Five tips to optimise your technique

• Plan your week

  When it comes to time management, an overall plan for the week is of the essence. Make sure to earmark time for school and work, but also free time. Some find it especially efficient and helpful to divide their time and tasks into morning, afternoon and evening.

  The purpose of planning your activities and structuring your time is to keep a sense of perspective on the to-dos for now and later. This can help prevent tasks from accumulating inside your mind and thus reduce feelings of stress in your everyday life.

  You can download our example of a weekly schedule here.

• Read for 45:15

  You can optimise your study time by using the 45:15 rule. Read intently for 45 minutes, as this is your brain’s limit, and then take a break for 15 minutes. If studying for 45 minutes proves difficult, try using a timer when you begin reading and stop it when your focus slips. Do this a couple of times and you will sense how many minutes you are able to read at a time.

  If you read hours on end, you will have trouble remembering what you just read. This is why it is so important to give your mind a break in between readings. Use the pause to get some coffee, use the bathroom or put a wash on. Also, you will make the most of your reading, if you study without procrastinations.

• Join a study group

  You might consider joining a study group, in which to motivate each other and in unison create good study habits.

• Quiz yourself

  When finishing a text, quiz yourself or members of your study group to make sure you have understood the content. This will help store the knowledge in your memory and aid you in your exam.

• Do a course on study technique

  If you want to perfect your study technique, you can for instance ask your guidance counsellor if your place of education offers courses on study technique.