Building good study habits can mean the difference between finishing your course with less stress and constantly needing extensions. We all have different amounts of time to study, but how we use that time is key.
In this blog, we’ll share easy tips to help you become a more productive student.
Using a study planner to build productivity habits
It might seem old-fashioned, but a study planner is a great tool for organising your week. While it might feel like a lot of pressure to stick to a planner, it actually helps you stay on top of things and avoid last-minute stress about forgotten assignments or quizzes.
A study planner can take the guesswork out of your day. You won’t have to choose between studying and doing laundry because your planner will tell you what to focus on. This way, you can use your free time more effectively.
Stick with your planner for a while to build the habit. Research from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) shows it takes at least 18 days to start a new habit, with most people needing around 66 days to make it stick. The more you use your planner, the easier it will be to stay organised, and soon you might not even need to check it every day.
Use an Eisenhower Matrix
The Eisenhower Matrix is handy tool for sorting and managing your tasks. Named after former US President Dwight David Eisenhower, it helps you prioritise by splitting tasks into four categories:
- Important and Urgent (DO) – Tasks to prioritise and complete as soon as possible
- Important and Not Urgent (DECIDE) – Tasks to schedule a time to do
- Urgent and Not Important (DELEGATE) – Tasks that might come up unexpected or unplanned, tasks you may be able to get someone else to do
- Not Urgent and Not Important (CAN WAIT) – Tasks that are potential time-wasters, and are best if eliminated
By organising your tasks this way, you can see what needs your immediate attention and what can wait. This helps ensure you focus on the most crucial tasks and get them done by the end of the day or week.
4 tips for prioritising your tasks
Using the Eisenhower Matrix helps with understanding what’s urgent versus important, but you might still need some extra tips to stay on top of your tasks. Here are a few strategies to help you prioritise effectively.
Colour-code your tasks
Colour-coding your tasks is a tactic that can help you visualise what’s most important. As you go through your to-do list, try giving yourself four different colours based on level of priority. For example:
- Red = Highest priority items
- Yellow = Second highest priority
- Blue = Third highest priority
- Green = Not a priority
Once you’ve assigned colours, you can easily place tasks into the Eisenhower Matrix. Red tasks go into the “DO” category (urgent and important). Yellow tasks fall into the “DECIDE” category (important but not urgent). Blue tasks fit into “DELEGATE” (urgent but not important), and green tasks are “CAN WAIT” (not urgent or important).
Limit tasks to 10 per box
To keep your Eisenhower Matrix clear and manageable, try to limit each box to just 10 tasks. This helps prevent clutter and makes it easier to focus on what’s most important.
You can make make multiple matrices, but limiting your tasks list to necessary action items will ensure you’re beginning the prioritisation process with no time to waste.
Make personal and academic to-do lists
Another tip to limit the number of items on your Eisenhower Matrix is to create separate matrices for your personal and academic tasks.
Your study and personal tasks require different deadlines and needs. By separating them, you can manage each area more effectively and stay organised.
Eliminate then prioritise
Start by removing unnecessary tasks to make prioritising easier. Focus on clearing out box four “CAN WAIT”, before dealing with the more important tasks in boxes one, two, and three.
As you review your to-do list, identify any tasks that don’t really need to be there. If there are quick tasks that are just 5 minutes or less, handle them right away. This will help streamline your list and may even lead to another round of task removal later on.
Effective study schedule ideas
Form study groups
Balancing work, study and social life can be challenging, but remember that others in your courses are likely feeling the same way. Connecting with classmates to form study groups can help lighten the load and build valuable skills like communication and teamwork.
You can share resources, proofread each other’s work, or meet online before exams. Study groups offer different perspectives and insights, making them a great way to broaden your understanding of course material.
Do what make you happy, first!
It’s easy to get distracted by instant rewards like chatting with friends, gaming or watching Netflix when you should be study. To avoid this, make sure to include activities you enjoy in your schedule. By planning fun activities first, you can ensure you have time for them without messing up your study plans. If you have a deadline and need to prioritise work, you’ll be able to adjust your schedule easily and still fit in the things you love.
Some productivity tips for students
Create a dedicated study space
One effective way to study at home is by setting up a specific area just for studying. This helps your brain associate that space with work and focus. When you’re in your study area, it should signal to you that it’s time to concentrate. Avoid doing unrelated activities like reading for fun or chatting with your housemate in this space to prevent forming bad habits. Your brain will get anchored to what’s expected of it in that area — which is study! Keep the area tidy, and add a quote or picture that inspires you to stay focused.
Take breaks
As deadline approaches, it might feel like you need to work non-stop. But working too long without breaks often leads to tiredness and lower quality work. Instead, take short breaks regularly to recharge and keep your work at its best. These breaks help reduce stress and prevent burnout, allowing you to stay productive over time.
Balancing study and home life doesn’t have to be complicated. It often comes down to commitment. The effort you put into building good habits, like using a study planner and Eisenhower Matrix, will pay off. Everyone is different, so stay flexible and try different approaches until you find what works best for you.
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