Managing your time

• Make a list of all the tasks that need to be done so that you can keep track of them.

• Plan the day ahead by scheduling which tasks can be done when.

• Don't take on too much so that you don't get frustrated in the evening if you don't get everything done. So make sure you schedule less than you think you can manage. This will help you to end the day with a sense of achievement.
   

Prioritise your upcoming tasks according to urgency and importance. The following YouTube video shows you how the Eisenhower model can help you do this:

• YouTube – Counselling Centre Universities of Bern – Prioritising tasks according to the Eisenhower principle (in Swiss German) 
  
  

• Schedule fixed times for yourself to do certain things. For example, answer emails every morning from 10:00 to 10:30. Or tackle the most difficult task of the day first thing every day.

• A possible morning routine could be to mentally go through the day ahead and be aware of how to avoid possible bottlenecks.
   

• Depending on the task at hand, establish a time frame in which you would like to complete the task in question. Set a timer for yourself.

• As far as possible, keep all distractions away while you are working. For example, switch your mobile phone to airplane mode or ask a colleague to come in at a later time if their matter is not urgent.
   

Don't plan out the whole day, but build in buffer times for the unexpected.

Take regular breaks. Take a look at our YouTube video, which illustrates the importance of breaks:

• YouTube – Counselling Centre Universities of Bern – Why breaks are so important (in Swiss German) 
   

How many weeks do you have until the exam? If you can determine the length of time yourself, it is important to take your level of ambition into account. The more thoroughly you study and the higher you want your exam mark to be, the more time you will need.
 

What commitments do you have at the moment? What events do you have at the university (incl. preparation or follow-up), sports training sessions, music lessons, professional meetings, etc.? Use our example of a weekly schedule as a guide or use our template:

• Universities of Bern Counselling Centre – Weekly schedule – Example
• Universities of Bern Counselling Centre – Weekly schedule – Template
   

Schedule regular working time slots and stick to them. When scheduling, pay particular attention to the following aspects:

• Personal daily rhythm. When do you prefer to study? At what times of day can you concentrate best? Do you like to work on a task in blocks (e.g. during a half-day) or can you only commit to your exam preparation for one hour?
  
  
• Personal lifestyle. Do you need quiet time to study? Do you need to consider the library's opening hours? Do you want to coordinate with study partners?
   

Start revising the learning material regularly and reserve time for it. Please also take note of our information on the topics «Learning successfully» and «Coping with exams»:

• Universities of Bern Counselling Centre  – Learning successfully
• Universities of Bern Counselling Centre – Coping with exams

You might also be interested in our other webpages on learning and working techniques. You will find an overview here:

• Universities of Bern Counselling Centre – Learning and Working Techniques
   

• Don't forget breaks and free time! Quality is more important than quantity when it comes to learning. It is not simply a matter of devoting as many hours as possible to exam preparation, but of finding a balance between work and free time on the one hand, and between exam preparation and other study work on the other.
  
  
• A rhythm of 50 minutes of studying followed by a 10-minute break is recommended. Take a longer break after three such sessions.
  

• Coping with exams – Learning strategies/difficulties – Missing breaks
  
  

Allow about 20% buffer time (also called «joker time») for the unexpected. Life can’t always be planned.
 

Interruptions interfere with concentration and memory and are the No. 1 productivity killer. So, especially during work and revision time windows, switch your mobile phone to airplane mode and minimise or control other potential sources of interference as much as possible.

How many weeks do you have until you have to hand in your work? Are there any firm commitments during this time?
 

Start with rough planning and try to divide the total time available for the writing process into individual phases and stages. Our webpage "Scientific Writing" provides detailed instructions as well as further helpful information on the topic:

• Universities of Bern Counselling Centre – Writing papers
   

Now continue with the detailed planning and ask yourself what commitments you have at the moment? What events do you have at the university (incl. preparation or follow-up), sports training sessions, music lessons, professional meetings, etc.? Use our example of a weekly schedule as a guide or use our template:

• Universities of Bern Counselling Centre – Weekly schedule – Example
• Universities of Bern Counselling Centre – Weekly schedule – Template
   

Schedule regular time slots for your writing work and stick to them. When scheduling, pay particular attention to the following aspects:

• Personal daily rhythm. At what times of day can you concentrate best? Do you like to work on a task in blocks (e.g. during a half-day) or can you only commit to your writing project for one hour?
  
  
• Personal writing style. Your personal writing style also has an influence on the timing: Do you need quiet time to write? Do you need to consider the library's opening hours? Do you want to coordinate with writing partners?
  
  
• Current writing phase/stage. Above all, consider which writing phase/stage you are currently in and adjust your weekly schedule accordingly. Some aspects of your work may require more time and energy than others. So, you may need to adjust your weekly schedule regularly, depending on your needs.
   

• Don't forget breaks and free time! Quality is more important than quantity when it comes to writing. It is not simply a matter of devoting as many hours as possible to your writing work, but of finding a balance between work and free time on the one hand, and between writing work and other study work on the other.
  
  
• A rhythm of 50 minutes of writing followed by a 10-minute break is recommended. After three such sessions take a longer break.

• Coping with exams – Learning strategies/difficulties – Missing breaks
  
  

Allow about 20% buffer time (also called «joker time») for the unexpected. Life can’t always be planned.

Interruptions interfere with concentration and memory and are the No. 1 productivity killer. So, especially during work and revision time windows, switch your mobile phone to airplane mode and minimise or control other potential sources of interference as much as possible.