Learning Assistance
& Resource Center

West Chester University

Contact Info
223 Lawrence Center
West Chester, PA 19383
Phone: 610-436-2535
Fax: 610-436-2600
larc@wcupa.edu


Study Skills & Tips: Scheduling Time

Of 168 hours in a week, students generally use:

  • 56 hours of sleep (8 hours are usually adequate; do you get enough sleep?)
  • 21 hours of eating (eat, and relax, and socialize!)
  • 20 hours of attending class and labs.
  • 71 hours/week or 10 hours/day for study, recreation, and everything else.

Consider Making a Schedule

It can work like a charm in cutting down on tensions, worries, and daydreams. Far from making a robot of you, a time schedule frees you from making top-level decisions constantly, thus allowing you to make the best use of your time. START BY MAKING A RECORD OF YOUR FIXED ACTIVITIES.

Examples would include classes, meals, meetings, etc. Each week add information revolving around class assignments; note due dates and estimate study time required.

Principles of Time Use

Remember these principles of time use when deciding how to spend your time. Many effective schedulers habitually plan their day at a regular time for 5 to 10 minutes in the morning or before going to bed. Allow larger blocks of time for learning new material, grasping concepts, drafting a theme, etc. Divide these larger blocks of time into definite subparts the length of your concentration span (20 minutes? 30? 10?) As you begin work on each sub - part, jot down the time you expect to finish; when you're through, reward yourself with a brief break: move around, talk to a friend, drink water, eat a snack...whatever is good for you.

Use short periods of time (15 to 45 minutes) to review. It’s especially wise to spend a few minutes reviewing immediately BEFORE a class involving discussion or recitation.

Immediately AFTER a lecture class spend a few minutes reviewing your notes. Schedule harder study tasks when you are most alert and can concentrate best. Do something daily -- don't let it all pile up! Plan to really learn the first time; the rest of your study time should be spent reviewing through recitation, discussion, making up and answering possible test questions, etc. Don’t try to allocate ALL your time; know what needs to be done and how long it will take you. It's HOW you use your time that counts.