{"id":286,"date":"2017-06-12T18:52:29","date_gmt":"2017-06-12T08:52:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.icieducation.co.uk\/blog\/?p=286"},"modified":"2022-11-20T01:44:44","modified_gmt":"2022-11-19T14:44:44","slug":"tips-for-setting-up-a-study-plan-that-really-suits-your-lifestyle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/icieducation.co.uk\/blog\/tips-for-setting-up-a-study-plan-that-really-suits-your-lifestyle\/","title":{"rendered":"Tips for Setting Up a Study Plan that Really Suits Your Lifestyle"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-290\" src=\"https:\/\/icieducation.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Ici-Uk-Tips-for-Setting-Up-a-Study-Plan-that-Really-Suits-Your-Lifestyle.jpg\" alt=\"Ici Uk - Tips for Setting Up a Study Plan that Really Suits Your Lifestyle\" width=\"100%\" height=\"auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/icieducation.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Ici-Uk-Tips-for-Setting-Up-a-Study-Plan-that-Really-Suits-Your-Lifestyle.jpg 899w, https:\/\/icieducation.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Ici-Uk-Tips-for-Setting-Up-a-Study-Plan-that-Really-Suits-Your-Lifestyle-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/icieducation.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Ici-Uk-Tips-for-Setting-Up-a-Study-Plan-that-Really-Suits-Your-Lifestyle-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/icieducation.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Ici-Uk-Tips-for-Setting-Up-a-Study-Plan-that-Really-Suits-Your-Lifestyle-1024x684.jpg 898w, https:\/\/icieducation.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Ici-Uk-Tips-for-Setting-Up-a-Study-Plan-that-Really-Suits-Your-Lifestyle-50x33.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 899px) 100vw, 899px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>A study plan is an organised schedule that outlines study times and learning goals. It\u2019s a critical part of student life, but as every student is different, every study plan should be different too.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s no one-size-fits-all rule book for studying. Everyone has different commitments, hobbies, responsibilities and goals, therefore every study plan should be customised to the individual. That said, there are some general guidelines for common groups of students. Here&#8217;s what you need to know.<\/p>\n<h2>Unemployed\/full-time students<\/h2>\n<p>Unemployed or full time students often don\u2019t see the importance in creating a study plan as they know that study is their primary priority. They believe that without the distraction of work, the interruptions from kids, and the general lack of free time, that finding time to study should be easy. Sure you might be in the best position to study, but doesn\u2019t that mean you\u2019re giving it <em>enough <\/em>time?<\/p>\n<p>Creating a study schedule will set aside the necessary amount of time for studying and will teach you how to use your time wisely. Even when you have time up your sleeve, you still want to spend time well. Choose a calendar or program you can easily refer to, and one that\u2019s big enough to document daily study requirements for at least one semester. Make sure you add final examination dates and any class times.<\/p>\n<p>Sticking with your schedule is just as important as creating one. No one creates a schedule with the intent to ignore it, but the freedom that comes with unemployment or student life means that you are the likeliest group to procrastinate. After all, you\u2019ll have the time tomorrow to pick up where you left off. Or will you?<\/p>\n<div class='blog_banner'>\n                <a href='\/courses'>\n                    <div class='blog_banner_link'>\n                        Find your next course with <strong>ICI<\/strong>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class='blog_banner_more' style='top: -18%;'>Learn More<\/div>\n                <\/a>\n            <\/div><h2>Part-time workers<\/h2>\n<p>Juggling study with part-time work is demanding, but it\u2019s certainly doable. In fact, most students fund their living costs through a part-time job.<\/p>\n<p>When creating a study schedule based around part-time work, you need to consider what kind of work you\u2019re in. Shops, for example, are busiest in November and December and you may be expected to cover extra shifts. As a guide, you should always try to commit to study early into coursework deadlines so that you know what availability you have as the end date draws near. Good forward planning and visual representation of your time is crucial.<\/p>\n<p>As a guide, full-time students are recommended to keep their working hours to no more than 15 hours per week. If your studies are part-time, your work\/study allocated hours can be more evenly distributed.<\/p>\n<h2>Full-time workers<\/h2>\n<p>Studying for an additional qualification when you\u2019re working full time can put you in good stead to boost your career, but it\u2019s not easy finding study time. That\u2019s why you need to be on top of the time management and dedication to studies game.<\/p>\n<p>To create a study plan, start by documenting all your deadlines or exams and what you\u2019ll be studying in each module. Next, put in your working hours and any other commitments you might have. You can then look at the gaps in your calendar and schedule in some study time.<\/p>\n<p>As you are working full-time, be aware that there will be times when the last thing you want to do is study. If you know you regularly come home from work feeling tired, then consider an alternate time to evenings. Perhaps you could:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Wake a couple of hours early each morning and study before you go to work<\/li>\n<li>Consider setting aside a few hours on a Saturday morning<\/li>\n<li>Draw on the energy you get from completing the gym session by lining up a few hours study straight after<\/li>\n<li>Talk to your boss about an extended lunch break that allows you to work an hour on your studies each day at work. If your studies are designed to improve your current employee capabilities, your employer should want to support your growth.