Stay on Top of School Work (Without Burning Out) - Refine Your Study Routine
- Kimberley Ross
- 11 hours ago
- 4 min read
Going back to school after the summer holidays can feel like a shock to the system. One minute you’re used to long lie-ins, hanging out with friends, and spending hours doing your favourite things, and the next you’re having to juggle homework, revision, after-school activities, and social plans. With class tests starting to be issued left, right and centre, it probably feels like there aren’t enough hours in the day. But here’s the good news: with the right routines and balance, you can keep on top of your school work and still make time for the things you enjoy. So lets get into how you can refine your study routine to set yourself up for success.
Why Balance Matters
When schoolwork starts piling up, it can be tempting to drop everything else and spend every waking hour revising. But that usually leads to burnout, fatigues your brain and actually makes it harder to learn. On the other hand, if you only focus on your social life or hobbies, you might find yourself stressed and scrambling to catch up later. Finding balance is key: finding time to recharge will help keep you motivated, and help your brain absorb more when you do sit down to study.
Practical Tips to Stay on Top of Things
1. Create a Weekly Plan
Instead of cramming the night before a test, map out your week in advance. I love doing this on a Sunday so I feel motivated and ready to go for Monday! So write down your school commitments, hobbies, and any social plans and then block out specific time slots for studying and revising. You may be surprised to know that a 30 to 45 minute block of focused work a few times a week is more effective than hours of distracted cramming.
Top Tip: Use a planner, calendar app, or even sticky notes on your wall. Whatever helps you see your week clearly, and can help keep you accountable.
Download our FREE Weekly Planner and Study Tracker so you can plan and track your revision and see where you have been putting in the work.
2. Break Study Sessions Into Chunks
Your brain learns best in short bursts. Try the Pomodoro method: 25 minutes of focused revision, then a 5-minute break. After 4 sessions, take a longer break (15–20 minutes). This helps you stay fresh and avoids the “staring at the page but taking nothing in” problem.
But make sure you create a study environment that helps you keep focussed. If this is something you struggle with, you could try using a 'study with me' videos on YouTube. Also try putting your phone on do not disturb or out of the room entirely so your phone doesn't distract you!
3. Prioritise, Don’t Panic
Look at which subjects or topics you find most challenging and give those extra study blocks. But be realistic about what you can cover in each block. You'll most likely only be able to focus on one subtopic per block. It’s better to revise one sub-topic well than skim through everything and remember nothing.
If you download and use our free Weekly Study Planner and Tracker spreadsheet you'll be able to clearly monitor how you are spending your blocks and where you are putting most of your focus. Yo can then use this to see if there are some areas you are neglecting.
4. You Need Chill Time
You can't revise all the time, and in fact it's not good for your brain to do this. Make sure to block in time to see friends, exercise, or watch some TV. As well as giving your brain some rest, having breaks to look forward to makes study time more manageable. Think of it like training for a marathon - you wouldn’t run flat out every single day, you’d pace yourself.
5. Build Small Habits
Good routines don’t need to be complicated. Try setting:
A regular (and reasonable) bedtime so you are alert and focussed
A "One Day" rule: if you go off plan for one day, you get straight back on plan the next day.
A quick daily check-in with your plan so you keep yourself accountable.
Some Final Words of Wisdom
School can often feel overwhelming, with lots of new things to learn and an abundance of assessments! But remember, the stuff you are doing now is just a practice. It's there to help you figure out where you’re at and what you need to focus on before the real exams. But by setting up healthy routines now, you’ll not only reduce stress but also build habits that will carry you through the year, so you can perform at your best when it really counts!
So tell yourself you’ve got this! With a solid routine, some balance, and a dash of self-belief you'll go a long way.
Looking to fill some of your study blocks with something a bit different?
It will be the most fun study block of your week :D
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