Time Management

 

The essence of successful study is making the best use of the time you have

available. This means:

a. studying in a place which allows maximum concentration and time

b. Planning your time and organising an efficient study program

d. Developing efficient study skills and reviewing your work frequently

d. Preparing adequately for exams and/or assessment

 

Let’s think about two of those issues.

Where to study ?

It is much easier to study in a place which has a minimum of distractions, which

is quiet and orderly and which encourages you to work. So try to find a place to study that:

- is well lit

- provides comfortable seating;

- has a chair and desk suited to your height and size;

- is quiet and pleasant - away from radio, T.V., telephones (your mobile turned off), distracting friends; has all the equipment you need so that you are not distracted by having to search for it once you have commenced study.

Although it is easier to study under the conditions described above, it is possible to study in many other places. You have an enclosed Senior Study area in the Resource Centre. Your benches in the senior areas of the school provide space for study as well as relaxation.

So do not use the lack of a quiet place as an excuse for not studying. Make the best use of the conditions you do have.

When to study ?

Know when you have time to study

Think about when you study best; for example, some students find they study best in the morning, before other family members are awake and when the house is quiet, while other  students prefer to study in the evenings. More and more students have casual employment with set blocks of hours. Sporting commitments are another consideration. Find your best time and plan other activities and commitments around it.

Know how much time you have for study

Think about how much time you should devote to each subject, and in what order and on what days you should study it.

Take into consideration:

-          your strengths and weaknesses, 

-          your school timetable and

-          the importance and requirements of each subject. Remember, studying a topic over several weeks is better than trying to learn it all in one night.

 

Get the most out of the study time you have

Draw up a timetable for the time you plan to spend studying. In this timetable, plan to:

(a)  look over notes on each subject studied that day at school as soon as possible after the lesson,

(b)  study your hardest subjects when you are feeling most alert and enthusiastic;

(c)  have short breaks after each 50-60 minutes of study,. in these breaks, do something that is refreshing and takes your mind off your study, e.g. 90 for a walk, do some light exercise;

(d)  plan to do any set homework before Study begins or the thought that it has not been done will distract you;

(e) consider whether it is possible to include study activities at other times of the day,

e.g. read a set chapter while travelling to or from school.

 

Have more than one copy of your study timetable – one for home and another in your folder/bag.

Study your daily timetable each morning and in the evening check how closely you have been able to keep to it. Change or alter your timetable if necessary.

Follow your study plan until you are familiar with it. Then you will find regular study habits will become part of your day-to-day program. Study timetable for examination preparation is just another version which considers the special importance of examinations for Year 11 and 12.