Every student faces deadly temptations – by deadly, I mean the death of your productivity because of Netflix, social media, going out with friends, and staring at the wall.
While having downtime is crucial to sustaining energy, too much downtime can be detrimental to your success.
This is where a study plan comes in to save the day.
The words “study plan” might sound boring and rouse fear in you. However, having a plan doesn’t restrict you in any way. In fact, a study plan can give you a balanced college lifestyle and one where you actually have more time to enjoy your student life.
Most students go all-in at the beginning of an academic year to create the most beautiful study plan. However, after a few weeks, motivation wanes, and you fail to stay on track. This is totally normal.
And the reason you can’t keep up is because you’re creating a study plan that doesn’t fit your life.
In this article, I’ll explain what a study plan is in more detail and give you ideas on how to create a study plan that you’ll actually stick to. Stick around!
Table of Contents
What Is a Study Plan?
A study plan is a structured approach to learning that helps students achieve their academic goals.
It involves setting objectives, breaking down tasks into manageable chunks, and scheduling study time.
Creating a study plan is an important part of being successful in college.
Unfortunately, I didn’t see it this way as an undergrad. I thought having a study plan would restrict me and make me feel forced to learn. I was a “free spirit” in university and studied with no coherent schedule. Whatever I felt like studying on a given day, I did.
The problem with this is that you don’t know your weak areas or see your progress.
I remember getting to exam week and realizing I had over 70% of the syllabus to study in one week. This was a result of no planning. I never tracked my progress, which is why I felt so much pressure and didn’t do as well as I could’ve with a plan.
Why You Need a Study Plan
I’ve briefly highlighted the benefits of a study plan above. Let’s do a more in-depth analysis of the benefits of having a study plan if you aren’t sold on the idea yet.
Having a Study Plan Can Help College Students Stay Organized and Productive
By having a plan, you can better manage your time and ensure you complete the tasks you need to reach your goals.
Without a plan, it’s easy to lose yourself in another video game or switch to another movie. However, now you’ll be able to prioritize your study tasks and focus your energy on the most important ones.
Having a Study Plan Can Help College Students Stay Motivated and Focused
Having a plan to refer to can help you stay motivated and on task, even when the going gets tough. It also allows you to keep your goals in sight, which keeps you on track.
Looking at a physical representation of your study goals and schedule puts you in the right mindset. Without that map, you risk getting lost in the daily minutiae of life, and then when exams roll by, you think, “Where the heck have I been this entire time?”
Having a Study Plan Can Help College Students Manage Their Stress Levels
A study plan will help you study way in advance, giving you the gift of a calmer state of mind.
It also helps you break down large tasks into smaller, more manageable chunks, which reduces overall stress levels.
And finally, it helps you anticipate potential obstacles and plan for them, reducing overwhelm.
Having a Study Plan Can Help College Students Keep Track of Their Progress
By having a plan, you can easily track your progress and measure your success. This keeps you motivated, as you can easily see how far you’ve come.
Most importantly, you understand your weak areas with a study plan. And yes, everyone wants to avoid their weaknesses, but the more you do this in college, the worse it’s going to be for you.
The best thing a student can do is confront their weak points and work to improve them. And with a plan, you’ll be able to do this.
I’ve witnessed many students waste time by going over the same chapter repeatedly until they’ve mastered it. Then, they continue going over that same chapter to feel smart and give themselves a pat on the back.
But by doing this, you never work on your weak areas because you’re so focused on doing what you’re good at.
With a plan, you can accurately measure your progress on each topic and module, so you know what you’ve mastered and what needs a little more work.
Having a Study Plan Can Help College Students Become More Successful
Having a study plan has been proven to help students achieve better grades because of all the reasons I’ve mentioned above.
It keeps you productive, stress-free, focused, motivated, and aware of your shortcomings. Therefore, those who plan succeed more than those who don’t.
Related Post: 7 Effective Study Habits to Develop That Will Make You a Better Student
How to Create a Study Plan
1. Identify Your Goals
Before you create a study plan, you need to identify what you want to achieve. Think about why you’re in college and what you want to get out of your studies.
Maybe your long-term goal is to become a successful engineer. In this case, studying consistently and mastering your subjects is the best way to get you there. The same goes for any other profession you want to go into.
When I was in college, I barely had an idea of what I wanted to achieve after college. I had daydreams, not concrete goals, which is why I was never committed when it came to sticking to a study plan.
