 mins – plan the outline, jot notes on what each section will cover
15 mins – write the introduction
60 mins – write the main part
15 mins – write the conclusion
Next day – 30 mins reading through and checking.
And voila, and essay that you thought would take 3 days to write – 3 hours of concerted effort – done! Now you can treat yourself to a trip to the movies with your friends!
So like what we have done above, divide the large essay into easily digestible chunks, if you want take a 10 minute break between each section! Write down your plan so that you are not tempted to cheat – treat it like an exam.
4. Minimize potential for distraction
This is where it can be a good thing working in the library – people go there to work and have to be quiet, you are also generally not allowed mobile phones on. But not every one likes working in the library, so make sure the people around you are aware that you are working and ask them if they would please not disturb you , or hang a sign on your door.
Turn off your phone, telly, radio whatever might distract you, although I know some people do like to have the television on quietly while they are working – down to personal preference I suppose, I find it very distracting!
Unless you are using it for research, I would highly recommend disconnecting the computer from the internet, it is very distracting hearing the “ping” telling you an email has just arrived! I find my self surfing aimlessly when I am bored of doing what I am supposed to be doing too.
If you start looking for a distraction, I would suggest taking a break, get some fresh air and make yourself a drink.
5. Stick to your schedule
Very important point this – if you have scheduled to do your essay plan at 2.45 til 3.15 – do your essay plan! If you procrastinate about it, you will only make it harder to do, and if it really something you don’t want to do, think of something you do want to do/have and tell your self you can do/have it afterwards. Reward yourself for being good! But don’t punish yourself if you don’t do it, the thought that you still have to do it later will be punishment enough!
6. Stop when you are no longer productive
This is the hardest thing for people to realise – when they are no longer being productive. Remember that you brain is like a sponge – it can only take up a certain amount of information in one sitting. It is not about how long you are working, but how hard you are working and how new the information is. Think about it:
Piece of information:
Reading from the text book – sponge saturated after 15 minutes
Listening to the lecture – already read about info, so sponge does not saturate as quickly – 30 minutes
Writing up lecture notes – been over info twice now, so sponge takes 50 minutes to saturate.
Learning to recognise when you are no longer productive does take a bit of practice. So learn to listen to your body and mind and realise when it is begging you for a break!
SUMMARY
Decide when to study
Decide where to study
Decide what to study – planning!
Minimize potential for distraction
Stick to your schedule
Stop when you are no longer productive
TASK: Thought I’d forgotten huh?! No, today I want you do sort out your study area, make it a nice place to be, or if you like to work in the library, sort out your bag so that you have everything you will need to hand.
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