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Study Skills and Time Management: Home

Resources to help manage assignments and studying and to balance school, work, and home tasks.

About this page

This page provides tips and resources for effective studying as well as for balancing academic tasks with work and home life. 

General Time Management Tips

Break a task into manageable bits: 

  1. Write down the steps it takes to complete a task
  2. Write down approximate times it will take to complete each task
  3. Assign each task a deadline based on how much time you'll need to complete it 
  4. Check off each task as you complete it.
  5. Revise the timeline as things take more or less time. 

Pomodoro Technique:

  1. Set a timer for a period of time during which you will focus only on the task you're trying to accomplish. The standard is 25 mins, but feel free to start at 15 minutes if 25 feels like too much. 
  2. During that "focus" time, don't let yourself check non-relevant emails/texts/social media, don't chat with friends, only work on your task. 
  3. Once the "focus" time is done, take a 5 minute break! Avoid social media, but do a dance, get a snack, draw a doodle, play catch with your dog. Do something fun/relaxing.
  4. Then start the cycle again: focus for a determined amount of time, then take a break.

Reward yourself: 

  1.  Did you finish an assignment or part of an assignment? Give yourself a treat! Even something as simple as listening to a song you like or playing with your pet for 5 mins. Give yourself something positive to look forward to once you finish

Keep a planner: 

  1. The planner can be digital or paper. 
  2. Note due dates for assignments
  3. Note big events that might get in the way of assignments (work, birthdays, social engagements, childcare, etc)
  4. Check-in with the planner when you have a spare moment (on the bus, waiting in line, during commercials, etc)
  5. Set up reminders if using a digital planner (you can set reminders on Google Calendar, iCalendar, and other digital calendars days or hours before an event or due date!)

Be flexible:

  1. Sometimes things take longer than you think or life interrupts. That's ok! You can adjust your plan, and jump back in. 
  2. Give yourself more time than you think you'll need, so you have a cushion if you need it. 
  3. When planning things out, think ahead: will your child need you during your focusing time? Do you have chores you need to do? 

 

 

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