Managing your study time

There are several things you can do to reduce procrastination as much as possible.   

• Arrange your working area 

Make sure that your desk is clean and tidy, that you have enough light to see clearly, and that you are comfortable. If it helps, have some healthy snacks and a drink ready. 

• Check your equipment 

Make sure you have all the tools you will need before you start: pens, other stationery, books, notes, electronic equipment – anything you anticipate you might need. 

• Turn your phone off 

Turn off your phone before you start studying – or just put it in silent or vibrate mode. Keep the screen turned away from you as it is too easy to become distracted by texts and flashing notifications.  

• Plan breaks before you start 

Breaks are important so plan when you will take these. Don’t study for very long periods but instead, use a timer on your computer to let you know when to stop. You should allow your brain to function well and not try to overload it while you are working. 

• Focus on the end-result 

Keeping the goal of your study task in mind will help you to focus on the end-result. Each step you complete will bring you satisfaction and will help to motivate you and move you along.  

Think about an assignment that you are currently struggling to make progress with in your studies at Abertay, and try the following procrastination quiz by Newcastle University to find ways to move forward. 

One effective time management tool is to write a promise plan to yourself. In the same way as a diary or a journal, it can have the effect of personalising your assignment to make it seem more meaningful in the way it fits into your life. It can also have a surprising effect in motivating you to move forward!   

Tip: What do you usually do instead of studying? Write a short promise to yourself about how you will limit these activities so you can get on with your work (e.g. I will limit the amount of time I spend on social media, and I will set an alarm to help me get up earlier in the morning). 

There are several academic time management quizzes you can complete to give you an overview of where you may need to focus more attention. The following two quizzes are recommended, and in each case if your score is low you may need to learn some techniques for using your study time more effectively. 

• The quiz by Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University: Cook Counselling Centre can help you to assess whether you are already using effective time management techniques in your studies at Abertay.  

• The quiz by Emerald Works: Mind Tools can help you to identify specific management skills you may need to develop to increase your chances of success at Abertay. 

Now you are ready to create a study plan or schedule. Planning your schedule before you start will help you to ensure you have enough time to complete a high-quality piece of work. When you design your schedule, you can use either a short-term planning approach or a long-term planning approach. Look at the following two planning examples from Trent University to help you decide which approach might suit you best in your studies at Abertay. 

• Short term planning 

Creating a 24-hour schedule over a period of one week is an excellent way to start your planning. It can show you exactly how you use your time and how much time you have available for each activity. Although it may seem over-detailed, it allows you to be flexible and to choose at what time of day you prefer to work. 

• Long term planning 

Although a weekly schedule is undoubtedly useful, it is also important to create a longer-term schedule to cover assignment due dates and busy work periods when may assignments may be due at once. A term planner is probably the best option as it allows you to see all important events at a glance.  

We often delay in starting an assignment because we are unsure how long it will take to complete. Breaking down the assignment into specific tasks can help us to consider how to complete the assignment in manageable stages. The breakdown examples below from Trent University can help you to consider how you would do this for your own Abertay assignment. 

Using the information in your 24/7 schedule you can effectively plan your week and your day by creating a To-Do list to help you keep up with all the things you need to do:  reading, note-taking, completing assignments, attending lectures, as well as keeping an eye on your social life.  

• University of Kent: Assignment Survival Kit   

This resource helps you plan weekly, step by step. However, it is designed mostly to help students who already have good time management skills and who have begun to plan and structure their assignments well in advance. 

• Online calendars such as Apple Calendar or Google Calendar can be easily edited (useful when your plans keep changing) and shared with others (great for organising group meetings). They can be synced to your phone and email to send you reminder can be accessed on your PC and mobile device.  
• My Study Life is also available as a mobile app and can be used to organise the balance between your studies and social life. You can customise your own academic calendar, input tasks for assignments, revision and exams, and set reminders to prevent you from forgetting important lectures and assignment deadlines. 
• ‘Timing planning your approach to the assignment’ SMART chart by De Montfort University (2010) is for students who already have relatively good time management skills but who may require a planning overview to help with organising and completing an assignment. 
• Trent University: Time Management Tools – This resource provides printable schedules, calendars and planners for you to personalise.