Make Sunday night, your planning night. Before you head to bed, take a peek at your coming week and create a plan for studying. Do you have a hockey practice on Tuesday? Need to clean the bathroom on Wednesday? Dinner at Grandma’s on Saturday? Try to carve out time and make a tentative plan for your study sessions based on all your other commitments. 


Make Sunday night a time for the whole family to plan together!

​

Yay’s and Nay’s of Studying and Study Breaks

Yay’s
✓Make studying a priority
✓Schedule 30 to 45 minute sessions
✓Take frequent breaks of 5 (preferable) to 15 (rare) minutes
✓Use an actual clock (not your phone) to keep track of the the time
✓Schedule your study session at the same time as a friend so you are both busy at the same time
✓Study after you’ve had a healthy snack and something to drink
✓Reward yourself 

Nay’s
✗Keeping your phone nearby
✗Not making studying a priority
✗Checking Social Media on breaks (it sucks you in)
✗Taking long breaks - stick to your schedule!
✗Not taking breaks
✗Not being prepared to work
✗Setting unrealistic goals

Study Break Ideas
❍Go for a walk
❍Play with your dog or cat
❍Listen to music - no tv/videos or video games
❍Meditate
❍Eat a healthy snack
❍Rehydrate
❍Take a nap
❍Make a playlist
❍Stretch
❍Tackle a Rubik’s Cube
❍Change your sheets
❍Make a travel bucket list
❍Clean out your schoolbag
❍Work on a puzzle
❍Call a friend
❍Plan your lunches for the next week
❍Have a cup of tea or cocoa
❍Read a magazine
❍Do the dishes    
❍Organize one drawer in your room
❍Go for a bike ride
❍Daydream
❍Have a dance party
❍Take a photo
❍Sit outside and get some sun and fresh air
❍Tidy up your workspace or room 
❍Take a quick shower
❍Bullet Journal
❍Read a chapter of a non-school book
❍Throw in a load of laundry
❍Doodle or colour
❍Light a scented candle
❍10 sit-ups, 10 push-ups, 10 planks, 10 jumping-jacks
❍Do a crossword or sudoku puzzle
❍Paint your nails
❍Listen to a podcast

Scheduling Your Study Session
Take the time to schedule in your study session. Remember to look at your schedule and fit in your schoolwork where you will be least likely to be interrupted.

Tuning Out Your Greatest Distractions
Your phone, laptop or tablet can be a huge distraction to a successful study session. Turning your phone to airplane mode will halt all of those distracting notifications from coming in. You can check your phone at break time. 

Laptops and computers are sometimes necessary for homework, but much of your time will be spent reading, writing or reviewing. Only have your laptop out when necessary and tuck it away the rest of the time. 

Having a well-stocked study space (check out our blog on creating a study space here) with a calculator, dictionary, thesaurus, atlas and clock will ensure you are not tempted to pick up your phone.

Students - 

1. Let your family know when you're heading into a study session so they can give you an opportunity to stay focused.
2. Talk to your family and find out when is supper is served so that you can schedule your sessions around family time.
3. Put away those items that will distract you and put your phone on airplane mode so you are not distracted by notifications and messages. Consider putting electronics in another room as well. Out of sight, out of mind!

Parents - 

1. Help your kids learn to schedule their time.
2. Do your best to respect the study session. Don't interrupt!
3. Keep distractions to a minimum in the rest of the house.
4. Check in with your kids to see what their schedule will be. Work together so that family time is a priority as well as school work.

Haven’t heard of a Bullet Journal® (BuJo for short)? It’s a fabulous journal that YOU create! It can replace your agenda, journal, to do lists and scrapbook. It’s a totally customizable place to be creative and stay organized. 
Check out this link to see how Bullet Journal started - Bullet Journal® 

​BuJo is an efficient system because you only need the one book for everything. A Bullet Journal® can be anything you want and is totally flexible, unlike most agendas on the market. Anyone can create one. Some people use it in a very simple and minimalist way, while others embellish and use it as a creative outlet.

Keep your system simple so that you will use it.
Bullet Journal® doesn’t have to be perfect, it is just for you!
Don’t go crazy trying to do everything at once. Start with the basics and work your way to new collections and pages.
Give it time. I’ve be using my BuJo for over a year now and have changed my layouts numerous times. Don’t compare and don’t create a practice BuJo. 
Embrace it.

Supplies to get you started - 
Journal or Notebook
Pen

​Favourite BuJo Supplies                                                                                                                    Journal 
Leuchtturm 1917 A5 Medium Dotted, Hardcover
    -249 numbered pages
    -Gusseted pocket at back of book
    -Table of Contents and pages numbered
    -2 page markers
    -Ink proof book
    -Amazing colour choices
Pens
    Sharpie Pens (not markers)
    Staedtler Triplus Fineliner
    PaperMate Flair
    Crayola Super Tips Markers
​    Micron Pens
Optional

1. Coloured Pens
2. Watercolour Pens
3. Calligraphy Pen
4. Washi Tape
5. Ruler
6. Rubber Stamps and Ink Pads
7. Stickers
8. Highlighters

Should you use a BuJo?

• Are you someone who loves pen and paper?
• Are you frustrated with the lack of flexibility in your school agenda?
• Do you want one central book to keep track of your schedule? (School, Activities, Work, Household Responsibilities)
• Do you want a place to record memories?
• Are you someone who sets goals or would like to set goals?
• Do you want a place to be creative?

If you answered Yes to any or all of these questions, Bullet Journal® might be right for you! Give it a try as your agenda.