Step 3
Planning
your time
Planning your time
Before you do anything else, you
need to plan an effective Study
Timetable.
Planning your time
Before you do anything else, you
need to plan an effective Study
Timetable.
This is probably the most crucial
factor in achieving study success.
The Timetable Trap!!
The Timetable Trap!!
The danger with making a study
timetable, however, is that it can be
rather too much fun.
The Timetable Trap!!
The danger with making a study
timetable, however, is that it can be
rather too much fun.
It’s far nicer to draw up clever and
beautifully colour-coded timetables,
than it is to do the actual work!
The Timetable Trap!!
Don’t be one of those people who
waste so much of their time
designing and redesigning pretty
timetables that they end up
forgetting to do the studying that
they intended to do in the first
place…
Planning your time
A few basic techniques will help
you compose a simple yet effective
Study Timetable…
Planning your time
BUT
FIRST!!
Planning your time
When it comes to planning your
study, there’s one key factor that
we must highlight:
Planning your time
Start early.
Planning your time
Start early.
Start now.
Planning your time
The earlier you set about planning
and following a good study regime,
the easier it’s going to be over the
course of the year.
Planning your time
For the major exams, start early
in the year, not in April or May.
Planning your time
And for each set of exams, start
the final build-up weeks
beforehand, don’t leave it till the
last few days.
Planning your time
We say this because we just want
to make your life easier…
Planning your time
Anyway, back to the steps involved
in making out a Study Timetable.
1. Make an hour-by-hour
plan of the week
Monday
8.00
9.00
10.00
11.00
12.00
1.00pm
2.00pm
3.00pm
4.00pm
5.00pm
6.00pm
7.00pm
8.00pm
9.00pm
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
1. Make an hour-by-hour
plan of the week
 Keep the layout fairly simple
1. Make an hour-by-hour
plan of the week
 Keep the layout fairly simple
 Your timetable doesn’t HAVE to be weekly,
but in a survey of EGS 6th Years, 100% of
the class strongly recommended that it
should be.
1. Make an hour-by-hour
plan of the week
 Keep the layout fairly simple
 Your timetable doesn’t HAVE to be weekly,
but in a survey of EGS 6th Years, 100% of
the class strongly recommended that it
should be.
 This allows it to match your lifestyle, and
also the subjects you do each day.
2. Fill in all your fixed
activities
2. Fill in all your fixed
activities
 eg. school, travel, sports, work, church, etc
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
8.00
School
School
School
School
School
9.00
School
School
School
School
School
10.00
School
School
School
School
School
11.00
School
School
School
School
School
12.00
School
School
School
School
School
1.00pm
School
School
School
School
School
2.00pm
School
School
School
School
School
3.00pm
School
School
School
School
School
4.00pm
5.00pm
6.00pm
7.00pm
8.00pm
9.00pm
Saturday
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
8.00
School
School
School
School
School
9.00
School
School
School
School
School
10.00
School
School
School
School
School
11.00
School
School
School
School
School
12.00
School
School
School
School
School
1.00pm
School
School
School
School
School
2.00pm
School
School
School
School
School
3.00pm
School
School
School
School
School
4.00pm
Travel
Travel
Travel
Travel
Travel
5.00pm
6.00pm
7.00pm
8.00pm
9.00pm
Saturday
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
8.00
School
School
School
School
School
9.00
School
School
School
School
School
10.00
School
School
School
School
School
Church
11.00
School
School
School
School
School
Church
12.00
School
School
School
School
School
1.00pm
School
School
School
School
School
2.00pm
School
School
School
School
School
3.00pm
School
School
School
School
School
4.00pm
Travel
Travel
Travel
Travel
Travel
5.00pm
6.00pm
7.00pm
8.00pm
9.00pm
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
8.00
School
School
School
School
School
9.00
School
School
School
School
School
10.00
School
School
School
School
School
Church
11.00
School
School
School
School
School
Church
12.00
School
School
School
School
School
1.00pm
School
School
School
School
School
2.00pm
School
School
School
School
School
3.00pm
School
School
School
School
School
4.00pm
Travel
Travel
Travel
Travel
Travel
Dinner
Dinner
Dinner
Dinner
Dinner
5.00pm
6.00pm
7.00pm
8.00pm
9.00pm
Dinner
Dinner
2. Fill in all your fixed
activities
 eg. school, travel, sports, work, church, etc
 Two crucial factors are eating and sleeping.
