Time Management

Online classes are more flexible but require the same time commitment as in-person classes. You can choose the time each day that works best for your schedule to complete learning activities, but you’re still required to meet deadlines and class expectations each week.

Step 1. Determine how long your classes are

A condensed 7-, 5- or 3-week session requires more of your time each week than a regular 15-week session. Select the different week session tabs to see a breakdown of the weekly time commitments by total registered credits. You can find start and end date information for your online class by searching for it on myBoiseState, or viewing your class schedule.

Step 3. Make a plan!

Now that you know how much time you need to spend each week on your classes, take some time to make a plan for success. Use the resource topics below as your guide.

Work, school, family and life! How do I keep it all straight?

Create a master calendar for all your important dates, deadlines and events.

In addition to taking online classes, you may also have a variety of responsibilities on your plate such as personal, work and family obligations. Having all your important dates and deadlines in one place will help you become better equipped to handle unexpected events as they occur. 

Log dates, deadlines and events from the following three categories:

• School — This includes your study plan, group meetings, lab times, class schedules, assignment due dates, exams, and other important deadlines for the University.
• Personal — This includes personal and family events like medical appointments, birthdays, holidays, volunteer work, sporting/recreation events and vacations.
• Work — This includes work obligations like business trips, retreats, projects or particularly busy seasons where you may need to dedicate more time.

Identify areas where you can scale back

If your plate feels a little full, try and identify areas where you can scale back until school is complete.

Remember, in the long run, going to school is temporary. You’ll graduate and move on to bigger and better things. In the meantime, scaling back on some obligations can increase your chances for a successful experience.

Your master calendar can be paper or electronic — select the option that works best for you, such as a student planner, mobile app or Google Calendar.

How do I create a weekly study plan? 

We recommend setting up a study plan to help keep you on track. This way, you’re more likely to spend enough time each week to be successful without dedicating too little or too much to one course.

Not sure how to start? We’ve got you covered!

The idea behind the weekly study plan is to spread your time over the entire week while still leaving a day or two for a break from school. After all, finding a balance between school, work and life is critical to staying engaged, motivated and in control during the semester.

The Five-Step Weekly Study Plan

1. Identify blocks of time each day to devote to each course.
2. Review your course schedule to determine the class activities.
3. Fill out your weekly study plan with activities and time blocks on a calendar template.
4. Begin working on the activities you identified.
5. Repeat this five-day planning each week for every course.

Add your study plan to your master calendar

Once you have completed your study plan for the week, add it to your master calendar so you can see your plan next to all your other commitments.