Getting the best out of your studies comes down to time management. That includes understanding the best times for you to study. Because people don’t just have different learning styles – they also have different learning times. Also consider how you study best - maybe it is regular smaller chunks of time?
Review the 7 steps for planning a uni semester or how to plan your study week-by-week tips on the study tips page.
Managing time and semester planning tips can be found on the Academic Skills @ ECU page.
Remember – approx. 10 hours / week / unit on average is the expectation at university level. Some weeks may be less, some more – and you may need to build in some contingency hours if you have some days that are not as productive as hoped.
Think about a study load that is manageable for you and if you are unsure of how best to enrol speak with the Student Hub.
Think about setting a mindfulness alert to see if you are still on track or on task. Setting an alert for say 30 minutes can help you avoid going down the ADHD rabbit hole.
Consider using timer apps to aid focus and limit distraction. A range of ideas are listed on ADCET resource. Mac users can also use the studybreak time tracker for free, Chrome also has an extension called Focus To-Do. One sec app forces a pause when opening social media apps.
To reduce distractions think of using Focus Mode on your device to control notifications.
Create a launchpad at home: this is where you can keep your laptop, keys, wallet, phone – everything you need is in one place and ready to go.
Have you tried 'body doubling' before? This is where you try to mirror what people are doing around you. Body doubling in quiet spaces where other students are studying, such as the library, can be a helpful focus tool for some people.
Find where you study best. Try to study in the same place if you can. If it’s at home, set up an area that’s just for study and away from the usual distractions. Oh, and leave your phone in another room. If your study place is at the library, try to go to the same desk or area each time.
Getting out of your house to study – at home you are constantly surrounded by other tasks you could be doing instead of studying. Try going to the local library or a café.
Some people find it helpful to study with background sounds. You may like to try out ADHD music or white noise – there are a lot of playlists on Spotify and YouTube.
If you are feeling particularly restless or can’t focus. Leave your study for a short period and try some form of exercise, like walking around the block, going for a quick run or putting on a song to dance to. Once you have done that, try studying again.