The Value of Free Periods
Many schools allow Year 12 to have free periods during the school day when they don’t have class. That does not mean that those periods are free time to kill, however. By managing your time accordingly and treating them as study periods, you can maximise your time and utilise your school’s resources to get ahead in assessments, revise materials or fill in gaps where needed. It’s important to see free periods as an extension of your school timetable that helps you stay focused and intentional.
Weekly Study Timetables
Year 12 requires a lot of organisation. Even if you’re not the type of person who plans ahead, keeping a study schedule will allow you to plan out all your free time, using it to your advantage. By having a weekly study schedule that includes your classes, study periods, after-school commitments and downtime, you will gain a clearer picture of how your time is spent. In that way, you can spread out your time more consciously. By allocating specific tasks to each study period and staying consistent, you'll have a better idea of where you stand and know where to aim and what to fix.
Set SMART Goals
Going into a study period without a plan is a guaranteed way to waste time. Before each session, set a goal by following the SMART rule:
- Specific – Know exactly what you want to achieve.
- Measurable – Make sure that your progress can be tracked.
- Achievable – Be realistic about your goals and what can be done in the time you have available.
- Relevant – Make sure it aligns with your overall study goals.
- Time-bound – Set a time limit to stay focused and productive.
Having a purpose for each session allows you to maximise not only your time but also your motivation.
Having the Right Environment
Your study space can make or break your productivity. If you have a library or study hall on school premises, it would be a good idea to take advantage of it. Otherwise, there are also public libraries or study cafes that you could visit in order to study in a quiet space. These places are generally free from distractions, making them perfect for focused study sessions.
On the other hand, some students may find that putting on noise-cancelling headphones or listening to instrumental music whilst in a busy space, helps them concentrate best. You can try out a few methods for yourself, to see what you prefer.
Prioritising Tasks
Knowing how to prioritise important tasks over trivial ones is essential when it comes to maximising time and minimising the possibility of burnouts. Use your study periods to first tackle any tasks you consider to be high priority, mentally demanding, or have an approaching deadline. It’s more optimal to use this time for deep focus tasks rather than simple, low-effort activities which don’t require your brain to be functioning at its best.
A great technique you could employ is called the Eisenhower Matrix, which allows you to break down tasks into four categories:
- Urgent and important
- Important but not urgent
- Urgent but not important
- And neither.
Then, you can spend your study periods targeting the first two categories.
Reflect and Adjust
At the end of each week, take five to ten minutes to reflect on how you’ve used your study periods. You can do so by asking yourself the following questions:
- Did I achieve my goals?
- What distracted me?
- How can I improve next week?
- Did I save time or waste it?
This self-awareness will allow you to fine-tune your approach and stay on top of your workload.
Knowing how to use your study periods wisely can help you stay ahead of the curve, reduce last-minute cramming, and most importantly, build confidence in your abilities. With organisation, intention, and a little bit of discipline, you’ll find that these study periods can become the most powerful part of your school day.
Want to discuss the next step? Reach out to Concept at https://www.concepteducation.com.au/enquire or email us at hello@concepteducation.com.au - we're always happy to help!
