Managing your time

University studies are characterised by an apparent freedom of organisation: weekly homework either disappears or is limited to a few lectures, readings and practical work. In some faculties, intermediate tests of knowledge are systematic; in others, they are infrequent. With the exception of a few cases (practical work, seminars), absences or attendance are not checked. And, in some faculties, you have to register for exam sessions yourself. Finally, compared with gymnasium or lycée, where the unit of work is often the week and sometimes the month, university studies are organised on a half-yearly basis.

You therefore need to plan your work over long periods and finish the key moments of your studies.

• Make a weekly schedule (courses, hobbies, placements, etc.) and a annual planning (dates d'examens, inscriptions, déi pour la remise de travaux, etc.).
• Set yourself priorities, realistic deadlines and priorities. Don't forget that’a good plan is a plan that’you can keep.
• List your daily tasks that you need to accomplish.

When are the best times to work?

For many people, the morning is more conducive to activities involving analysis, reflection or learning. The afternoon should be devoted to group work or systemic activities (filing, copying, updating, etc.). Set an end time for an activity and only skip it in exceptional circumstances. Avoid letting yourself get carried away beyond what is reasonable.

• Manage your time according to the Pareto principle: 20% of the time invested produces 80% of the result.
• Identify time wasters such as lack of order, inopportune telephone calls, lack of foresight, breaks that are too long, etc.
• Consider the urgency and importance of a task before undertaking it. Define your priorities and stick to them. Do only one thing at a time, and try to stick to it.
• Control the turnover of your activities and draw the consequences of planning errors.