Weekly Planners

Apart from getting an overhead view of your semester, it is also helpful in other ways to make up a detailed plan, preferably a weekly one.

Start by entering all scheduled activities, such as lectures, seminars, and laboratory experiments.
Enter important private activities.
Make entrances for your own study times, when you are due to read course literature, for instance. It is a good idea to put in details, such as what to read and what you are expected to know afterwards. This might help if you have difficulties getting started; then you can just consult your planner to get back on track.
It is also wise to make time for rehearsal in your planner.
Try to make room for one study-free day a week.
It is recommended to make allowances for unexpected events, so called buffer time.
Make space for a few minutes of evaluation at the end of the week. This way you will find out whether your plan is viable. And then, it is time to make a new plan for the coming week.

You might want to watch the video below, from Algonquin College Library, showing what a weekly plan could look like. (1:19)

On The Learning Portal made by College Libraries Ontario you also find e.g. weekly schedule templates:

More tips about how to create a weekly schedule

Daily Planner

Remember, that if you enter long stretches of study sessions, breaks are crucial. What works best varies from one individual to another; however, reading or working for 20-45 minutes before a break usually works well. The brain needs to rest, so it is beneficial to do some stretching and take an outdoor walk to get some fresh air.

The Pomodoro Technique

If you wish to test a specific method for putting structure and focus into your studying, the well-known pomodoro method is worth looking at. The video below (2:03) shows us how it works.

If you would read more about the Pomodoro Technique, the Hugh F. Macmillan Law Library offers this version:

The Pomodoro Technique

App Tips

There are several apps that can help you plan and focus. You will find them on the app page below.

Plan more - apps