Studying towards a postgraduate degree can often come with more distractions, cumbersome personal commitments and other work obligations compared to an undergraduate qualification. Perhaps you’re taking on a postgrad degree later in life while working part-time, attending to children or other family responsibilities, or utilising distance learning. Sometimes, allocating dedicated time to conducting research, ticking items off your study to-do list and writing your paper requires much more focused attention than you initially anticipated.

How can you stay focused, plan your time, sustain your mental health, and remain organised and on track for success?

North-West University is here to support you in your pursuit of academic excellence with several tried-and-tested techniques to keep your head down and get the job done.

For postgraduate students returning to academia after a hiatus, revisiting fundamental study skills and refining time management techniques can significantly enhance your academic journey. Recognising the value in honing these foundational abilities isn't about assuming prior knowledge but rather about empowering yourself for success in a dynamic learning environment. Whether it's refreshing note-taking methods or optimising study schedules, these efforts serve as invaluable tools in navigating the complexities of higher education effectively.

Here are some helpful time management techniques, methods to avoid distraction, focus strategies and useful tools and apps to keep your eyes on the prize and on course for completing your postgraduate degree in record time.

Effective Time Management Techniques

Time is of the essence when you’re negotiating work deadlines, sleep schedules and family responsibilities to remain on top of your honours, masters or doctorate research.

Take note of these 5 basic strategies to make the best use of your hours:

1. Devise a schedule: Keep track of all your life commitments by allocating specific time blocks for studying, attending classes, conducting research and personal activities. Stick to your schedule as closely as possible to maintain a routine.

2. Set SMART Goals: Define Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound goals in line with your studies. Break down overwhelming tasks into smaller, manageable steps and set deadlines for each.

3. Prioritise Tasks: Categorise your to-do list based on urgency and importance, working in that order. Avoid spending too much time on non-essential tasks.

4. Time Blocking: Devote certain tasks to certain times in the day. For example, mornings can be focused on research while afternoons can be allocated to coursework. This helps develop a structured routine and reduces decision fatigue.

5. Take Breaks: Regular breaks can help to avoid burnout and exhaustion. Keep breaks short and move away from the study space, for example, enjoying a snack in another room or taking a 5-minute walk to breathe in fresh air. Avoid becoming engrossed in social media while remaining in the same study chair.

How to Find And Minimise Distractions

Distractions can play a huge role in hindering productivity, especially when completing postgraduate courses.

Here are a few tips to diminish these time-sappers:

1. Take note of common distractions. What is often hindering your work? Social media, household chores, noise, and interruptions from family or fellow students can all wreak havoc on your work momentum. Work to identify these and develop plans to address them.

2. Create a dedicated study space. Ensure it is quiet, free from distractions and comfortable. Inform your family and friends of this space and the times of your studies to avoid interruptions.

3. Limit digital distractions. Install an app that cancels out social media distractions when necessary. Turn off non-essential notifications on all your devices.

4. Cancel out noise. Use headphones, white noise machines/apps, or move to a quiet space such as a library to avoid interference.

5. Set a study schedule. Inform your close friends and family of your planned study time and stick to it.

How to Juggle Coursework, Research & Personal Life

Often, postgraduate degrees come at a time of life when more is going on than was the case during undergraduate studies. Developing a necessary balance between studies, life and work commitments is necessary for success in all areas. Here are some strategies:

1. Assess your priorities. Identify the commitments and responsibilities that mean the most to you and schedule time for them. Determine what requires immediate attention and what can be delayed.

2. Develop a balanced schedule. Allocate time for coursework, writing, studies, work, self-care and family responsibilities. Ensure that you create a healthy and realistic work-life balance.

3. Share responsibility. If you are a parent, ask willing family members or hire help to give opportunity for some tasks to be reallocated. Delegation can help free up more time for your studies.

4. Combine activities. Find opportunities to merge activities. For example, listen to an educational audiobook while taking public transport to work or listen to a podcast while exercising or attending to household chores.

5. Remain flexible. Life doesn’t always fit into a schedule. Family illness, varsity blues, new work responsibilities or unexpected events may disrupt your schedule. Have a contingency plan ready for such instances and be willing to reprioritise if need be.

Tools to Stay Organised

Remaining on top of your postgraduate course commitments is essential to success, especially when you have other personal responsibilities to contend with.

Here are some tools to assist you to stay on track:

• A digital calendar can help to track your schedule from any device and stick to it

• Time management apps such as Trello or Asana can assist in creating to-do lists, setting deadlines, organising tasks and tracking progress

• Cloud storage services like Google Drive, Dropbox or OneDrive can help you keep important documents and research materials safe and easily accessible from any device

Access Support at NWU

If you’re feeling overwhelmed and exhausted by the weight of your personal and postgraduate degree commitments, help is available.

NWU offers student counselling and development support services such as group and individual psychotherapy and counselling, social support services, career guidance, psychometric assessment, life and leadership skills and more to ensure you receive the assistance to continue on your journey of academic excellence at NWU.

Conquer your postgraduate degree with confidence and support through NWU. It all starts here.