When planning to study, it is helpful to prepare a study schedule.  This can be as simple as listing the classes in which you must devote time, and leaving a blank for the time that you intend to spend.  Using a spiral notebook or day planner works well and helps keep the study schedule neat and organized.  So, a study schedule for an evening in which you have work to do in Political Science, French and Literature might reflect the three classes on the left hand side of the page, with a box or blank next to each that can be filled in depending upon your objectives for the evening, say two hours for Political Science, and one hour each for French and Literature.

Choose your study environment wisely

The place where you choose to do your work can be critically important.  Select an area that is free from temptations and distractions, such as the library.  If your dorm room tends to be a place where students congregate to chat, borrow clothes, rummage for a snack, etc., studying in your room may not be an optimal choice.  If you choose to study away from your home, make sure that your backpack contains all of the items that you will need for a successful night’s work – highlighters, extra pens, a bottle of water, a light snack, etc.  You do not want to waste precious studying time looking for a pen or a highlighter when you’re in the zone.

Give yourself a break

Be realistic about your goals.  If your normal pattern is to spend two hours working, do not skip three nights in a row and expect to get eight hours of work done in one setting.  Instead, emphasize quality over quantity.  Many professors would tell you those two hours of focused reading trumps four hours of work done in a place where there are distractions and noise.  Get up and stretch your legs after you’ve spent time working.  Many swear by the benefits of doing light stretches to get the blood flowing.