Time Blocking and Study Tips for College Students
-Originally posted on October 26, 2018-
Hey ya’ll I’m back! And I’m about to be super hypocritical and talk about time management… after I haven’t written a blog post in over a month. In my defence, one of the things you have to do is prioritize, and I had to prioritize other things for the time being.
BUT ANYWAYS, let’s just get into my tips!
Time Blocking
Time blocking is a great way to study. If you block out time in your day, whether it’s using an app, planner, or bullet journal, you will be able to manage your day and get things done! What I like to do is write out a timeline for the day (generally by hour, but do as you will) and then assign things to the day. Don’t be afraid to block out things other than the work that you need to get done. Block out time to go to the gym, or to take a nap. Also, write in when you’re going to eat and take breaks so that you have something to look forward to!
When you write down a task list of things that need to get done, assign a time limit that you think you will need to achieve the goal, or how long you are willing to devote to that particular thing if it’s a multi-day task.
Here’s an example:
Film: 1 hour
Plan essay: 30 minutes
Complete writing assignment: 1.30 hours
Eat breakfast: 20 minutes
Then, simply assign the tasks to your timeline, and then you will know exactly what you need to be doing at all times of the day!
2. The Pomodoro Technique
Got a lot of work to do? Find yourself taking too many breaks and not doing enough work? The Pomodoro Technique is a great way to help yourself schedule your breaks and work in an efficient manner.
The basis of the Pomodoro Technique is the 25 minute focus time. You choose one task (one that is either only 25 minutes, or one that can be broken up into parts) and set a timer, putting everything else aside for the 25 minutes (even your phone, but we’ll get to that). Set the timer for 25 minutes and then take a 5-minute break. Repeat this 3 more times and then take a 15-minute break. You will see that when you break your focus time into 25-minute chunks, it’s easier to stay focused. You are also rewarding yourself with a break. You are allowing yourself the time to focus while knowing that there will be a break where you can check your phone, emails, go to the bathroom, get a snack, etc.
Of course, if you find that 25 minutes is too short, or you can’t focus for that long, don’t be afraid to work up to it. The Pomodoro technique is just a suggestion. It’s the focus and then break system that is important!
3. Put that phone away dude!
Phones can be a great tool, I will never dispute that. I love having my phone around me for music, texting friends, looking things up etc. However, it’s really not good for your brain to be looking at your phone AND studying. One way to combat this is to leave your phone in another room. But if you want it close to you, there are some great apps that lock you out of your phone until you want to go back in.
One is Forest, which locks your phone for you when you need to be away from it. Depending on how long you want to be off of it, it builds a tree, bush, or plant and if you go onto your phone during this time, you kill the tree. This is a pretty good motivator for me. It also contributes to an organization that plants trees.
If it’s your computer that distracts you, try using StayFocusd. This is a google chrome extension that blocks websites on your computer from being accessed. You can create a list of allowed sites so that you won’t be blocked from anything conducive to your studying. You can also select how long you want these to be blocked so you won’t be without Youtube forever.
4. Get up and move around on your breaks!
When it’s time for a break, don’t just sit at your computer. Go for a walk, get up and walk up a floor in your house and open the door for some fresh air. By doing this, your mind will be more active. If you simply sit at your computer for 8 hours a day, it will be harder for you to focus when you come back from your break.
5. Priority List
Priority lists can be difficult to make, but they are important! As a procrastinator, I’m much more likely to do the easy things first, or the things I actually want to do, instead of what I need to get done first. By prioritizing things, you can tell yourself what you should be working on. Here’s an example:
What to get done:
-Film
-Clean room
-Write essay
-Copy notes
Priority list:
-Write essay
-Film
-Clean room
-Copy notes
What your priorities are will be completely up to you. If you have a deadline that is coming tomorrow, get those done first, even if they are easier tasks. If it’s something that doesn’t need to be handed in soon, move it to the bottom of the list. Don’t forget about these tasks, but work through the list in the necessary order. Then, if you ever feel like you aren’t sure where to start, go to the priority list and work through the tasks in that order.
I hope these tasks helped you out! Let me know below which one is your favourite! Got any more tips? DM me on Instagram or Tweet me!
