Effective time management is a perennial problem for all of us, and there are plenty of tips available at various universities: Dartmouth Academic Skills Center is a representative and includes a video, quiz, and several forms you can download to personalize your schedule; University of Victoria (CA) includes some research findings you might not find anywhere else; and one of my favorites is Study and Learning Centre, RMIT University (AU) – Time Management with tips on handling interruptions (although they did inadvertently drop the fourth key in ‘SMART’ – realistic – as you’ll see).
Studies have shown that those 10 minutes blocks of time are only marginally less efficient than the optimal 60-90 minute blocks. So don’t feel guilty about stealing time here and there, whenever you can. The trick is to find out whether this time is best spent reading, reviewing your notes, or writing; that varies with the individual. Unless you have very large blocks of time you don’t have to worry about taking a 10-15 minute break every hour or two to keep you fresh, alert, and focused. When you do have a long session, it helps enormously to take a 20 second break every 20 minutes to focus your eyes on something 20 feet away to reduce fatigue. [See Good Working Positions from OSHA for the ergonomics involved here.]
What I find most useful is to read through the entire course syllabus, study guide, rubrics, and all course related material at the beginning of the term. First and foremost, I want to get an overview of what to expect so I can adapt my schedule to it as necessary. I can’t rely on remembering every last detail I read on screen, so I print all of these essential documents and highlight the key dates and details needed for this course. I also use these print outs as my ‘to do’ list throughout the course, checking off items as I finish them, setting the next target date, and keeping track of my progress with check marks and completion dates added in the margins.
Treat your study time as you would a second job. When you’re supposed to be studying, study; don’t waste it catching up on e-mail or use it as an excuse to cruise the Internet. Keep all your work together in one place, and organized so you can find what you need instantly. You have to be little ruthless about guarding your time against interruptions that are not emergencies or even high priorities, so turn off your cell-phone and have family help reduce interference for you while you’re studying.
