Time-management tips your child can find handy during exam season

Let’s admit it, whether it’s office-goers, homemakers or schoolchildren, we all struggle to manage our time efficiently on a daily basis. There seems to be an indefinite scuffle to schedule the hours of the day in a way that we finish all our tasks, plan the next day, while also get enough time in between to eat, sleep and relax a bit. With exams knocking at the door, better time-management skills become key for students revising their lessons, and the parents’ role in ensuring their kids are doing that in a productive way becomes crucial. 

Effective time management before exams involves planning, prioritising and pacing. Remember, how your child allocates specific time slots to different subjects and lessons through the weeks will reflect on their preparedness and confidence before the tests begin. Here’re a few tips that you can find handy while helping your little one get ready for exams:

1. Create a revision timetable and stick to it 

Students from all age groups can benefit from a revision timetable while preparing for exams. It allows your child to break down their subjects and even pick a different topic each day. Research indicates that focusing on one topic at a time rather than flipping through multiple lessons at once has helped students better manage their time. That said, it’s crucial that one creates a personalised revision timetable and try to follow the same every day. Scheduling a rest day in between is also important as it’ll enable one to reset and start afresh. Paying attention to individual needs and pace of learning means that your child is reaping the maximum from it.

2. Prioritise study material

Possibly one of the most effective ways to minimise stress and maximise efficiency, prioritising study material means concentrating on high-importance subjects first and then taking on other topics. In this case, tools such as flashcards and mind maps can make the revision process more productive. It’s pertinent that students identify the challenging lessons and devote undistracted attention to it. Setting clear goals and employing techniques like the Eisenhower Matrix - a 2x2 prioritisation method to categorise tasks by urgency and importance - can help make things manageable, prevent burnout and ensure better retention. 

3. Build a clutter-free study space

Little unlikely as it may sound, keeping your study corner free from clutter can magically aid in young people managing their time better. How? A quiet and organised study space helps kids focus better and finish their tasks on or before time. Eliminating distractions means the revision process becomes more efficient and constructive, not to mention fast. Optimising one’s desk setup has more advantages than you can imagine. It instills confidence and a sense of accomplishment, while maintaining order and discipline as the student prepares for the exams. 

Also read: Pay attention! How to improve concentration while studying for exams

4. Use the Pomodoro Technique to banish procrastination

If your child gets easily distracted while studying and tends to procrastinate multiple times in a day, it’s time to bring out the famous ‘kitchen timer’. Trusted since the 1990s, the Francesco Cirillo-developed Pomodoro Technique is a time management method that uses a timer to break work into intervals (25 minutes or more), separated by mini breaks. Thus, kids can study for 45-50 minutes at a stretch, only to earn a 10-minute break. According to studies, this method helps to keep the brain refreshed, while also boosting focus and sharpening memory power.  

5. Recognise and reward progress

Now that your child has managed to put themselves on a routine and is finally reaping the benefits of a more methodical and disciplined style of preparing for exams, it’s time to recognise the progress they have made and reward them. Celebrating the completion of their study goals will not only keep their motivation high but also encourage them to work harder on their lessons and foster a growth mindset. Remember, every milestone matters. It can also go a long way in boosting a child’s confidence and reinforce positive habits.