■ Consider the complexity of the assignment when you
allocate time. The tasks themselves may have a great effect
on your schedule. Don’t schedule one hour for an 80-page
reading assignment when you know you read half a page
per minute...on a good day.
■ Use “nonprime” hours for the easiest tasks. When your
energy and motivation are at their lowest levels, should you
really bore in on that project that’s been giving you fits? Or
merely recopy some notes, go over your calendar, or proofread
a paper? When you’re least creative, least energetic, and least
motivated, why would you even consider tackling your most
challenging assignments? Don’t be like many businesspeople
I know who schedule their time backwards: In the morning,
when they’re raring to go, they read the paper, check their
email, and skim trade journals. At the end of the day, when
they can barely see straight, they start on the presentation
for the Board of Directors’ meeting...tomorrow’s Board of
Directors’ meeting.
■ Schedule study time immediately after class or, if that’s
not possible, immediately before. This is most pertinent
for college and graduate students, who may have significant
free time between classes. Your memory of a class is, not
surprisingly, strongest immediately after it, so allocating an
open hour after class to go over notes, think about the lecture,
and complete that day’s assignment is the best way to spend
that hour.If that isn’t possible, then taking the time to study immediately before
class is an excellent second option, especially if you usually need that
time to complete your assignments!
Chapter 2 ■ How to Organize Your Studying 37