I knew my degree would take me down a certain path, but I didn’t know what type of job I wanted or even what kind of life I wanted.
2. Choose the Best Planning Medium for You
You can create an old-fashioned study timetable (like the one I had tacked to my wall in high school) or use a physical or digital planner. Or even better, use Notion.
The system you use to plan your studies doesn’t matter. However, the system must work for you and your goals.
There’s no point having an elaborate planning system, but getting no work done.
Because there are so many planning apps and beautiful planners around, students lose themselves in the planning aspect of studying. They waste time using colorful sticky notes and fancy pens, and some even learn calligraphy just so they can “prettify” their planner.
But all of this doesn’t matter in the long run. You don’t need something that looks perfect. You need something that works perfectly for you – something that you’ll actually stick to.
Use a paper planner if that’s better for you, or use Evernote if you find that more valuable. Forget about aesthetics.
I’ve tried almost every planning medium and finally found my soulmate – Notion. Notion has been an absolute game changer for me, not just for my studies but for keeping my entire life on track.
I highly recommend giving Notion a try for college. There are so many templates that you can customize. You can keep track of each of your classes, assignments, homework, and exam planning schedule.
3. Break Your Studies into Smaller Tasks
Once you’ve identified your goals and have your planning method of choice, break your studies into smaller, more manageable tasks. This will make it easier to create a realistic and achievable plan.
Break each course down into modules, topics, and then chapters.
For example, if your module is Financial Accounting, break it down like this:
Topic: Group Accounting
Chapters: Chapter 1 – Earnings Per Share, Chapter 2 – Subsidiaries.
Tasks:
- Task 1 – listen to a lecture on chapter 1.
- Task 2 – make notes on chapter 1.
- Task 3 – make practice questions for chapter 1.
- Task 4 – answer 15 questions.
- Task 5 – answer another 20 questions.
Your study plan should be made up of tasks. It’s less overwhelming and takes a load of stress off you as you’re not trying to strive for the impossible. You work according to the time you have available every day.
4. Set Deadlines
While nobody is a fan of deadlines, we must admit that they keep us motivated and on track.
For each study task, set a deadline for when you’ll finish it.
Then, set a bigger deadline for when you expect to be completed with a topic and then the module.
Remember to keep your deadlines realistic. And in line with how much you can reasonably study in a day.
5. Account for Unexpected Days
As much as we want to plan everything, life doesn’t work that smoothly.
You might get sick, a loved one might need your help for a few days, or maybe the weather will become unbearable to work in (right now, I’m in 41-degree Celsius weather and studying is impossible).
So, keep in mind that your plan will not work perfectly, and that’s alright. Ensure that you account for unexpected days. Give yourself a cushion of at least one week.
You don’t want your study plan to be too rigid and packed because you risk falling behind if an emergency happens.
6. Space Out Your Topics
Include spaced repetition in your plan.
Spaced repetition is a learning technique that involves breaking up study sessions over a longer period. You review material at increasing intervals, which helps you retain more information in the long run.
For example, if studying a certain topic, you may review the material after a few days, then again after a week, and then a month later. This helps you remember the material better and for a longer period of time.
For example, if you studied human resources management today, go back to that topic in 5 days and then 14 days.
7. Mix Topics Up
You aren’t going to be tested in a linear fashion, so don’t study in a linear way.
Instead of going from chapter 1 to 2 and then 3 onwards, study chapter 2, then work on chapters 17 and then 9. Your exam topics will be spread out, so get used to it by spreading out your studies.
Of course, when you’re first working through material, you can study linearly because most topics build upon the previous one. But once you’ve finished going through everything the first time, start actively recalling, use spaced repetition, and mish-mash things together for a bigger challenge and, thus, greater retention.
8. Schedule Your Study Times in Your Optimal Focus Period
If you concentrate better in the afternoon, then use that time to study. If you’re more focused at midnight, don’t force yourself to learn early in the morning. Work with your brain and your body’s natural inclination instead of against it.
If you work against your body, it will rebel by making you tired, moody, and possibly depressed.
Related Post: The Complete Guide to Dealing With College Burnout (16 Tips)
9. Don’t Overcommit
We tend to get a little excited when planning — especially when planning for a new school year.
Motivation is high, and we become trigger-happy (or pen-happy), madly writing all the amazing study goals we want to achieve and creating an intricate plan that even NASA can’t compete with.
