Building an Effective Study Schedule
When classes end and final exam season rolls around, the last thing you want to worry about is spending time getting organized. Create your study schedule now to set yourself up for success so that you can start studying early and stay on top of everything you need to do to prepare. Follow this step-by-step guide to help you curate a customized schedule.
Please note: Everyone's study schedule will look differently based on personal preferences and commitments, as well as the time of year. Create one that works best for you and your needs as a student!
If you'd like one-on-one support to help you create an effective study schedule, book an Exam Preparation appointment on wlu.ca/studentsuccess.
Steps for Building an Effective Study Schedule
Step 1: Start with the non-negotiables.
To get started, block out the approximate time for each of your exams, including travel and de-compress time before and after. If you haven’t already, confirm your exam dates, start times, and locations on the Final Exam Schedule and consult your course outlines to determine the length of your exam.
We recommend blocking off time in your calendar with the assumption that you will use your full exam time. Don’t forget to reward yourself with a break afterwards if you can, whether it’s to watch a quick episode before you get right back into studying or taking the rest of the night off.
Next, don’t forget to block off time for any other scheduled commitments you may have. If you have shifts at work, extra-curricular activities that are still going on, or are headed home for a family gathering, make sure you block these times off in your schedule!
Step 2: Add your study blocks.
Now that you know your non-negotiables, it’s time to start blocking off time to actually study. It’s important to make sure you have enough time blocked off to adequately study for each of your exams. To do this, we recommend creating specific goals for each study session you create (i.e., what exam are you studying for and what material is your focus?). Make sure you include time to both study and review information.
The time that you spend studying for each exam will greatly depend on your knowledge on, and confidence in, the topics covered. Check out these must-know study tips to make the most of your study time.
It’s important to create a schedule that incorporates retrieval practice (i.e., testing yourself without study aids and figuring out what you don’t know), interleaving (i.e., studying material in different orders than you learned them), and spaced practice (i.e., starting early and spreading out the study sessions spent on each course and topic).
Another important consideration is whether you prefer longer study sessions with fewer longer breaks or shorter study sessions with more frequent quick breaks. This is a personal choice, so choose the breakdown that helps you feel most productive and focused!
Step 3: Include some “you” time.
Once your schedule is packed with everything school-related, it’s time to add in some downtime. Take time to consider open spaces in your schedule where you can include time to go for a walk, stop by the grocery store, call home, catch up with a friend, etc. Sometimes it can even be helpful to schedule your meals, so you don’t forget to eat when things get busy.
Don’t forget to include:
- Morning routine time to prepare for the day and night-time routine to wrap-up your day and reflect on your progress.
- At least three breaks of your choosing.
- Meals and snacks (food is fuel!).
- Consistent times to wake up and go to bed each day.
Remember: Once you've finished your full schedule, the white space in your calendar can be used for additional breaks or time to catch-up if some tasks take longer than anticipated. Don’t feel pressured to fill up every minute of your day!
You can also fit in smaller breaks throughout your study sessions. We recommend using the Power Hour to help stay focused!
Daily Routines Inspiration
Getting into a consistent routine is important and can lead to higher levels of motivation. This is because humans are creatures of habit, and the more we do things at the same time every day, the more it becomes a habit! Check out some of these daily routines and try creating your own when making your study schedule.
