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Time Management and Study Skills
How to better manage your time and study for success.
Orientation for Distance Education Graduate Students
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As a new graduate student you will need to adjust to the increased amount of time required to study for each class. Every program is different of course, so if possible talk to current students, your academic advisor, or the professor for the class about the amount of time required to study for each class.
On this page we show you how to:
Estimate the amount of time available for studying
College students often benefit from carefully structuring what time they have available therefore it is highly recommended that you estimate the amount of time available for studying.
- Download your Time Estimator Worksheet (pdf). Use this worksheet to help you determine the number of hours that you can use for studying in a “typical” week. Follow these steps in filling out your worksheet:
- First, eliminate time periods that cannot be used for studying by playcing an “X” in those boxes.
- Next, mark inconvenient study times with a diagonal slash (/) in each time period when you are likely to be too tired to study or likely to be interrupted frequently. Also mark those time periods that are too short to be used as study time. These times represent places where your schedule can “flex” for you to accommodate emergencies, examinations, and spontaneity. You should not include these flex times in your estimate of the amount of available study time.
- Finally, add the total number of hours on the worksheet that remain unmarked for each day and enter the totals at the bottom of the page. Then add the daily totals to get your weekly total and enter this in the 'Total' box at the bottom of the page. This figure is your best estimate of the time available for studying in a typical week.
Find appropriate locations to study
- Just as you should schedule appropriate times for study, you also should structure one or more locations for studying. A study environment that is tailored to your individual needs and preferences will maximize your learning efficiency. You should consider the following guidelines to create one or more study areas that will help you focus your concentration during scheduled study sessions.
- What is your ideal study area and how does it look? A good study area is highly individualized. Before you can create an environment that suits your learning style, you must become aware of the study conditions under which you are most productive.
- Where is your special study area? Consider creating an area devoted exclusively to study. Avoid using your study space for other activities such as paying bills, reading novels, or playing with your children. By devoting an area exclusively for studying, you condition yourself to increase your alertness and concentration when you use that space.
- What is your ideal noise level? Select a study area with the amount and kind of noise that suits your preferences. Some students work best in a quiet room free of distractions. Others prefer soft music, background voices, or even loud music. Determine which noise conditions are least distracting for you and create your study environment accordingly.
- Do you have enough light? Structure your study area so that it is well-lit.
- Do you have a straight-backed chair and a flat surface that can be used as a desk? Avoid easy chairs, recliners, sofas, and beds that are conducive to sleep. Also, provide space for easy access to books, paper, pencils, pens, and other learning materials.
- Where is your ideal study location? Minimize travel time to and from your study area. Consider your daily schedule of activities, and identify convenient locations conducive to studying. Possible locations might include: a library, your home, an office at work, or a restaurant.
Now that you have estimated your available study time and thought about an ideal study area it is time to move on to the next page to learn about More Student Resources & Services.
