Time scheduling will not make you a perfectly efficient person. Very few people can rigorously keep a detailed schedule day after day over a long period of time. In fact, many students who draw up a study schedule and find themselves unable to stick to it become impatient and often give up the scheduling idea completely.

The following method of organizing time has been helpful to many students and does not take much time. It is more flexible than many methods and helps the student to establish long-term, intermediate, and short-term time goals.

1. Long-Term Schedule

Construct a schedule of your FIXED COMMITMENTS ONLY. These include only obligations you are required to meet every week, e.g., job hours, classes, church, organization meetings, etc.

2. Intermediate Schedule (one per week)

Now make a short list of MAJOR EVENTS and AMOUNT OF WORK to be accomplished in each subject this week. This may include non-study activities. For example:

quiz Wednesday
paper Tuesday
ball game Tuesday night
Finish 40 pages in English by Friday
Finish 150 pages in economics by Friday

These events will change from week to week, and it is important to make a NEW LIST FOR EACH WEEK. Sunday night may be the most convenient time to do this.

3. Short-Term Schedule (one per day)

On a small notecard each evening before retiring or early in the morning make out a specific daily schedule. Write down specifically WHAT is to be accomplished. Such a schedule might include:

Wednesday

8:00 - 8:30    ---  Review Psychology
9:30 - 10:30  --- Review math and prepare for quiz
4:45              --- Pick up cleaning on way home
7:00 - 10:15  --- Chap. 5, 6, (Psychology)
10:00            --- Phone call

STUDY SCHEDULE

A definite time schedule for studying each subject will result in increased leisure and probably better grades. The bases for good studying are three:

• 1. Establishing a schedule.

• 2. Budgeting time for each subject.

• 3. Sticking to the schedule.

Procedure for setting up a schedule:

1. Study each course as soon as possible after its class period, especially lecture courses.

2. Give difficult subjects the preferred times when there will be the fewest interruptions and disturbances and when you are least tired.
3. Assign a definite time for each subject.
4. Allow 2 hours preparation time per class session for each credit earned. Some courses may need more, or less, but start with 2 hours. For instance, a 3-hour course should have 6 study hours allotted to it per week.

First, write in with ink activities and classes that remain the same from week to week. Start your day (except Sunday) at 8 a.m. just as if you had an office job. Allow one (1) hour off for lunch and two (2) hours for dinner. Then fill in for each hour the subject you will study at that time. Study hours should be written with pencil in case you need to make a change. Give yourself a five-minute break for every study hour or ten-minute break for every two.

At the end of each day allow ½ hour to review for tomorrow’s classes. If you finish assignments before the allotted time is used, either review that subject or switch to some uncompleted assignment. On Saturday allow 2 hours to review the work of the previous week -- ½ hour to each subject.

Do as little studying as possible from Friday at dinner time until Monday morning, but study hard during the week.

ADDITIONAL SUGGESTIONS

1. Have a definite place where you study (preferably inaccessible). This should not be the same place you use for bull sessions, for writing letters, or for recreation.
    
2. Have all study materials handy.
    
3. Be ready to study when you sit down at your desk.
    
4. Be firm; let friends and associates know that certain hours are off limits for idle conversation, etc.
    
5. Clamp down on idle conversation.
    
6. Beware of "telephonitis."
    
7. Learn to say no.
    
8. Get rid of paper "confusions" in your work space.

Time scheduling will not make you a perfectly efficient person. Very few people can rigorously keep a detailed schedule day after day over a long period of time. In fact, many students who draw up a study schedule and find themselves unable to stick to it become impatient and often give up the scheduling idea completely.

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