Time management

Are you enrolled in a full-time program of 60 ECTS study points? If so, expect to spend an average of 45 hours per week studying, writing essays, attending classes, and other academic activities. The program includes lectures, practical sessions, and independent learning. Even when you don't have scheduled classes, you will need to study on your own. Therefore, it is essential to manage your time effectively.

These tips and tricks will give you a head start!

Add structure to your day

A fixed daily schedule gives your days a basic structure to hold on to. This allows you to plan your study sessions, tasks, and appointments effectively while maintaining flexibility for unexpected changes.

Some ideas on structuring your days:

• Wake up and go to bed at about the same time each day. This ensures a regular biorhythm.
• Install routines and habits. Habits help automate recurring tasks. They save energy and protect your focus.
  • Learn how to build good study habits (video, 9’)
  • Look at this example of how a study routine might look like (image)

• Give certain activities that recur daily or weekly a permanent spot in your day or week.
  e.g. student job on Saturday
  e.g. Skype with family every Sunday evening
• Review your course schedule daily for any changes.
• Treat your education like a full-time job, dedicating 40 to 45 hours per week. Even if you don't have many classes, substantial autonomous learning is required to master the subject matter.
• Clearly separate your study time from your leisure time. Avoid texting or using social media while studying; concentrate fully on your course material and take breaks afterwards.
  
  • Discover why multitasking is tempting but inefficient (video, 4’)
  • More about why multitasking isn’t working (video, 5’)
  • Do you feel like multitasking? Read this! (Infographic)

Creating a schedule encourages you to think about how you want to spend your time and helps you achieve your goals more effectively.

There are various methods to plan and organise your studies.

The to-do list

You write down some tasks you want to complete in a to-do list.
You can make a to-do list per day or week.
If you choose the weekly option, set your daily goals each morning.

• This is how you write an effective to-do list (video, 2')
• Find more detailed instructions about writing to-do lists (website)
• Six quick tips for making a to-do list (infographic)

Write down your to-do list on paper or in an online application.

• Some simple to-do list templates to print
• More advanced to-do list template to print
• Do you prefer a digital list? Try one of these apps:
  • Google Keep
  • Google tasks
  • Trello
  • Remember the milk
  • Todoist

Difficulties with prioritising your tasks?

Discover the Eisenhower matrix to help you prioritise your to-do's (website + video, 7')

A to-do list can offer sufficient structure to initiate work and effectively manage your time.
Others might need more detailed planning, such as a weekly schedule.

The weekly schedule

A weekly schedule provides a view of your entire week. It is a way to structure your tasks and organise your days effectively.

• When do you want to start studying? What task will you be working on?
• When is it time for leisure activities? Which evening will you have time to watch your favourite series?
  → it's all in your schedule!

Ready to make your weekly study plan?

• Build your weekly schedule in 6 steps (document)
• Make a good study plan with this video (video, 4')

Tips for building weekly schedules:

• Ensure your daily and weekly goals are feasible and manageable
• Set efficient goals using the SMART principle (infographic)
• Share your plans with your housemates to avoid distractions while studying and gain their support and motivation during challenging times
• Incorporate 'buffer time' into your schedule for unforeseen circumstances. During 'buffer time', you don't plan anything: no study, no fun stuff.
  If your planning progresses smoothly, the buffer time is extra free time.
  If your planning falls behind, you can use your buffer time to catch up.

Helpful apps for making weekly schedules:

• Google Calendar (check the manual)
• Trello (check the manual - video, 16')

Handy downloads:

• Blanco weekly planner (document)
• Blanco monthly planner (document)

Just like your smartphone, your brain also needs a 'charging moment' now and then. Taking breaks energises your brain, allowing you to study more efficiently.
A 'good' break gives you energy so you can keep going!

- The effect of taking breaks at a glance (infographic)
- the effect of taking breaks, illustrated by an example (website)

If you neglect to take breaks, your brain lacks the necessary rest, hindering clear thinking and efficient studying.
- Explore ‘the window of tolerance’ to experience the importance of regular rest and breaks (video, 4’)
- Read more about the window of tolerance (website)

Things NOT to do during a break:

• Stay seated behind your desk or computer
• Avoid distractions like TV series, movies, or social media until you reach your daily goals
• Keep reviewing what you have learned
• Thinking about what you're about to do

But what could you do then?

Things you can DO during a break:

• Move
  Engage in physical activities like walking, biking, workouts, yoga, or skipping rope to refresh your mind and body.
• Do relaxing activities such as showering, listening to music, or chatting with friends
• Socialize
  e.g. have a talk, lunch, or walk together.
• Get some fresh air by leaving your room and ventilating your space

Get some inspiration

• Concrete ideas for breaks from 5 to 30 minutes (infographic)
• Inspiration for 50 big and small study breaks (infographic)
• Instructions for a 4-minute active break (video, 4')
• These apps can help you relax (document)
• It's time to try mindfulness! (website)

Do you often delay essential tasks and study work?
Do you visit 'procrastination island' (image) regularly?

Autonomous learning offers a lot of freedom, which can tempt you to postpone your study tasks repeatedly.

• Learn more about the mechanisms of procrastination (video, 3')

How can you beat procrastination?

There are various ways to tackle procrastination:

• Read this step-by-step guide to stop procrastinating (website)
• Check these five simple ways to stop procrastinating (infographic)
• Make an appointment with your study coach

TIP
The Pomodoro technique helps you start and maintain a steady study routine with a fixed schedule:

• Blocks of 25 minutes of non-stop study time
• Followed by a short break of +/- 5 minutes.
  
  
• Discover what the 'Pomodoro technique' is about (video, 2')
• Read everything about the Pomodoro technique (website)
• Check this visual summary of the Pomodoro technique (infographic)

• Time to try some things

This website offers many tips on how to manage your time. Now:

• Write down the ideas and tips you want to try
• Choose one idea or tip to start with
• Pick a date and a time and try out the new idea

Check out our topic, ‘self-regulation’, for more tips to make your resolutions successful.

• Make an appointment

Would you like some personal advice on your time management skills?
Would you like to discuss how to manage your time personally with a study coach?

→ Don’t hesitate to make a free appointment with one of the study coaches of your programme, online or on campus! The study coaches are happy to help you.