Obviously, you shouldn’t skimp on these.
2. Fill in all your fixed
activities
 eg. school, travel, sports, work, church, etc
 Two crucial factors are eating and sleeping.
Obviously, you shouldn’t skimp on these.
 Indeed, scientists have found that for a
regular study routine you need to train your
body to keep efficient eating and sleeping
habits.
3. Fill in family and friends
time
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
8.00
School
School
School
School
School
9.00
School
School
School
School
School
10.00
School
School
School
School
School
Church
11.00
School
School
School
School
School
Church
12.00
School
School
School
School
School
Family
Lunch
1.00pm
School
School
School
School
School
Family
Lunch
2.00pm
School
School
School
School
School
Family
Lunch
3.00pm
School
School
School
School
School
4.00pm
Travel
Travel
Travel
Travel
Travel
Dinner
Dinner
Dinner
Dinner
Dinner
Family
Lunch
5.00pm
6.00pm
7.00pm
8.00pm
9.00pm
Dinner
Dinner
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
8.00
School
School
School
School
School
9.00
School
School
School
School
School
10.00
School
School
School
School
School
Church
11.00
School
School
School
School
School
Church
12.00
School
School
School
School
School
Family
Lunch
1.00pm
School
School
School
School
School
Family
Lunch
2.00pm
School
School
School
School
School
Family
Lunch
3.00pm
School
School
School
School
School
4.00pm
Travel
Travel
Travel
Travel
Travel
Shopping
with friends
5.00pm
6.00pm
7.00pm
8.00pm
9.00pm
Family
Lunch
Shopping
with friends
Dinner
Dinner
Dinner
Dinner
Dinner
Dinner
Dinner
3. Fill in family and friends
time
 This way you can ensure minimum disruption to
your personal life with maximum time to study.
3. Fill in family and friends
time
 This way you can ensure minimum disruption to
your personal life with maximum time to study.
 It allows you to explain your study commitments
to your family and friends. You will need their
help and support this year. You will also need
them to understand when you need to tell them
to give you time and space to study.
4. Fill in leisure, relaxation
and social activities
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
8.00
School
School
School
School
School
9.00
School
School
School
School
School
10.00
School
School
School
School
School
Rugby
Church
11.00
School
School
School
School
School
Rugby
Church
12.00
School
School
School
School
School
Rugby
Family
Lunch
1.00pm
School
School
School
School
School
Family
Lunch
Family
Lunch
2.00pm
School
School
School
School
School
Family
Lunch
3.00pm
School
School
School
School
School
4.00pm
Travel
Travel
Travel
Travel
Travel
Shopping
with friends
5.00pm
6.00pm
Shopping
with friends
Dinner
Dinner
Dinner
Dinner
7.00pm
8.00pm
Training
Training
9.00pm
Training
Training
Dinner
Dinner
Dinner
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
8.00
School
School
School
School
School
9.00
School
School
School
School
School
10.00
School
School
School
School
School
Rugby
Church
11.00
School
School
School
School
School
Rugby
Church
12.00
School
School
School
School
School
Rugby
Family
Lunch
1.00pm
School
School
School
School
School
Family
Lunch
Family
Lunch
2.00pm
School
School
School
School
School
Family
Lunch
3.00pm
School
School
School
School
School
4.00pm
Travel
Travel
Travel
Travel
Travel
Shopping
with friends
5.00pm
6.00pm
Shopping
with friends
Dinner
Dinner
Dinner
Dinner
7.00pm
Dinner
Youth Club
8.00pm
Training
Training
Youth Club
9.00pm
