Research has shown, early preparation is the key to doing well in your courses. Having a keen grasp of how you spend your time each day, will help you on the road to better preparation.

• Think about how you normally study. Where do you study? What time of the day?
• How long can you concentrate without a break? If you need a break every 15 or 30 minutes, take a short break. Walk around your room, or stretch to help keep you motivated.
• Do you take the train or bus to school or to work? While you are waiting take a book with you, and use those few minutes to read another chapter.
• Do you review the lecture material immediately after class? This gives you the greatest chance of remembering the important details, and will make sure you really do understand it.

Procrastination

• Do you tend to put assignments, reading or prepping for an exam off until the last minute?
• Do you always end up cramming for exams at 3 am? Do you always find yourself doing an “all-nighter”?
• Do you wonder how it is that other people manage to get to class on time, with all reading and homework done, and still look like they’ve managed to sleep?

Does this sound like you? If you said yes, you may be suffering from procrastination.

It’s a common student disorder affecting up to 37% of students which, if left to run unchecked, may result in missed assignments, low grades, stress and the feeling that you’ll never make it.

Quick Tips:

• Recruit a friend to motivate you/act as study partner.
• Promise yourself a reward if you get it done in time.
• PLAN to do it.
• Just start… Work for 15 minutes. Then give yourself a break.
• Find a study area that works for you. The library, your favorite chair or the local coffee shop.
• Keep your study area neat, so you don’t get distracted with cleaning/looking for a pen/finding your desk.
• Get all your materials together: pens, paper, laptop and snacks.
• Try to get rid of distractions.
• Most of all do not give up!  Get organized! Time management and developing good study skills takes time.