| Most successful distance students are 'self-starters'. | | | | to see how much you over- (or under-) estimate the |
| They decide to study at a distance because its | | | | real amount of spare time you have for study. |
| flexibility suits them. Successful students work out how | | | | Obviously, you cannot control all your time. During the |
| much time they need and then plan their time carefully | | | | week, you will be interrupted and will often have to |
| so that they finish the required tasks. However, some | | | | respond to unexpected demands; and you may also |
| students are not always so organized: they start their | | | | have to travel for your job, work different shifts, or |
| studies but then never seem to have enough time. | | | | attend family gatherings. You should therefore try to |
| Others get the work done but leave it to the last | | | | plan your study in blocks of time that you can control. |
| minute, which can be stressful and result in their having | | | | Keep to your study schedule |
| to use all their free time at the end of a course to | | | | After you have made your study timetable, you need |
| complete it. | | | | to stick to it. It's not uncommon for students to spend |
| A time log | | | | time planning a schedule but then to abandon it when |
| Thinking about how much time you need and have | | | | things 'get busy'. |
| available helps you to plan your time well. A good way | | | | Following a regular study schedule has many |
| to do this is to keep a time log (or a written record of | | | | advantages: |
| what you do during the day). A time log records: | | | | - It helps to motivate you, and to overcome the inertia |
| - The activities you plan to do; | | | | that you may sometimes feel. |
| - How long you think these activities will take; | | | | - When you plan and carry out study in frequent but |
| - How long it actually takes to complete them; | | | | small, manageable chunks it doesn't seem so |
| - Your planned/actual study time. Many people had | | | | overwhelming. |
| planned to study for two-and-a-half hours that day but | | | | - A study schedule means that you don't waste time |
| ended up only studying for one hour. To assess how | | | | and you have time for other commitments. |
| you use your time and how much free time you | | | | - A schedule also helps you to track your progress. |
| actually have, you may want to make a list of all the | | | | You can see that you have achieved set tasks, |
| things you need to do tomorrow (work, travel time, | | | | completed assignments on time, and made good |
| time with family, meals, shopping). Then, set them out in | | | | progress. |
| a time log (like the example above). Do this for a week | | | | |