Training
Training
Youth Club
Dinner
Dinner
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
8.00
School
School
School
School
School
9.00
School
School
School
School
School
10.00
School
School
School
School
School
Rugby
Church
11.00
School
School
School
School
School
Rugby
Church
12.00
School
School
School
School
School
Rugby
Family
Lunch
1.00pm
School
School
School
School
School
Family
Lunch
Family
Lunch
2.00pm
School
School
School
School
School
Family
Lunch
3.00pm
School
School
School
School
School
4.00pm
Travel
Travel
Travel
Travel
Travel
Shopping
with friends
5.00pm
6.00pm
Shopping
with friends
Dinner
Dinner
Dinner
Dinner
7.00pm
Dinner
Dinner
Youth Club
Night Out
8.00pm
Training
Training
Youth Club
Night Out
9.00pm
Training
Training
Youth Club
Night Out
Dinner
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
8.00
School
School
School
School
School
Lie-In
Lie-In
9.00
School
School
School
School
School
Lie-In
Lie-In
10.00
School
School
School
School
School
Rugby
Church
11.00
School
School
School
School
School
Rugby
Church
12.00
School
School
School
School
School
Rugby
Family
Lunch
1.00pm
School
School
School
School
School
Family
Lunch
Family
Lunch
2.00pm
School
School
School
School
School
Family
Lunch
3.00pm
School
School
School
School
School
4.00pm
Travel
Travel
Travel
Travel
Travel
Shopping
with friends
5.00pm
6.00pm
Shopping
with friends
Dinner
Dinner
Dinner
Dinner
7.00pm
Dinner
Dinner
Youth Club
Night Out
8.00pm
Training
Training
Youth Club
Night Out
9.00pm
Training
Training
Youth Club
Night Out
Dinner
4. Fill in leisure, relaxation
and social activities
 A balanced lifestyle is important – a healthy
mind in a healthy body.
4. Fill in leisure, relaxation
and social activities
 A balanced lifestyle is important – a healthy
mind in a healthy body.
 You will find it easier to stick to your
timetable if it includes time for socialising,
sport, relaxation, etc.
4. Fill in leisure, relaxation
and social activities
 A balanced lifestyle is important – a healthy
mind in a healthy body.
 You will find it easier to stick to your
timetable if it includes time for socialising,
sport, relaxation, etc.
 Make some form of regular exercise part of
your timetable.
5. Now … what blocks are
left for study?
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
8.00
School
School
School
School
School
Lie-In
Lie-In
9.00
School
School
School
School
School
Lie-In
Lie-In
10.00
School
School
School
School
School
Rugby
Church
11.00
School
School
School
School
School
Rugby
Church
12.00
School
School
School
School
School
Rugby
Family
Lunch
1.00pm
School
School
School
School
School
Family
Lunch
Family
Lunch
2.00pm
School
School
School
School
School
Family
Lunch
3.00pm
School
School
School
School
School
4.00pm
Travel
Travel
Travel
Travel
Travel
Shopping
with friends
5.00pm
6.00pm
Shopping
with friends
Dinner
Dinner
Dinner
Dinner
7.00pm
Dinner
Dinner
Youth Club
Night Out
8.00pm
Training
Training
Youth Club
Night Out
9.00pm
Training
Training
Youth Club
Night Out
Dinner
5. Now … what blocks are
left for study?
 Discuss with your teachers how much study or
homework you should be doing in a week (this
will vary as you get older in the School).
5. Now … what blocks are
left for study?
 Discuss with your teachers how much study or
homework you should be doing in a week (this
will vary as you get older in the School).
 Make a list of your subjects. Beside each, list
how much time you need to give it over the
week.
