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Resources - Time Management

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This page contains relevant information and resources for students concerned about effective time management.

Students often say “I need more time”. That is nonsense. Everyone has the same amount of time: 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. What they really need to do is make better use of the time they have (24 hours per day, 7 days per week!).

10 Practical Things To Do

1. Be clear about where you time goes. Download a blank study planner and the Study Timetable resources. Follow these and you will see where the time goes and how much time you have left over after your fixed commitments (classes, employment, sleep, travel, meals) to study for exams and work on assignments. Remember: depending on your course, you will need to spend between one and three hours studying/working on assignments for every hour of class time.

2. At the beginning of each week (many students do this Sunday night) write out a list of what you must do this week and exactly what you plan to do when studying. Put the list at your study desk where you can see it. Remember: Get tasks “out of your head” and onto paper! This means you can worry less, set goals for the week, get important things done, and feel good about how you are working.

3. Plan to do difficult (hard, boring, unfamiliar) tasks at times when you know your energy and concentration will be high.

4. Plan to do easy (= routine, fun, familiar) tasks at times when you know your energy and concentration will be lower.

5. When you have been working on a task for 30 - 60 minutes, take a short (5 - 10 minute) break. This keeps concentration up. Except in special circumstances, do not keep working on the same task over a big block of time (2 -4 hours). Switch tasks during the time block to keep energy and concentration up.

6. When you complete a task, reward yourself! Tell yourself “well done!”. Cross it off the list of things to do. Take a short break. Have a drink of fruit juice.

7. Remind yourself frequently of your long term, medium term, and short term goals.

8. Keep a flexible approach to your study timetabling. It is a guide, not a prison.

9. Keep small, routine tasks with you so you can work on them when you are travelling, waiting to see a doctor or dentist, etc.

10. Every few weeks review how you are studying. If a particular strategy is not working, change to a different one. Experiment!!!

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If you are concerned about time management, the resources below can help you learn more about effective time management.

Swinburne University Services and Resources

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