Time management

Balancing your studies with work, family and personal life can be challenging. 
Some suggestions to keep control of your time:

• Keep structure in your day/week
  Habits and routines can structure your days and weeks.
  Schedule fixed times in your day or week for recurring activities like doing groceries, cleaning, preparing for courses, reading textbooks, etc.
  A clear schedule helps avoid procrastination and keeps you organized.
  - This is how you can add more structure to your days and weeks (website)
• Set a consistent and realistic study schedule
  Balancing studies with work, family and personal life demands organisation and planning. A decent study schedule can help.
  - Discover how you can plan your (study)work (website)
• Set daily and weekly goals
  Define clear, achievable objectives per day and week. Write them down.
  Reasonable goals help you to maintain focus and measure your progress.
  - Check here how a to-do list can help to keep track of your goals (website)
• Focus on one task at a time
  Stop multitasking. It might feel effective, but it is not!
  Focussing on one task at a time enhances your concentration and the quality of your work. Besides that, it saves time.
  - Check some tips on monotasking (website)
• Prioritise
  Too many tasks to do? Decide on which task has the highest priority and start with that one.
  - The Eisenhower matrix can help you to prioritise your tasks (website + video, 7')
• Apply the Pomodoro technique
  This technique helps you to ‘monotask’ and stay focused within a fixed schedule:
  • 25 minutes of non-stop, concentrated studying
  • 5 minutes of pausing
  • After four study blocks, take an extended break

- More info on the Pomodoro technique (infographic)
- Watch the video to work smarter (video, 3')
- Use this Pomodoro timer to get started! (website)

• Self-discipline
  Some self-discipline is needed to start studying and keep up with your goals and study schedule. 
  Did you know you can train your self-discipline?

- This is how you can build self-discipline in online learning (website)
- An overview of various strategies to enhance self-discipline (infographic)
- Make new habits, stick with ‘if-then-plans’ (website)
- Watch this video to get motivated and create self-discipline (video, 4’)

More tips on time management? Get inspired by our e-module time management (website)

Some tips at a glance:

- 4 steps to get the most of your valuable time as an online student (website)
- Time management skills for distance learners (video, 5’)
- 7 crucial time management tips (infographic)
- Some necessary skills to juggle work, family and study (website)