Students to succeed at school, follow this advice!

If you’re grades are so-so, your parents are on your case about improving them you may even say “Okay, okay I’m going to hit the books hard!”

But before you do anything else know that you’re going to need a game plan for managing your time efficiently.

Let’s face it: there are only 24 hours in a day, and if you’re juggling studies with other responsibilities, like soccer practice, ASB projects or you’re just wanting to hang out with friends, every minute counts. Sometimes it’s not just about finding time to do everything you want or need to do but making the most out of what time you do have. Just ‘working harder’ isn’t going to be enough!

That’s where ‘smart time management’ steps in.

Sort out your priorities!

Now, here’s what you might not know: effective time management isn’t just about crossing items off a great long to-do list—it’s about knowing what to tackle first and how to structure your study time to get the best results.

You’re going to have to be really honest with yourself and that’s going to include identifying your own personal timewasters. That could include scrolling through social media scrolling, fiddling around with trivial stuff, or having unexpected interruptions happen and then the time you were going to use for study simply…. is gone.

Simply being aware of these ‘time vampires’ is the first step to regaining control over your time and you achieving both what you want and need to do. Here’s the key:

Work smarter not just harder!

Once you’re aware of what’s eating up your precious minutes, you need to make for yourself create a personalized study schedule. This isn’t just about penciling in study blocks; it’s about understanding when you know when you’re the most alert and productive and then syncing your study hours to those times. Your brain will thank you for it. And remember, ‘fluidity is your friend’. You can always adjust your approach down the road if something isn’t quite clicking.

With your prime time for studying picked out, it’s time to prioritize. Split your workload into what you ‘must-dos‘ and what you ‘should-dos,’ and set up realistic goals for each study session. This is important as it helps you by creating in you a sense of accomplishment and prevents you from feeling overwhelmed. And don’t shy away from digital assistance. There are plenty of apps out there designed to help manage tasks and keep a really close track of your time—use them to your advantage.

Also include your own ‘break time’ in your planning so that you can ‘refocus and recharge’ your efforts.

Creating the Right Environment for Studying

So you’ve got your study schedule locked down and you’re ready to hit the books. Great! But have you thought about where you’re going to study?

Believe it or not this is also a big step in efficient studying, as there’s another piece to the puzzle—your environment. The space around you can be just as important as the time you set aside. It’s crucial to create an environment that can help rather than hinder your concentration and memorization.

You’re going to learn why the space where you study is just as crucial as how you manage your time. In fact, creating the right environment for studying can multiply the effectiveness of your time management efforts, which leads us right into the next section.

Clear up the clutter, deal with distractions!

Let’s start with the basics: your study area. It needs to be organized. That doesn’t mean it has to be spotless, but you should be able to find what you need when you need it. A cluttered desk can lead to a cluttered mind, which is the last thing you want when you’re trying to understand complex concepts. Choose a location that resonates with you and makes you feel ready to work.

Online distractions are the enemy of effective studying, so think about ways to minimize these. Turn off unnecessary notifications, use website blockers if you have to, and maybe try using one of those apps that reward you for not touching your phone. Remember: out of sight, out of mind. This includes social media, buzzing phones, and even that pile of laundry you’ve been ignoring.

Let’s be real here, this can be hard as there are SO many things that can ‘steal our time’ (I call them ‘time vampires’) but we just have to be tough with ourselves!

Cut yourself some slack!

Think about this: when was the last time you studied for hours and hours and came out feeling good about it? Probably not recently if ever!! That’s because your brain needs to have breaks in order to process and retain information. This means that it’s important to break your study sessions into chunks with short pauses in between. This can be a walk, a snack, or just a few minutes staring out the window. These breaks are the secret sauce to keeping your brain fresh. (Think in terms of focused studying for 10-15 minutes and then taking a 3–5-minute break.)

Finally, set up a ritual. Maybe it’s making a cup of coffee or doing some stretches before you sit down. A consistent routine can actually signal your brain that it’s time to get serious. This isn’t just about studying smarter; it’s about studying healthily. With the right space set, you’ll be better equipped to handle the material and the marathons.

Balancing Study with Life: Maintaining Healthy Habits

Did you know that there’s an undeniable link between a well-rounded lifestyle and good academic achievement? It’s not just about pouring over books; it’s about giving equal attention to your personal well-being.

It’s good to know that integrating physical activity into your daily routine isn’t just good for your muscles; it’s also beneficial for your brain. Regular exercise can actually improve cognitive function and concentration, making your study time more effective.

Sleep and nutrition aren’t just basic human needs; they’re your academic allies. Skimping on sleep by staying up too late or simply surviving on junk food can be a fast track to burnout. It’s a fact that a balanced diet and restful nights can truly transform your study sessions.

So here it is! If you want to enjoy life and stay on top of your studies, strategic time management is key. You don’t have to give up hanging out with friends or indulging in your favorite hobby. Instead, learn to forecast your time and allocate slots for both work and play.

I have already said this is not an easy thing to accomplish and that sometimes, despite all your best efforts, you may feel overwhelmed. Don’t worry too much about this. It’s crucial to recognize when you’re on the edge and to take intentional steps to recuperate. Self-care isn’t selfish—it’s necessary for sustaining your pace in the long run. The alternative is to simply ‘bump along’ in a world of frustration as your grades are simply mediocre, parental pressure is constant and you know, deep down inside, you’re not thriving but simply surviving!

Doing it is doing it!

I hear this phrase many years ago and speak it out in my classrooms even today. We can plan what we need to do, and even marvel at how well we’ve planned out our activities… but we have to DO it to experience success.

This principle of goal setting and working towards achieving our goal is a core principle that works throughout our lives! So, learning this now while we are (just) dealing with school grades will give you a success strategy for the rest of Life!