How to Create an Effective Study Schedule for Students
Creating an effective study plan is essential especially during exam season as it helps you stay organized and achieve your goals timely. Usually, during exam season, you are all over the place and confused about how to manage and study for all courses in a limited time. With a study plan, you divide your courses and assign them specific days based on when you have to cover them.
This reduces your stress and also keeps you on track. There are numerous ways to create a schedule. Some of them are mentioned below.
1. Identifying your Learning Style
You can not take a study schedule from the internet and follow it as every individual has a different learning style. You have to identify what works for you, whether you can focus for longer periods or need a break every 30 minutes. Your study plan will be based on your learning style.
2. Set Realistic and Clear Goals
When making a study plan, you should be aware of what you are trying to achieve with it. You should set realistic goals that you can achieve. Let’s say, you set a goal of finishing a whole course in 2 days. That would not work as it is not possible to cover a whole course in such a short time. It would rather exhaust you even more. You also need to set clear goals rather than vague goals. For instance, instead of writing “Maths for Monday and English for Tuesday ..”, you should write “Chapter no 1 of Maths on Monday, Chapter no 3 of English on Tuesday.” You are more likely to follow your schedule when your goals are specific.
3. Create a Weekly Plan
Create a weekly plan first and see if it is working for you. Adjust your schedule if you think it is too hectic to follow. You are more likely to follow a weekly schedule rather than a monthly schedule as the latter seems like a big commitment and you might lose your motivation in the middle of the month.
4. Planned Breaks
Your study plan should not include only studying. If you want to maximize the effectiveness of your study, you need planned breaks in the middle. If you continue studying without any breaks, it will overwhelm your mind preventing you from retaining what you have learned. Even a 10-minute break would help freshen up your mind. Take a walk and talk to someone and then get back to work.
5. Study Multiple Subjects in a Day
Do not spend your entire day on a single subject, it can tire your mind quickly. Keep switching up subjects every 2 hours with a break in between. Studying multiple courses in a day will also maintain a balance between all your subjects and you won’t fall behind.
6. Remove Distractions
We tend to waste a lot of time while studying even if we pick up our phones for 5 minutes. So whenever you sit to study, keep your devices away and try to concentrate on what you are learning. Distractions slow us down and we fall behind our schedule.
7. Study Partner
When you have a study partner, you are more likely to stick to your study plan as you both keep each other motivated. A study partner also holds you accountable if you are not following the schedule and completing your task.
8. Stick to your Schedule
Try to stick to your schedule to stay consistent. It is the toughest part but you can do it if you follow some strategies. When making a study plan, schedule time for other activities as well. When you have a fun activity to look forward to, you are more likely to stick to your schedule and finish your tasks for the day. Maintaining accountability is also one way to stick to your study plan. For instance, if you do not follow your schedule, do not allow yourself to do the other fun activities that you planned. Be a little firm with yourself to stay disciplined.
If you follow these strategies, you will make an effective study plan for yourself that will enhance your productivity and help you achieve your goals.