Making time

Make changes

To make more time available, you need to examine how you spend it.

You might need to make changes to your lifestyle.

The changes don't have to be big, and you don't have to become a hermit, a nerd, or a killjoy.

Remember - you are only trying to find something like an hour a day.

Socialising

You could spend less time with your friends on social activities.

You could even decide to study or revise together as a group.

Do your studying or revision before you go out with your friends - then it's a reward to which you can look forward.

Television

People [in the UK] spend on average 25 hours per week watching television.

This is three-and-a-half hours per day available for studying.

Plan your viewing, and switch off when your program has finished.

Leave the room if others wish to continue viewing.

Never try studying in a room where a TV set is switched on.

Family life

Creating more study time amidst a family is not easy.

You might need to get up early or stay up late at night.

If you can do this you are less likely to be disturbed.

Some people are at their best in the early morning; others work better at night.

Decide which is best for you - and don't feel guilty about your choice.

Support

If you live in a family or among friends, explain that you need to be undisturbed from time to time.

Try to gain their support for what you are doing.

Ask them to respect your need for privacy.

Explain that you are not being anti-social when you need to spend time studying.

Confidence

Get used to studying whilst other people are relaxing or socialising.

At first this could make you feel something of an outsider.

But remember that many other people are students too, and that studying is a perfectly normal activity.