We’ve all been there—creating a to-do list filled with study-related tasks you want to accomplish by the end of the day, just to end up procrastinating and mindlessly scrolling for hours on TikTok. What if I told you the problem isn’t you, but that your study schedule is actually designed to waste time, rather than save it?
1 Sort Out Your Priorities and Set Realistic Goals
I’ll often wake up thinking I’ll tackle three assignments, solve two practice papers, prepare for my finals, and maybe, just maybe, build the next ChatGPT while I’m at it, all within one day. But, let’s be real, all I’m doing is lying to myself. By the time the day ends, I’ll not only have barely made a dent in my exhaustive to-do list but will also have to live with the guilt and disappointment of not meeting the incredibly high expectations I set for myself.
This is why it’s important to set realistic goals for yourself. You only have 24 hours in one day, and realistically, you won’t spend all day studying. The best way to set goals for yourself is to begin by determining the most important tasks you need to do.
For instance, if you have a midterm two weeks later, yet an assignment due two days later, the latter clearly needs to be prioritized. To make this task easier, I’ve set up a Notion database that includes all my assignment and project deadlines, upcoming quizzes, midterms, finals, etc.
I’ve added a column for the due date and another for days left, with a formula that automatically calculates exactly that. The database is sorted by due date, so I can quickly see which tasks are most urgent.
2 Break Down Your Tasks Into Manageable Chunks
When you have tons of tasks to catch up on, just looking at your overflowing to-do list can be enough to overwhelm you for the entire day. More often than not, you’ll struggle to figure out where to even start. That’s why it’s always a great idea to break down your tasks into smaller, more manageable chunks, and take them one piece at a time.
For example, if you have an essay due for your economics class, simply writing “write economics essay” on your to-do list can already feel overwhelming. Just seeing that one big task can make it hard to even know where to start. Instead, break it down into subtasks like conducting research, outlining, initial drafting, proofreading, etc.
This way, rather than feeling overwhelmed by the task itself, you’ll be able to tackle each subtask individually and make steady progress. In my opinion, there’s no better motivator than checking off a task on your to-do list! I personally rely on Google Tasks for this purpose, which I also use to organize my entire life.
All you need to do is click the three vertical dots next to a task and select Add a subtask.
However, if you don’t want to use your to-do list app for this purpose, for whatever reason, there are plenty of dedicated apps designed to help you break down your tasks into smaller steps.
3 Study During Your Peak Productivity Hours
If you’ve ever watched a “study with me” video on TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube, you’ll notice one recurring theme in most videos—they almost always start with a student waking up at dawn to study. The thing is, while studying early in the morning might work for some people, it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution.
For instance, if you’ve been a night owl all your life, forcing yourself to wake up to study at dawn probably won’t do you any favors. I’ve had first-hand experience with this. I’ve noticed I’m most productive during the afternoon and late at night. Finding your sleep chronotype can help you figure out what times you’re most productive.
Despite that, I’d force myself to schedule my study sessions early in the morning since that’s what I saw everyone doing. While it worked for a few days, eventually, I’d end up dozing off on top of my books, even after getting a full eight hours of sleep the night before.
A couple of hours later, I’d wake up, totally disoriented and wondering where I was. Ultimately, I ended up wasting more time than I saved. Naturally, I struggled to fall asleep at my planned time since I’d already dozed off earlier, and, well—you can see where this is going.
In reality, your best study time depends on when you’re naturally most alert and focused. When you study during your peak hours, you’re not just saving time, but also making the most of it.
So, instead of forcing yourself to stick to a schedule that doesn’t match your natural rhythm, listen to your body and adjust your routine accordingly. There’s nothing wrong with waking up a bit later and studying in the afternoon if that works better for you. If you’re unsure about your sleep pattern and can’t figure out your ideal wake-up time, using a sleep tracker app might help.
4 Time Block Your Study Sessions
Time blocking is a time management strategy where you divide your day into specific blocks of time, each dedicated to a particular task. After identifying all the tasks you need to complete, estimate how much time each one will take. Then, keeping your peak productivity hours in mind, assign your most challenging tasks to those times so you can give them your full attention and energy.
Your to-do list will likely include a mix of tasks, some that require more focus and others that don’t need as much brainpower, like reviewing flashcards for an exam a month away. You can schedule these lighter tasks during times outside your peak productivity hours.
Since we’re time-blocking, make sure to allocate specific time slots in your calendar or planner for each task.
You can use either a physical or digital planner, a calendar app like Google Calendar, or even a dedicated time-blocking app like Clockify. To be able to distinguish tasks from one another, you can also color-code your blocks.
5 Don’t Forget to Take Breaks
A lot of times, you’ll physically be sitting in front of your books, but your mind will be elsewhere. You might feel like you’re putting in the hours, but you’re not really absorbing anything and are simply wasting time. This is why taking breaks is incredibly important.
Studying for hours without breaks is a recipe for burnout. So, when you’re time blocking your study sessions, make sure to schedule breaks.
For example, if you plan to study for 2 hours, break it into two blocks—50 minutes of studying, followed by a 10-minute break, then another 50 minutes. If you struggle with focusing for long periods, try the Pomodoro technique: study for 25 minutes, take a 5-minute break, and repeat this cycle four times, then take a longer break.
While you can use your device’s timer app to use this technique, I’d recommend using a dedicated Pomodoro timer app instead.
6 Reflect on Your Progress and Adjust Your Plan Weekly
At the end of the week, take some time to assess how you’re doing and don’t be afraid to adjust your plan for better efficiency. Reflect on what you’ve accomplished, what worked well, and where you struggled.
For instance, if time-blocking a certain time of day proved especially productive, adjust your schedule to prioritize those peak hours. If you find yourself struggling to stay awake during a study session, take note and avoid scheduling important tasks during that time in the future.
By following the tips above, I’m sure you’ll be able to create a study schedule that works for you and helps you make the most of your time! Creating the perfect weekly study schedule will take some trial and error, but remember—every student is different. After all, it’s about studying smarter, not harder!