Time management / study schedule

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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Just wondering what my fellow fall 2012 pre nursing students are doing to stay on top of studies and balance life demands. I am taking 2 online courses and 2 lab sciences. I don't work and don't have kids. I do have a long commute and dh lol. Right now I live for caffeine and sugar because anatomy is leaving me little room for sleep : ) I feel like this one class will consume my life if I let it.

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My teacher gave out a blank schedule that goes hour by hour, 24 hours,7 days a week. We can color coat it and schedule in class, work, studying, etc. It's supposed to help us actually plan out study time. I am seeing that a lot of my work will get done between 8 pm and midnight lol luckily I don't have to get up early. It is definitely demanding but I know that the times I decide to study, I will actually do it and get stuff done. I will not just say I studied.

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I am taking 5 classes and working 36 hours a week this semster. I have one lab (so its like 6 classes) i have class 5 days a week and i work 3. Heres my "dream" schedule (hopefully this will work this semster):

Mon- Get off at 730am. Class 9a-11a. Home and sleep 12-8. Study 830-2a shower then bed 230a loan car to cousin at some pt

Tues- wake 530 commute by mass transit and study some 6-830 class 930-12 study 1-6. Then home, shower, and maybe study then sleep

Wednes- wake 530- commute and study 6-830 class 9-11 study 12-6

Thurs- same as tues except pick up car after studying

Fri- drive to school, class 9-11, study 12-5 go work 7p-730a

Sat and sunday - sleep and work nights

Again hopefully i can keep this up. I will catch up on sleep on the weekends. And i dont account for food and stuff because i dont cook. Tv dinners take 3 minutes while i read.

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I am taking 5 classes and working 36 hours a week this semster. I have one lab (so its like 6 classes) i have class 5 days a week and i work 3. Heres my "dream" schedule (hopefully this will work this semster):

Mon- Get off at 730am. Class 9a-11a. Home and sleep 12-8. Study 830-2a shower then bed 230a loan car to cousin at some pt

Tues- wake 530 commute by mass transit and study some 6-830 class 930-12 study 1-6. Then home, shower, and maybe study then sleep

Wednes- wake 530- commute and study 6-830 class 9-11 study 12-6

Thurs- same as tues except pick up car after studying

Fri- drive to school, class 9-11, study 12-5 go work 7p-730a

Sat and sunday - sleep and work nights

Again hopefully i can keep this up. I will catch up on sleep on the weekends. And i dont account for food and stuff because i dont cook. Tv dinners take 3 minutes while i read.

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WOW!

Salute to you! :cheers:

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Specializes in Hospitalist Medicine.

I am taking 6 classes (17 credits) this semester, so time management is crucial!

I bought a planner and took the course calendar for each class and placed it into a master schedule so I can see, at a glance, every assignment due, each quiz, each test, etc. I've color-coded all quizzes & tests, so I can prep ahead of time. I've also budgeted time each day for tasks related to each class.

For example, in my Human Growth & Development class, I have to read chapters 1 through 5 in the book before September 12th. I looked at how many pages that is and spread out my reading over the course of the next 2 weeks. I have a 3 hour gap between my Physiology & Microbiology classes on M & W, so I use that time to work on my online classes. I also don't have class on T & Th until 12 PM, so I have time in the morning to devote to reading. I only have one class on Fridays, so that gives me the entire day to work on school. I also have time in the evenings, but I like to spend it with my family and take a break from the books. However, that time is available to me, if I need it.

I view school as my full-time job. I figure if I can make it through 17 credit hours this semester, then taking only ONE nursing class when I start nursing school should feel a lot easier, work-wise.

I think the best thing for managing your time is to view your school work as exciting and something new to learn. If you view it as a chore, then you start dreading your homework and reading. Perception always helps make it easier :D

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I am taking 6 classes (17 credits) this semester, so time management is crucial!

I bought a planner and took the course calendar for each class and placed it into a master schedule so I can see, at a glance, every assignment due, each quiz, each test, etc. I've color-coded all quizzes & tests, so I can prep ahead of time. I've also budgeted time each day for tasks related to each class.

