I often create my own study guides for courses that I have more troubles with. These study guides take a lot of time to make, and requires high level of concentration. Normally, I like doing course work during break times to utilize time. For study guides, however, I can only do them in certain environments where I can stay for a long time.
In order to make more time for myself to create study guides, I try to finish tasks that require less concentration during shorter time periods. For instance, if it is just reading something, I would complete them in libraries when I do not have other things to do between classes. They normally take around thirty minutes to one hour to complete. If some of them take only ten minutes, then I would even complete them on my smartphone while eating lunch. Completing these small tasks beforehand allows me to get rid of them first, so that I can focus on my study guides later on. A helpful strategy that I used to utilize time, is listing out the tasks that needed completed, and then making plans as to when and where I would complete them. This plan can be complicated as it would also need to account for where I would be and the amount of time available to me.
Studying environment is also very important. Since study guides require high level of concentration, I choose places like libraries or computer labs where I cannot be disturbed. I also bring food and snack with me because I like working from early morning to afternoon. That is the time period when I am most concentrated.
One key to task management is figuring out how much time each task takes. I must know that first before fitting them into my schedule. Then, I must consider factors such as the optimal environment or time to maximize studying efficiency. Most importantly, resting is also necessary to keep myself fueled. Plan some time for breaks, or else you cannot study for long.