However, when things don’t work that way, we feel demotivated, leading to burnout, depression, and a loss of interest in the study material.
So, keep your study plan as realistic as possible. Make do with the time you have.
Don’t overcommit, thinking that you’ll get to it. If your schedule doesn’t allow for it, you’re just going to make yourself feel useless for not achieving your goals.
Related Post: 9 Realistic Time Management Tips for Students to Make Studying Easier
10. Experiment with Different Learning Styles
Create a study plan that fits your learning style.
For example, do you work better in short bursts? Or maybe you’re a visual learner and prefer to use diagrams, colors, and fancy notes to understand information better. This style of learning might seem useless to somebody else, but perhaps it really works for you.
Or maybe you’re one of those lucky people who can focus for long hours at a time.
It’s important to experiment with different learning styles and find the one that works best for you.
Finding the right learning style can help students make the most of their study time and foster a greater understanding of the material.
11. Plan How You’ll Take Your Breaks
Breaks are a crucial part of staying focused. So, make sure to plan how you’ll take breaks.
Breaks give you time to recharge, refocus, and come back to your studies with renewed energy.
Additionally, taking breaks can help you avoid feeling overwhelmed by your studies and give you time to relax and have fun.
You’ll also be more organized and on track with your studies, as breaks give you time to plan ahead and review the material you’ve already covered.
One of the main reasons I love the Pomodoro method is because it reminds you to take a break.
Related Post: How to Use the Pomodoro Technique for Studying (The Right Way)
12. Don’t Get Too Prospective
A study plan can assist with reducing future stress, but you can’t really predict the future when drafting a plan.
So, I recommend not being too future-centric with your plan. Have an idea of what you’d like to study in a few days, weeks, or months from now. But also know that it’s okay to change things according to how you feel in the present moment.
You don’t actually know how proficient you’ll be in a certain topic in three months. And being too predictive can work against you, as you’re more likely to ignore your weak areas to get to the next topic in your plan.
There’s no point revising something that you’re 100% good at just because it’s on your study plan for the day. Instead, change things up to study what you’re 30% proficient in. That would benefit you more.
Tweak things. It’s your plan, and you can do anything you want with it.
6 Best Apps to Create a Study Plan
Various apps are available to help you create an effective study plan. Here are the 6 best apps:
- Notion: Notion is a note-taking and organizational tool that can help students create effective study plans. It includes various features such as the ability to make notes, set reminders, store documents, create a student database, and more.
- My Study Life: My Study Life is a free, cross-platform study planner app that helps students organize their classes, tasks, and exams. It includes a calendar, timetable, task list, and more, allowing students to easily create, organize, and manage their plans.
- Trello: Trello is a free project management app that helps students organize their studies. It includes a calendar, task lists, and boards that can be used to create and organize study plans.
- Evernote: Evernote is a free note-taking app that can be used to create, organize, and store study material. It includes various features like the ability to write notes, store documents, upload and store images, and more.
- Google Calendar: Google Calendar is a free online calendar app that can help students organize their life. It includes a variety of features, such as the ability to create events, reminders, and set goals.
- Focus Keeper: Focus Keeper is a free time-management app that helps students stay focused and organized while studying. It includes a variety of features, such as the ability to set goals, track progress, and set reminders.
My recommendation:
Notion has worked really well for me in terms of creating a plan that I can stick to. I also store my notes in Notion. And I created a space repetition database, which lets me know exactly which topics to go over and when.
You can try whatever method you feel comfortable with. Experiment with different apps until you find what works for you.
Final Thoughts
I hope this article on how to create a study plan will help you draft a plan that suits your lifestyle.
Creating a study plan is an important part of succeeding in college. Most importantly, it can give you more control over your life.
You’ll be able to have fun, pursue passion projects, and go out with friends without feeling overwhelmed or like you’re “behind.”
Remember, nothing is set in stone, and the future can never be predicted, so if things don’t go according to plan all the time, don’t stress.
Instead, flow with uncertainty and stick with your plan as best as possible. Work with what’s in your control.
Other posts you might like:
- Why Is Studying So Hard? 5 Main Reasons and How to Make it Easier
- 6 Doable Tips on How to Start Studying After a Long Break
- 7 Ineffective Study Habits to Say Goodbye to If You Want Better Grades