You can take this goal-setting technique further. Write down the
times you expect to finish each page of a 10-page reading assignment,
or each one of the 20 math problems you have to complete. Setting
such small time goals is a great motivator and a fantastic way to max-
imize your concentration and minimize daydreaming.
And Keep in Mind...
Besides the importance of the task and the available time you have to
complete it, other factors will determine how you fit everything you
have to do into the time available. Some factors will be beyond your
control—your work schedule, appointments with professors, coun-
selors, or doctors. But there are plenty of factors you do control and
should consider as you put together your calendar each week.
Schedule enough time for each task—time to “warm up” and get
the task accomplished, but, particularly when working on long-term
projects, not so much time that you “burn out.” Every individual is
different, but most students study best in blocks of 30–45 minutes,
depending on the subject.
Don’t overdo it. Plan your study time in blocks, breaking up work time
with short leisure activities. (It’s helpful to add these to your sched-
ule as well.) For example, you’ve set aside three hours on Wednesday
afternoon for that research assignment. Schedule a 15-minute walk
to the ice cream shop somewhere in the middle of that study block.
You’ll find that these breaks help you think more clearly and creatively
when you get back to studying.
Even if you tend to like longer blocks of study time, be careful about
scheduling study “marathons”—a six- or eight-hour stretch rather
than a series of one- or two-hour sessions. The longer the period
you schedule, the more likely you’ll have to fight the demons of
procrastination and daydreaming. Convincing yourself that you are
88 How to Study