Time Management

General Guidelines

• Allow Adequate Time for Studying.

  Plan on spending approximately 2 hours of study time per week for every credit (a 3-credit class would require about 6 hours of studying per week; a total of 12 credits would require a minimum of 24 hours of studying each week).  However, this is a conservative estimate.  If you’re a slow reader or if you‘re taking a course that is not one of your strengths, more time may be needed.  It’s recommended that you overestimate the time you’ll need to complete assignments and study for exams as tasks often take longer than anticipated

• Plan Large Blocks of Time.

  Study sessions should be about 50-60 minutes long per subject.  Then take a 10-minute break to allow yourself to refocus, especially if you’ll be studying a different subject next.

• Be Aware of Your Biological Clock. 

  Know when your peak periods of attention are, and study your most difficult subjects during that time.  Reserve routine tasks for the time of day when you’re least alert.

• Evaluate Your Progress. 

  After about 20-30 minutes, stop and check what you’ve accomplished.  If little has been completed, move on to something else.

• Leave Some Time Unscheduled.

  Don’t schedule something for every hour of the day.  Always try to keep some time available for unexpected situations that may arise as well as for relaxation.

• Set Specific Study Goals. 

  When you begin studying, know exactly what you intend to accomplish.  For example, if you’ll be working on math problems determine ahead of time how many you problems you expect to do. Similarly, when reading a textbook chapter, decide before you begin how many pages you intendto read.  Be sure your goals are realistic and achievable.

• Identify Your Most Challenging Course(s) for the Semester. 

  At the beginning of the semester, identify the course(s) that will place the most demands on you. The course(s) might be in your area of weakness, require additional assignments outside of class (e.g. attending plays), or a subject in which you have little background knowledge.  Be sure you have adequate time in your schedule for the additional time and effort required.

• Limit Your Part-Time Job to 15-20 Hours a Week.

  If you’re a full time student (12 or more credits), consider school as your full time job.  In addition to the 12 hours spent in class each week, you could easily spend 24 hours or more each week studying outside of class.

Susan Ziegert, University of Wisconsin – Waukesha, Time Management: General Guidelines