Is your child struggling to stay on top of assignments?
Scheduling for Success
From big projects to short study sessions, good scheduling is key to productivity. It can keep you on top of exam revision, help you organise complicated projects, and keep you motivated through even the most difficult assignments. Scheduling is more than just creating a to-do list: knowing how you work best and what each task requires is essential. It takes careful thought and lots of practice, but there are some simple ways to practise better scheduling today.
Long-term scheduling
Got an exam coming up in a few months? Or a project due in a week or two? Knowing how to schedule tasks over a long period of time makes difficult projects easy. Begin by making a list of everything you need to do to complete the task, whether you have subjects to study, topics to research, or essays to write. Then prioritise these sub-tasks, either by importance or the order in which they need to be completed (more on this below). Finally, figure out how to schedule your time up until the deadline. Will it help to work on it for a bit each day? Or do you want to set aside certain days to focus on certain tasks? Make sure to include some wiggle room, in case your plans change.
Short-term scheduling
Scheduling is just as important in the short-term, like when you’re preparing for an evening of homework or revision. As with long-term planning, make a list of what needs to get done and prioritise tasks to create a to-do list. Estimate how long each will take and keep track of how well you stay on schedule – good records will help you schedule future sessions.
Sometimes it helps to focus on one task until it is completed. Or you might alternate between tasks: if you get bogged down by history facts, switch to maths equations. If you find yourself procrastinating on one project, try working on another instead. Procrastination is usually more about nerves than laziness, so you can redirect your attention to another project while you mentally prepare for the more challenging task.
Prioritising
To create a good schedule, you need to be selective about which tasks come first and which should wait till later. You might prioritise based on deadlines, such as choosing to focus on the coursework due tomorrow rather than the project due next Friday. Or you might order tasks based on importance, like ensuring you have time to study for your big exam, even if it is months away.
Sometimes prioritising means not prioritising tasks that are less important or immediate. You might schedule 30 minutes to work on a minor task, and stop when the time is over, even if you aren’t completely finished. Or you might save some tasks till the end and be prepared to reschedule or cancel them if your more important tasks take too much time.
Productive breaks
Scheduling time for breaks is an important part of studying. Humans can only concentrate for so long – if you try to work for more than twenty minutes at a time, your productivity decreases. Many scholars use a ‘pomodoro method’, named after the tomato-shaped timer. Schedule twenty minutes of work, then a five minute break. Then start over again.
Breaks are important for long-term scheduling, too. Make sure to include time for relaxing, socialising, and doing hobbies when you are preparing for exams. Prioritise sleeping, exercising, and eating healthy. This will keep you strong and motivated throughout your revision. And a lot of important thinking happens during downtime, so taking time away from work actually helps your creativity and analysis.
Styles of scheduling
Different scholars like different kinds of scheduling. For some, a rigid schedule is best as it helps them stay on-task. Other like more flexibility, allowing them to work on whichever task they feel most capable of at the moment. To you decide what works for you, keep track of your productivity as you try out different styles. What kind of schedule allows you to complete everything on time?
There are scheduling platforms for every style of scheduling. Apps and online calendars can help with creating, organising, and checking off tasks, sending you reminders when certain tasks are due. Other scholars prefer a bullet journal, an organisational aide that uses an everyday notebook to collect tasks, deadlines, and other information in one place (you can find many bullet journaling tips online). It may also help to have a calendar in a prominent place, like on the wall of your study space, so that you can see your schedule quickly and easily.
Finally, consider whether you work better alone or with friends. Study groups can be a great option; even if you are not working on the same tasks, having someone nearby can keep you motivated. If you swap schedules, you can even check in on your study mates to see if they’re on track (this works long-distance, too!). Or you might get distracted studying with others, in which case, going alone is the better bet.
Falling behind
Even the best laid plans go awry and you can fall behind on the most carefully crafted schedule. If this happens, you may need to re-schedule. Go back to your list of tasks or sub-tasks. Do you need to re-prioritise to make sure you get the most important work done? Or reschedule work for another time? Alternatively, you might need to reconsider how you complete each task. For some tasks, you might not need to spend as much time perfecting your work. Or you might try to combine tasks, such as practising maths as part of a chemistry revision.
A good schedule can help you get through even the toughest assignments or revision. Learning the best way to schedule for you takes time and effort. Practising prioritising, adjusting timing, and exploring different scheduling platforms can all help you find a balanced, productive schedule. These are lessons that help students succeed at GCSEs and A levels, and will benefit them at university and throughout their lives.