8 a.m.: Wake up and morning routine
8:30 a.m.: Study (4 hours)
12:30 p.m.: Lunch and afternoon break
1:30 p.m.: Study (4 hours)
5:30 p.m.: Dinner and evening break
6:30 p.m.: Study (4 hours)
10:30 p.m.: Leisure time and relax
11:30 p.m.: Night routine
Midnight: Bedtime
9 a.m.: Wake up and morning routine
10 a.m.: Study (2 hours)
Noon: Lunch and watch an episode
1 p.m.: Study (3 hours)
4 p.m.: Snack and watch an episode
5 p.m.: Study (2 hours)
7 p.m.: Dinner and watch an episode
8 p.m.: Study (2 hours)
10 p.m.: Night routine and watch a couple episodes
Midnight: Bedtime
9 a.m.: Read book for leisure
10 a.m.: Study (3 hours)
1 p.m.: Lunch + visit the library
2 p.m.: Study (3 hours)
5 p.m.: Read book for leisure
6 p.m.: Dinner + evening break
7 p.m.: Study (2 hours)
9 p.m.: Journal + one last chapter + other leisure time
11 p.m.: Night routine
Midnight: Bedtime
10 a.m.: Wake up + morning routine
11 a.m.: Leisure time + relax
Noon: Lunch
1 p.m.: Study (2 hours)
3 p.m.: Afternoon break
4 p.m.: Study (2 hours)
6 p.m.: Dinner
7 p.m.: Night off / hangout with friends
Midnight: Night routine
1 a.m.: Bedtime
9:30 a.m.: Answer club emails + review your event to-do list
10 a.m.: Study (3 hours)
1 p.m.: Lunch + afternoon break + run errands for your event
3 p.m.: Study (3 hours)
6 p.m.: Dinner + get ready for event
7 p.m.: Host and enjoy your event
10 p.m.: Get home + de-compress
10:30 p.m.: Study (1 hour)
11:30 p.m.: Night time routine
Midnight: Bedtime
7 a.m.: Wake up + morning routine
8 a.m.: Commute to campus
9 a.m.: Study (3.5 hours)
12:30 p.m.: Lunch + afternoon break
1:30 p.m.: Study (3.5 hours)
5 p.m.: Commute home
6 p.m.: Dinner + evening break
7 p.m.: Study (2 hours)
9 p.m.: Leisure time + relax
10 p.m.: Night routine
11 p.m.: Bedtime
8 a.m.: Wake up + morning routine
9 a.m.: Respond to emails + post on socials
10 a.m.: Study (3 hours)
1 p.m.: Lunch + engage with social media community
2 p.m.: Brainstorm content + browse trends
3 p.m.: Film social content + post on socials
5 p.m.: Study (3 hours)
8 p.m.: Dinner + evening break
9 p.m.: Study (1 hour)
10 p.m.: Edit social content
11 p.m.: Night routine
Midnight: Bedtime
7 a.m.: Wake up and morning routine
8 a.m.: Study (2 hours)
10 a.m.: Snack and morning break
11 a.m.: Study (2 hours)
1 p.m.: Lunch and break
2 p.m.: Study (2 hours)
4 p.m.: Snack and afternoon break
5 p.m.: Study (2 hours)
7 p.m.: Dinner and leisure time
9 p.m.: Night routine
10 p.m.: Bedtime
1 p.m.: Study (3 hours)
4 p.m.: Lunch + afternoon break
5 p.m.: Study (3 hours)
8 p.m.: Snack + evening break
9 p.m.: Study (2 hours)
11 p.m.: Dinner+ night break
Midnight: Study (1 hour)
1 a.m.: Leisure time + relax
2 a.m.: Night routine
3 a.m.: Bedtime
8:30 a.m.: Wake up and morning routine
9:30 a.m.: Morning workout/run
11 a.m.: Study (2 hours)
1 p.m.: Lunch and afternoon break
2 p.m.: Study (2 hours)
4 p.m.: Snack and afternoon walk
5 p.m.: Study (2 hours)
7 p.m.: Dinner and evening break
8 p.m.: Study (2 hours)
10 p.m.: Stretch/light workout
11 p.m.: Night routine
Midnight: Bedtime
8 a.m.: Wake up and morning routine
9 a.m.: Clean room/apartment/house
10 a.m.: Study (3 hours)
1 p.m.: Lunch and afternoon break
2 p.m.: Grocery shopping/errands
4 p.m.: Study (2 hours)
6 p.m.: Meal prep for the week
7 p.m.: Dinner and evening break
8 p.m.: Study (3 hours)
11 p.m.: Night routine
Midnight: Bedtime
8 a.m.: Commute to work
9 a.m.: Work shift
4 p.m.: Finish work + commute home
5 p.m.: Dinner + evening break
6 p.m.: Study (1.5 hours)
7:30 p.m.: Leisure time and relax
8:30 p.m.: Study (1.5 hours)
10 p.m.: Night routine + decompress
11 p.m.: Bedtime
6:30 a.m.: Work on paper (1.5 hours)
8 a.m.: Morning walk + breakfast