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The important thing to remember is to not schedule your sessions to be too short. Studying often requires you to get \u2018stuck in\u2019, so quick gap-fillers aren\u2019t recommended. Remind yourself of what you\u2019ve got to gain from your new qualification. Motivation will help you find the time to sit and study. Tell others around you, and let them help you stay motivated too.<\/p>\n<h2>Parents<\/h2>\n<p>It may feel like a diploma is an individual pursuit, but studying is definitely a team sport when you\u2019re a parent. Your family is your number one priority, therefore of course they should be a part of your study plan.<\/p>\n<p>Because you are a parent and life is not just about you, it\u2019s important you make friends with scheduling. Documenting ALL your commitments will make life a whole lot easier, and having a visual representation of your routine will help you stay in control. Populate a study planner and everyone in the family can see what you\u2019re up to.<\/p>\n<p>Once you\u2019ve found time in your day for study, you need to make the most of it. If the kids are running around at your feet, consider going off to a quiet room or disappearing to the library. If you choose the first option, make sure it\u2019s a designated \u2018study space\u2019 that\u2019s free of distractions. If you choose the latter option, make sure you leave the kids with someone you trust so that you aren\u2019t distracted with worry. Look ahead too, so that you have regular sitters in place, especially around deadline time.<\/p>\n<h2>General tips for setting up a study plan<\/h2>\n<h3>1. Be flexible but committed<\/h3>\n<p>Study plans should be flexible, but they should also maintain structure. If you keep switching study times around to suit social events and other distractions, it may be time to start saying no. Your course won\u2019t last forever, so concentrate on study for now and know that socialising will come later. When it does, it will be that much sweeter and deserved too.<\/p>\n<h3>2. Consider your study style<\/h3>\n<p>Everyone works differently, and figuring out what style of studier you are will help you make the most of your study time. There are plenty of online resources to help you self-assess your working style, so test yourself today and determine whether you\u2019re style is visual, aural, experiential or written. Structure your study plan to incorporate your style and get the most bang for your study buck.<\/p>\n<h3>3. Add an emergency<\/h3>\n<p>Every week something is bound to come up that will take time away from your planned schedule. If you schedule in a few hours for an emergency, you can easily swap things around. If no emergency comes, you\u2019ve just scored yourself a few hours of free time. Woohoo!<\/p>\n<h3>4. Make it accessible<\/h3>\n<p>Your study schedule should be placed in a visible location so that you can see it and follow it every day. Never presume you know what\u2019s happening &#8211; always check the schedule.<\/p>\n<h3>5. Schedule in time for building energy<\/h3>\n<p>We know you\u2019re time poor, but if you don\u2019t schedule in time for well-balanced meals, exercise and sleep, you\u2019ll feel fatigued, unable to concentrate, and be consequently less productive come study time. Studying requires you to take care of yourself, so give yourself the time to do that.<\/p>\n<h2>Planning for success<\/h2>\n<p>Having a set plan and knowing when, where and for how long you\u2019re going to be studying for is the ultimate motivator, and a great way to make sure you\u2019re staying on track with your studies. To find out more about how the International Career Institute can facilitate and support you learning about your own schedule, <a href=\"https:\/\/icieducation.co.uk\/why-ici\/\">contact us today. <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A study plan is an organised schedule that outlines study times and learning goals. It\u2019s a critical part of student life, but as every student is different, every study plan should be different too. There\u2019s no one-size-fits-all rule book for studying. Everyone has different commitments, hobbies, responsibilities and goals, therefore every study plan should be [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":290,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-286","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-tips"],"acf":[],"blog_post_layout_featured_media_urls":{"thumbnail":["https:\/\/icieducation.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Ici-Uk-Tips-for-Setting-Up-a-Study-Plan-that-Really-Suits-Your-Lifestyle-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"full":["https:\/\/icieducation.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Ici-Uk-Tips-for-Setting-Up-a-Study-Plan-that-Really-Suits-Your-Lifestyle.jpg",899,600,false]},"categories_names":{"1":{"name":"News &amp; Tips","link":"https:\/\/icieducation.co.uk\/blog\/news-tips\/"}},"tags_names":[],"comments_number":0,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/icieducation.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/286","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/icieducation.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/icieducation.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/icieducation.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/icieducation.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=286"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/icieducation.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/286\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/icieducation.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/290"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/icieducation.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=286"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/icieducation.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=286"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/icieducation.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=286"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}