Study

Session
Planner

PDF

CollegeStudySmarts.com
 Study Smarts CollegeStudySmarts.com

Maximize Small Study Sessions

For Big Results
Attention management is an intentional
focus on where we put our efforts and
attention. This has huge implications for you
as a student.

You are balancing a lot with school, work,

families, and friends. To manage all of these
areas of life you have to squeeze every ounce
of productivity out of your study sessions by
avoiding distractions and knowing what you
want to achieve before starting.

Being intentional with small study sessions

means deciding ahead of time what to achieve,
setting a time limit, managing our focus while
studying, and doing a quick recap to adjust
your approach for the next study session.

Before Studying
When you don’t have a plan or goal to
accomplish you will accomplish very little.
First, decide what you want to accomplish. It
might mean:
»» read chapter 2 and take notes
»» outline research paper
»» write the introduction to a paper
»» watch an assigned video and take notes
»» revise your notes
»» complete a comprehensive review
Choose only one thing to focus on for your
study session. This ensures you are able
to complete it and also helps you work
efficiently and stay focused. Remember, we
aren’t wired to multi-task.
When you know what you want to
accomplish, set a reasonable time limit
for yourself and prepare everything you
need. If you need to take notes, do you have
paper or your computer? Need to watch a
video? Do you have the link and an internet
connection? A few seconds of planning
ahead can save you tons of time being stuck
without the tools you need.
 Study Smarts CollegeStudySmarts.com

While Studying
Now you know exactly what to do and have
everything necessary to get started. So start!
While studying your goal is to keep
minimizing distractions. If you are used to
studying in a very distracted manner with
lots of noise and notifications breaking your
focus, it takes practice. Start out the right
way by taking care of these things at the
start of your study session:
Then during your study session stay focused
on your goal and only your goal. This means
avoiding multitasking at all costs and
ignoring everything not helping you reach
your goal.
This singular focus is how you accomplish big
results from small study sessions.

»» cut out distractions and turn off the tv,

radio, video games, etc.
»» silence your phone and check out these
tips to boost your phone productivity

After Studying
At the end of your study session (this is why Commit to applying this level of focus to
we have a time limit, so you have a defined your study sessions for one week and see
end), don’t rush immediately to the next thing. phenomenal results.

Stop for one minute and consider how your Use the worksheet on the next page to help
study session went: you walk through this process and watch
yourself accomplish your goals!
»» What did you accomplish?
»» Did you meet your goal?
»» If not, what got in the way?
»» What will you do differently in the next
study session?
 Study Smarts CollegeStudySmarts.com

Before You Begin

DATE TIME LIMIT

GOAL What will I accomplish? PREP CHECKLIST

oo I have everything I need

oo Turn off radio, phone, tv, video games, etc.
(cut out distractions)
oo Don’t multi-task
oo Noise-canceling headphones (optional)

After You Finish

RESULT What did I accomplish? DID I HIT MY GOAL?

oo yes oo no

IF NO, WHY DIDN’T I HIT MY GOAL?

ONE THING I WILL DO DIFFERENTLY NEXT TIME