For example, in my Human Growth & Development class, I have to read chapters 1 through 5 in the book before September 12th. I looked at how many pages that is and spread out my reading over the course of the next 2 weeks. I have a 3 hour gap between my Physiology & Microbiology classes on M & W, so I use that time to work on my online classes. I also don't have class on T & Th until 12 PM, so I have time in the morning to devote to reading. I only have one class on Fridays, so that gives me the entire day to work on school. I also have time in the evenings, but I like to spend it with my family and take a break from the books. However, that time is available to me, if I need it.

I view school as my full-time job. I figure if I can make it through 17 credit hours this semester, then taking only ONE nursing class when I start nursing school should feel a lot easier, work-wise.

I think the best thing for managing your time is to view your school work as exciting and something new to learn. If you view it as a chore, then you start dreading your homework and reading. Perception always helps make it easier :D

Thats what i do. Break up the reading over a number of days. It makesnthe reading less overwhelming and more managable.

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I think the best thing for managing your time is to view your school work as exciting and something new to learn. If you view it as a chore, then you start dreading your homework and reading. Perception always helps make it easier :D

I need to write this down and stick it on my fridge lol. I used to be so much better about going into a new semester with a fresh and positive attitude but this time around I have NOT been able to give myself an attitude adjustment and I start tonight! Dreading it is putting it lightly and I know if that doesn't change soon I won't be successful.

Sorry to sort of hijack the thread, OP:)

My biggest time management tip is to actually study and focus during your allotted study time. It's easy to get distracted and before you know it, that time is up and you feel like you've been sitting there for hours but in reality you haven't learned all that much!

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My biggest time management tip is to actually study and focus during your allotted study time. It's easy to get distracted and before you know it, that time is up and you feel like you've been sitting there for hours but in reality you haven't learned all that much!

This is so so so true. Many times i sit down and study and then look up 3 hours have passed and i only read one paragraph. Either i blacked out and partied or im not studying effectively. Lol.

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I write to do lists daily! I always keep one to fill out in class and take it home to work on. I have two kids in sports and have been doing pre req's for two years. My time is extremely valuable to me. I also have a two hour round trip drive to school 4 days a week.

I live for crossing items off my to do lists because that means I am one step closer to my ultimate goal. Corny I know! But I always think of every assignment that way.

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Specializes in CMSRN, hospice.

To thenameismac and SopranoKris: Holy. Crap. You win. :bowingpur

OP, I work full-time and have just one pre-req to finish this semester, but I did a mix of online and lab classes with work for the past year. I think my best tip is to take whatever study time comes up and run with it. I used to wait to do all my studying in big chunks because I like to cross things off once and for all. It never got done because there was never a chunk big enough; the most I got when I was a full-time student was 50 minutes at a stretch between classes, which I would use to goof off with friends or read a book. Now that I'm back doing my pre-reqs I take whatever time I get, even if it's only half an hour, to go over this concept or that concept. It sticks soooo much better when I do a little bit at a time, and I end up not going crazy trying to cram.

Sleep and *some* physical activity are non-negotiable - for me, at least. Always make sure you get the sleep you need, and make time at least a couple times a week to get out and move around, even just jump-roping for a few minutes or walking around the mall or something. It helps me stay awake but not restless so I can concentrate during class/study time.

A to-do list creates enough urgency for me that I know I have things to do, but makes me more confident that I will remember everything I need to so chaos doesn't ensue.

I can identify with the caffeine and sugar addiction. I definitely kinda-sorta already had a Diet Coke this morning and will probably have another before the day is up. :zzzzz The sad part is that it probably does more harm than good. I always feel better when I fill up on my fruits and veggies and save the sugar rush for the weekend or breaks, but...I don't want to!

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SopranoKris you rock!!! I was wondering how you would get all of it done this semester. You really have it figured out. I watched a cute little girl on YouTube I think her name is nikkithebrat she has loads of info on organizing and studying. ??

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Specializes in Hospitalist Medicine.
SopranoKris you rock!!! I was wondering how you would get all of it done this semester. You really have it figured out. I watched a cute little girl on YouTube I think her name is nikkithebrat she has loads of info on organizing and studying. 

Thanks so much! I'll have to check that out. Anything to help make it easier :)

Now I've got to figure out how to plan writing 3 research papers into my schedule...ugh! Luckily, they're all SHORT (less than 7 pages) projects so I'm hoping I won't want to jump off a bridge before the end of the semester...LOL :D I figure, if I can get through this...nursing school shouldn't feel so hard, right?

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