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Study Skills : Creating a Weekly Schedule
Creating a Weekly Schedule: sub-module 2 of 4 of time management
This module explains how to create a useful weekly schedule. A weekly schedule is a way to keep track of your activities and tasks for the week. It includes everything you have to do, and helps you plan out when you can get things done. It also helps you see how much time you have available.
Tips
- Plan for real life.Be realistic about what you can accomplish each day. For example, make sure you have some gaps between activities to allow for down time, eating, and travel.
- Give yourself enough time.Budget at least 1 hour of homework for every hour of class time.
- Plan study time.Plan blocks of time when you can study and work on assignments, and then figure out what work you need to do in each time slot.
- Plan time for fun.Leave time in your schedule for the things that make life worthwhile, such as hobbies or time with friends.
- Don’t over commit.Try to avoid cramming your schedule with activities and tasks. Leave some free time for flexibility. Remember: you are not going to be able to predict for all of the unexpected events that can and will happen.
- Spread things out.Try to spread activities without fixed times across the week so that they are not all concentrated on already busy days.
Weekly Schedule Templates
Creating Your Schedule for the Week
Why Use a Weekly Schedule?
In college, no one is there to map out your days for you. You have to take control of your own time. A weekly schedule helps by giving you a clear picture of how your hours are spent, so you can make the most of them. It includes fixed commitments like classes, labs, and work shifts, as well as planned study sessions, errands, meals, and downtime.
Seeing your week laid out in one place makes it easier to spot open time blocks, plan ahead for busy days, and maintain a healthy balance between academic responsibilities and personal life.
Watch the video to find out why you should use a weekly schedule.
How to Create a Weekly Schedule
Watch the video or follow the steps below to create your own weekly schedule.
Steps to create a weekly schedule
- Find a Template
Find a weekly schedule template that works for you. Use one of the following options:
• Our Word template
• Our PDF template - Opens in a new window
• Calendars on programs such as Blackboard, Outlook/Office 365 or Google Calendar.
(Check out the Software Tutorials tab for help using these programs). - Add Classes Start by adding your classes to the schedule so you have a clear picture of your fixed academic commitments. These are non-negotiable blocks of time that everything else in your week will need to work around.
- Add Fixed Commitments Add all items that already have set times for the week—such as appointments, meetings, and part-time work shifts. These are your non-negotiable obligations, so locking them into your schedule ensures you won’t accidentally overlap them with other activities.
- Schedule Dedicated Study Blocks Block out specific times for studying and completing coursework, aiming to spread these sessions across the week rather than cramming them into busy days. As a general rule, plan for about one hour of study time outside of class for every hour spent in class. Whenever possible, schedule these blocks during the times of day when you feel most alert and focused.
- Plan Weekly Class Work Once your study blocks are in place, assign specific tasks to each one. For example, you might dedicate Monday afternoon to your assigned readings, Wednesday morning to starting an essay draft, and Friday to reviewing notes for an upcoming quiz.
- Include Flexible Activities Add in tasks that need to be completed that week but don’t have a fixed time, such as: grocery shopping, laundry, or errands. Spread these activities throughout the week so they don’t pile up on days when you already have a heavy workload.
- Add Balance and Downtime Don’t forget to include activities that support your health and happiness, such as spending time with friends, exercising, or pursuing hobbies. These activities help maintain balance in your life, reduce stress, and keep you energized for academic work.
Software Tutorials
Creating a weekly schedule in a tool such as Google Calendar and Outlook has several advantages:
- You can create a separate calendar just for your weekly schedule, and can hide this calendar from view, as needed.
- You can access these calendars online from anywhere and on multiple devices.
- You can download the Google Calendar or Outlook app and allow your phone to send you notifications about events.