Subject
Time
English
2 hours
Irish
1 hour
Maths
3 hours
French
2 hours
Biology
2 hours
History
1.5 hours
Accounting
1.5 hours
Economics
2 hours
TOTAL
15 hours
5. Now … what blocks are
left for study?
 Discuss with your teachers how much study or
homework you should be doing in a week (this
will vary as you get older in the School).
 Make a list of your subjects. Beside each, list
how much time you need to give it over the
week.
 This will guide you as you fill in the timetable.
6. Completing the
timetable
6. Completing the
timetable
 Mark in study blocks of 1-2 hours in length,
with a 5-10 minute break every 40-45
minutes.
When you take a
break, do something
active
6. Completing the
timetable
 Mark in study blocks of 1-2 hours in length,
with a 5-10 minute break every 40-45
minutes.
 Fill in the timetable, subject by subject, night
by night.
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
8.00
School
School
School
School
School
Lie-In
Lie-In
9.00
School
School
School
School
School
Lie-In
Lie-In
10.00
School
School
School
School
School
Rugby
Church
11.00
School
School
School
School
School
Rugby
Church
12.00
School
School
School
School
School
Rugby
Family
Lunch
1.00pm
School
School
School
School
School
Family
Lunch
Family
Lunch
2.00pm
School
School
School
School
School
Family
Lunch
French
3.00pm
School
School
School
School
School
Biology
Accounting
4.00pm
Travel
Travel
Travel
Travel
Travel
History &
Accounting
Shopping
with friends
5.00pm
Maths
Economics
Biology
Maths
Economics
Shopping
with friends
6.00pm
Dinner
Dinner
Dinner
Dinner
Dinner
Dinner
Dinner
7.00pm
English
Maths
English
Maths
Youth Club
Night Out
Weekly Plan
& Review
Training
French
Training
Youth Club
Night Out
Training
Youth Club
Night Out
8.00pm
9.00pm
History
Training
6. Completing the
timetable
 Keep in mind what time of day YOU work best:
6. Completing the
timetable
 Keep in mind what time of day YOU work best:
Early mornings?
6. Completing the
timetable
 Keep in mind what time of day YOU work best:
Early mornings?
Straight after school?
6. Completing the
timetable
 Keep in mind what time of day YOU work best:
Early mornings?
Straight after school?
Later on, after you’ve had a break?
6. Completing the
timetable
 Keep in mind what time of day YOU work best:
Early mornings?
Straight after school?
Later on, after you’ve had a break?
 Build in rewards for yourself! Eg. Letting
yourself watch a match or film after a good
session of study.
6. Completing the
timetable
 Include flexibility – allocate some spare study
time to cater for unforeseen interruptions or a
topic that requires extra time.
6. Completing the
timetable
 Include flexibility – allocate some spare study
time to cater for unforeseen interruptions or a
topic that requires extra time.
 Build in a weekly planning session. Spend
some time on Sunday or Monday planning your
timetable for the coming week, taking into
account the specific demands of that week –
both social and academic.
7. Finally…
7. Finally…
 Having the timetable is great. But now you
have to stick to it too.
7. Finally…
 Having the timetable is great. But now you
have to stick to it too.
 The timetable doesn’t mean you can’t use
extra pockets of time – a free class, when
you’re on the bus, etc.
7. Finally…
 Having the timetable is great. But now you
have to stick to it too.
 The timetable doesn’t mean you can’t use
extra pockets of time – a free class, when
you’re on the bus, etc. But these are bonuses
– they don’t mean you can skimp the
timetabled hours.
7. Finally…
 Timetabled time should be priority study time.
Absolutely no phone, social media or internet use.
7. Finally…
 Timetabled time should be priority study time.
Absolutely no phone, social media or internet use.
 Too often, students kid themselves that they’re
“studying” because they’re in their room for the
right amount of time. But if they’re constantly
being distracted, this is just wasted time.
The Good News!
Keeping to your Study Timetable
will get easier the longer you
continue with it.
If you do, it will eventually become
a habit, part of your daily routine.