Are you tired of feeling behind on deadlines? Take control of your week with this simple, student-friendly seven-day challenge. It’s designed to help you reset, refocus and reclaim your time so you can study smarter, not harder.
Day 1: Identify demands on your time
Start by making a list of all your:
- University commitments: weekly readings, lectures, tutorials, assessments, webinars.
- Other fixed commitments: paid work, family responsibilities, sport, clubs.
- Free time activities: social events, hobbies, relaxation time.
Day 2: Set your priorities for the trimester
- Write down your top three academic goals for the week, month and trimester ahead.
- Use the ‘Must-Do, Should-Do, Nice-to-Do’ method to rank tasks. Start with the tasks that directly contribute to your goals.
Day 3: Schedule break time
- Block at least one hour per day for something fun and relaxing. Rest improves productivity.
Day 4: Optimise your study environment
- Find a quiet, comfortable space with good lighting.
- Gather everything you need before starting (water, notes, charger).
- If possible, use noise-cancelling headphones or ambient music to stay focused.
Day 5: Declutter your digital space
- Organise your files and bookmarks: create folders for each course, delete duplicates and save key links in one place.
- Turn off unnecessary notifications for 24 hours: limit distractions so you can focus.
Day 6: Try Pomodoro
- Use a timer app or a YouTube Pomodoro playlist to break your study time up into chunks: 25 minutes focused work, then a 5-minute break.
Day 7: Reflect
- Review what worked and what didn’t.
- Write down two habits you’ll keep for next week.
For more tips and advice, see our Time management web page, or if you need additional support, contact the Library.