8:30 a.m.: Log in for the work day
12:30 p.m.: Lunch + afternoon break
1:30 p.m.: Log back into work
4:30p.m.: Finish work day + de-compress
5 p.m.: Coffee shop to get out of the house and do school work (2.5 hours)
7:30 p.m.: Dinner + leisure time
9:30 p.m.: Night routine
10 p.m.: Bedtime
10 a.m.: Study (3 hours)
1 p.m.: Lunch + log on for a game
2 p.m.: Study (3 hours)
5 p.m.: Dinner + log on for a game
7 p.m.: Study (2 hours)
9 p.m.: Game for the rest of the night
Midnight: Night routine
1 a.m.: Bedtime
10 a.m.: Study (3 hours)
1 p.m.: Lunch + afternoon break
2 p.m.: Study (3 hours)
5 p.m.: Hangout with hometown friends
7 p.m.: Home for dinner
8 p.m.: Study (2 hours)
10 p.m.: Watch a movie with the fam
Midnight: Night routine
1 a.m.: Bedtime
6:30 a.m.: Watch the sunrise + go for a walk
8 a.m.: Breakfast + morning break
9 a.m.: Study (3 hours)
Noon: Lunch + afternoon break
1 p.m.: Head to the Farmer's Market
2 p.m.: Study (3 hours)
5 p.m.: Dinner + evening break
6:30 p.m.: Study (1.5 hours)
8 p.m.: Watch the sunset + relax outside
9 p.m.: Night routine
10 p.m.: Bedtime
8 a.m.: Wake up + morning routine
9 a.m.: Study (3 hours)
12 p.m.: Lunch + break
1 p.m.: Study (2 hours)
3 p.m.: Afternoon break
4 p.m.: Study (3 hours)
7 p.m.: Dinner and get ready
8 p.m.: Night off/hangout with friends
Midnight: Night routine
1 a.m.: Bedtime
11 a.m.: Wake up and morning routine
Noon: Study (2 hours)
2 p.m.: Lunch and afternoon break
3 p.m.: Study (3 hours)
6 p.m.: Dinner and evening break
8 p.m.: Study (3 hours)
11 p.m.: Snack and night-time break
Midnight: Study (1 hour)
1 a.m.: Night routine
2 a.m.: Bedtime
9:30 a.m.: Study (2 hours)
11:30 a.m.: Lunch + afternoon break
12:30 p.m.: Study (2 hours)
2:30 p.m.: Get ready for + commute to work
4 p.m.: Work Shift
8 p.m.: Finish work + commute home
8:30 p.m.: Dinner + evening break
9:30 p.m.: Study (1.5 hours)
11 p.m.: Leisure time + night routine
12:30 a.m.: Bedtime
9 a.m.: Wake up and morning routine
10 a.m.: Study sessions focused on hardest tasks (3 hours)
1 p.m.: Lunch and afternoon break
2 p.m.: Study sessions focused on easier tasks (3 hours)
5 p.m.: Dinner and evening break
6:30 p.m.: Study sessions to finish to-do list (3 hours)
9:30 p.m.: Leisure time and relax
11 p.m.: Night routine
Midnight: Bedtime
9 a.m.: Wake up + morning routine
10 a.m.: Study (2 hours)
Noon: Lunch + go for a walk
1 p.m.: Study (3 hours)
4 p.m.: Snack + run some errands
5 p.m.: Study (2 hours)
7 p.m.: Dinner + clean your room
8 p.m.: Study (2 hours)
10 p.m.: Night routine + screen-free hang out with your roomie(s)
Midnight: Bedtime
10 a.m.: Breakfast + morning routine
11 a.m.: Study (3 hours)
2 p.m.: Lunch + go for a walk
3 p.m.: Study (3 hours)
6 p.m.: Dinner + watch a movie
8 p.m.: Study (2 hours)
10 p.m.: Favourite self-care activity
11 p.m.: Night routine
Midnight: Bedtime
9 a.m.: Wake up and morning routine
10 a.m.: Study (2 hours)
Noon: Lunch and afternoon break
1 p.m.: Study (2 hours)
3 p.m.: Snack and afternoon break
4 p.m.: Study (2 hours)
6 p.m.: Dinner and evening break
7 p.m.: Study (2 hours)
9 p.m.: Snack and night-time break
10 p.m.: Study (1 hour)
11 p.m.: Leisure and night routine
Midnight: Bedtime
9 a.m.: Wake up and morning routine
10 a.m.: Study (2 hours)
Noon: Lunch and coffee with a friend
1 p.m.: Study with friends (4 hours)
5 p.m.: Snack and call home
6 p.m.: Study (1 hour)
7 p.m.: Dinner with friends
9 p.m.: Study (2 hours)
11 p.m.: Night routine
Midnight: Bedtime
Looking for Additional Support?
Visit the Student Success Portal to register for a Exam Preparation workshop or book an Exam Preparation appointment with a Learning Consultant or Peer Academic Coach.