As I am writing this blog the sun is shining and the temperature is rising towards 26°C. The summer weather has finally arrived, just in time for the schools and colleges to break up until September. You may even be getting ready to go on holiday with your family or friends.
Whilst it is important to enjoy the summer, have a break and relax, you need to ensure that you allocate time to study so that you don’t fall behind and don’t feel like you are playing catch up.
Study Timetable
You may find that creating a study timetable for your learning may be the best way to help you approach the summer. You can download a basic study timetable template here.
The benefits of a study timetable
- You can plan your study time effectively and easily see the time you have allocated for studying and the time you are free.
- You can break down tasks into smaller parts so that you don’t feel as overwhelmed if you kept it as one task.
- You can base your study timetable around the times you feel you study best. Some people feel that they get the most out of studying in the morning.
- You can make your timetable flexible so you can switch things around if something comes up.
Some tips to help you create your study timetable
- If you have a large assignment or task to complete, aim to tackle that at the start of the day. This should stop you from putting it off.
- Don’t give yourself too much to do. Ensure that your timetable is realistic – don’t try and cram 3 days work into 1 day.
- Once you have completed a task, cross it off your timetable. This way you can see how much you have achieved.
- Remember to factor in breaks into your timetable. Every 45 – 60 mins ensure you have a 10-minute break.
Apps to help you study
There are some really useful apps for desktop and mobile devices that can help you study over the summer.
GoConqr – is a free app that is available on iOS and Android devices. It includes a free study planner that makes it easy for you to manage your time more efficiently. Another useful aspect is that you can set yourself study goals allowing you to break large tasks into manageable chunks. You can also create flashcards if there are key elements that you are struggling to remember.
Maths Alarm Clock – You know you have to study but you are struggling to wake up and have pressed ‘snooze’ numerous times on your alarm. Maths Alarm Clock is plain and simple, to turn the alarm off, you have to solve a math problem. This app gets your brain working as soon as you wake up. Maths Alarm Clock is a free app available for iOS and Android devices.
SelfControl – Is a free download for Mac. If you are working on an assignment and you get a notification from Facebook the chances are, you are going to look at it and potentially get distracted from your work. With SelfControl It blocks access to websites of your choice (i.e. ones that could distract you) for a specified amount of time.
Forest – An app to keep you away from your SmartPhone. Set a time you are going to study for – and grow a tree. If you stop the app – the tree dies! I’ve seen many teenagers keep at the books so they don’t kill their tree. Available for iOS and Android.
Do share any study tips or apps that you have found useful.
Concise Training’s social media courses are flexible distance learning courses that allow you to fit your study around your other commitments. All are tutor supported and are studied online, meaning you can study from anywhere where you have an internet connection … the garden, the beach, the park … ideal for some summer development!