In the second part of the semester life gets pretty hectic and if you’re not careful it can all start to feel out of control. As you juggle those last assignments and start revision it helps to have a solid plan. This means being organised so you can make the most of your time. If this doesn’t come naturally to you, don’t stress! It’s never too late to develop new strategies to help you take control and in no time at all you won’t even think about it.

Check out these study habits to help you through those final assessments:

Be clear about your goals

It’s easy to feel overwhlemed when we have a lot of different things to do but setting goals can help prioritise our time. Your goals can be long or short-term but it’s important to make them attainable. Start with your plan for the week then break it down further to each unit. Apps like ToDoist can really help to keep you on track. Don’t be unrealistic and overload yourself with too much at once as you’ll either give up or burn out. Use your goals to track achievements and then take a moment to celebrate them. Once you’ve submitted an assignment do something nice for yourself!

Managing time

Time management is a big part of achieving your goals but sometimes it’s hard to know where to start. It helps to divide your days into areas like study | work | social | exercise | relaxation etc so that you can clearly see what you’ve got going on. Use a planner, study timetable, or calendar to block out the time you need for study which includes all your mini-goals for revision, reading and assignments etc. At different times you might need to change your priorities to focus on different aspects of your life so it’s important to remain flexible. Check out our Exam Plan & Prep Guide (PDF).

Say goodbye to clutter

Did you know too much clutter can actually disrupt your brain’s ability to process information? Yes, it’s a real thing. Most of us feel better when things are tidy or orderly because it gives us a sense of control and calm. Make your study space productive by removing rubbish and piles of papers etc. If you’re at home then make sure you have a dedicated space with everything you need in a drawer or cupboard that’s easy to access. You can use magazine holders or desk trays to organise material for different units. Surround yourself with a few things that make you feel happy but don’t overdo it. If you’re going to study in the library then make sure you make a list of what to take and only have what you need on the desk.

Connection is key

Being a student can be lonely. Hours at your desk or hidden away in the library. It’s important to stay connected to your friends, family and the uni community. Make sure you are communicating with the people around you; let them know your study schedule, ask for time off work; create a study group and make time to meet at uni or online. If you feel overwhelmed with your studies or have some personal issues this will impact your ability to study so it’s important to reach out. Tell your tutor or unit coordinator early on rather than just avoiding something. Contact Student Counselling to make a confediential appointmet. The QUT Wellbeing app is also worth a try as it has a collection of activities that provide tools and ideas to enhance your overall wellbeing.

Bring organised doesn’t come naturally to most of us – it’s is a skill that takes practice and finding what works best for you! But being organised and having strategies to deal with your study will help you manage your study load and ace those assessments.