Studying Independently (Open Learning)

When planning your time you need to be aware of your deadlines and have a tool to remind you of those, especially as a number of assignments can be due together. You need to be able to set priorities (what needs to be done now and what could be done later, and actually doesn’t need to be done al all).  It’s helpful to break bigger tasks into smaller manageable tasks so that you know what you’re trying to achieve on that day. There are lots of tools available for setting targets and action planning – some on the web, or using technology – some paper based such as a wall planner or a notepad for each assignment – reflect on what would be the most useful for you. You can set alarms on your phone or there are apps that set post-its on your iPad.

This time management matrix can help you prioritise your work load according to the urgency and importance of each task. It's taken from Stephen Covey's 7 habits of highly effective people.

• Quadrant 1: is both urgent and important, however too much time in Quadrant 1 can lead to burnout.
• Quadrant 2: is about planning and prevention and taking steps not to get into Quadrant 1.
• Quadrant 3: essentially not important, however, some activities might need action, for example an email might require an urgent response,
• Quadrant 4: most activities can be deferred or dropped completely until you've finished your assignments.