By Emily Azevedo-Casey, PhD student
It’s fall in Madison! For us grads, that means lovely changing leaves and midterms. If you find yourself rushing, being late, procrastinating, under or oversleeping and eating, isolating, feeling frustrated, or altogether avoiding preparing, you may benefit from some extra attention to time management. These tips can help you make the most out of your study hours, reduce stress, and improve exam performance.
Remember your why. Imagine it is the morning after your exams are finished and you are well-rested. How will you feel? What does successfully passing look like in light of your broader career vision?
Make a study plan. There are many ways to make a study plan. What has worked best for me is to work backward from the exam date and to enter blocks of dedicated study time in my calendar. Reflect on a recent time you felt productive – what time of day was it? Where were you? Structure your most complex or mentally involved study tasks for those times and leave more routine tasks like organizing materials or formatting to when you normally feel less energized.
Focus on the task at hand. Multitasking can work, but only briefly and for very routine tasks. Studying for exams does not fall under routine tasks! Declutter your mind and study space as you begin. Try the Pomodoro method if you like timed sessions. Study one concept at a time and make connections to how it relates more broadly to your other exam material.
Do it, even if you’re scared. Fear is a big blockage for a lot of people when it comes to setting aside time for things they want or need to do, including me! Do not let fear stop you from achieving what you want. At the same time, give yourself time to express this fear so you can deal with it head-on and move forward. It can be helpful to write out your fears to get them out of your mental space. Then, tear them up and get to work!
Studying and preparing for exams requires dedication, sacrifice, and discipline, which are no easy skills to master. You are here to learn and practice these skills in graduate school. It’s our hope that you also enjoy this time! Remember to sleep, eat balanced meals, exercise, spend time with your loved ones, and reward yourself for your hard work. For more resources on effective time management, check out a recording of “Time Management for Grad Students” from this year’s Welcome Week, UW–Madison Writing Center, and the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity’s asynchronous workshops on aligning time with your priorities, mastering academic time management, and the art of saying no.
Tips for Grads is a professional and academic advice column written by graduate students for graduate students at UW–Madison. It is published in the student newsletter, GradConnections Weekly.