Discover
Study
Skills
Online.
Organisational Skills
Activity 1 – One-week diary
Day 1
Time
Before
8am
9-9am
9-10am
10-11am
11amnoon
12-1pm
1-2pm
2-3pm
3-4pm
4-5pm
5-6pm
6-7pm
7-8pm
Activity
Comment
8-9pm
9-10pm
After
10pm
Day 2
Time
Before
8am
9-9am
9-10am
10-11am
11amnoon
12-1pm
1-2pm
2-3pm
3-4pm
4-5pm
5-6pm
6-7pm
7-8pm
Activity
Comment
8-9pm
9-10pm
After
10pm
Day 3
Time
Before
8am
9-9am
9-10am
10-11am
11amnoon
12-1pm
1-2pm
Activity
Comment
2-3pm
3-4pm
4-5pm
5-6pm
6-7pm
7-8pm
8-9pm
9-10pm
After
10pm
Day 4
Time
Before
8am
9-9am
Activity
Comment
9-10am
10-11am
11amnoon
12-1pm
1-2pm
2-3pm
3-4pm
4-5pm
5-6pm
6-7pm
7-8pm
8-9pm
9-10pm
After
10pm
Day 5
Time
Before
8am
9-9am
9-10am
10-11am
11amnoon
12-1pm
1-2pm
2-3pm
3-4pm
4-5pm
5-6pm
6-7pm
7-8pm
8-9pm
9-10pm
After
10pm
Activity
Comment
Day 6
Time
Before
8am
9-9am
9-10am
10-11am
11amnoon
12-1pm
1-2pm
2-3pm
3-4pm
4-5pm
5-6pm
6-7pm
Activity
Comment
7-8pm
8-9pm
9-10pm
After
10pm
Day 7
Time
Before
8am
9-9am
9-10am
10-11am
11amnoon
12-1pm
Activity
Comment
1-2pm
2-3pm
3-4pm
4-5pm
5-6pm
6-7pm
7-8pm
8-9pm
9-10pm
After
10pm
Discover
Study
Skills
Online.
Organisational Skills
Activity 2 – Problems and solutions
Problem
Advice
I avoid studying by doing other
Unless your writing is unreadable this could be
things like watching TV, making a
a waste of your time. Save time by using
drink, going for a walk, even
highlighters to mark key words/phrases and
cleaning my room!
symbols to help you locate information on
different topics/themes faster. Use a colour
code for different levels of importance eg.
yellow = you must learn this, orange = useful
but not vital to learn...
I feel overwhelmed when I get an
Break the task down into ‘mini goals’. The
assignment to do so I leave it till
task will seem more like a series of small steps
the deadline is almost up before I
to the top rather than a steep, slippery slope!
make a start.
And if all else fails, just sit with a pen and piece
of paper and write something...anything, to
get you started.
I am always forgetting what I am
It’s ok to study when best suits you and your
supposed to do.
character, within reason, but do try to plan
your study time sensibly in advance and stick
to it if possible. Just make sure your
independent study doesn’t get in the way of
your classes.
I have so many things to do I lose
Study in short bursts and when your
track of what I should do first.
concentration goes, either change to a
different task or take a short break. Make sure
you drink plenty of water whilst studying and
get some fresh air and exercise during breaks.
Eat slow release energy snacks like bananas
and flapjack with oats!
I spend a lot of time writing up
You can’t remember everything. Keep a ‘to
notes from tutorials so they are
do’ list in your planner/diary. You may need
neat and make more sense.
several lists! Jot things down as soon as you
think of them then add them to your list. Use
post-it notes and stick them around your
room or house. Set electronic reminders for
yourself.
I lose concentration very quickly
Are you being an effective student? You could
when studying and my mind starts
be spending time on unnecessary tasks. Keep
to wander.
asking yourself – why am I doing this? Do I
HAVE to do this to complete the task? Keep a
list of targets (things you want to achieve) and
note down your progress towards these
targets. Reward yourself with a treat when
you reach a goal!
I feel like I am not achieving
You can do lots to help you get in the mood
anything even though I seem to
for study. First create a positive study space –
spend ages studying.
somewhere with everything you need at hand
(books, paper, pens etc.). Make sure there is
plenty of light and air. ‘Pretend’ to be a
student – even if you don’t feel like it, get
into the role of a student. If you act organised
and studious you might feel it!
I am not a morning person and
Put your list of things to do into priority
often end up studying late into the
groups: Urgent, Important, Can Wait (or U / I /
night.
W). Review the lists regularly – some things
may need to move groups. Tackle the urgent
things first but keep a close eye on the rest.
Use post-its and move them around as the
priorities change. But beware...post-its come
unstuck, so label them U / I / W.
I never feel in the mood for study.
Have a clear filing system where everything is
labelled and put into the right folders as soon
as possible. Get into the habit of writing your
name and the date on EVERYTHING. Treat
yourself to some colourful folders and be
proud of your work.
I lose important papers and work
Set yourself a strict study plan and stick to it.
all the time.
Make yourself do 10 mins of study before you
start the ‘distraction’ task, you will often
find you get into your study and never pursue
the other task. Or combine the distraction
with your studies eg. Make a recording of your
revision notes and listen to them on your walk.