Being organised and being able to manage your own time are essential skills to have when you are learning independently. This will help you meet deadlines. Make sure you know what your deadlines are, how much work you need to do for each of them and work out what you need to do when.

Consider:

How important is the task?

Think about why you are doing the task.

How urgent is the task?

Think about when it must be finished.

Our suggestion

People can prioritise tasks differently depending on what is important to them and therefore there is not necessarily a right or wrong answer. Here is our suggestion:

• Revise for tomorrow’s maths test.

  As the maths test is tomorrow, this task seems the most urgent and therefore is the best one to complete first.

• Organise my notes from today’s lesson

  While the lesson is still fresh in your mind, it is best to try and find time to re-read and organise your notes so that they make sense to you and you know where to find them should you need to look back at them at a later date. It also helps you to check your understanding of the topic or concept and consolidate what you have learnt.

• Start my art project that’s due next month

  It could be tempting to put this off as it is a non-urgent task, so it’s best to have a plan for when you will work on it and perhaps do a bit at a time – may be each week.

• Tidy my workspace

  This could come at the top of your list, depending on how messy it is! A good habit is to tidy your workspace at the end of each day so that you are prepared for the next day. Having a clear and tidy workspace can help with having a clear and focused mind.

• Meet my friends

  This is likely to be a non-urgent task, but it is important to make time to socialise and connect with other people. If you plan to meet your friends after you have completed your tasks, then this can act as an incentive as it’s a way of rewarding yourself.

Eisenhower method

A well-known method that you could use for planning your time is the Eisenhower Method. This can help you to reduce stress and increase productivity and is a useful tool for not only studying, but also for working.

Studying independently needs great self-motivation as you have little contact with teachers or lecturers to encourage or check-up on you. Setting goals can make you feel more motivated, but make sure they are specific and achievable goals. Remembering what you want to achieve and why you are doing it will also help keep you focused.

Goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and have a Timeframe are known as SMART goals.