Identifying a Feasible Course Load
When selecting your course load, it is important to consider how much time you need for studying, health treatments and appointments, and responsibilities outside of school. Every week, 2-3 hours of studying per 1 hour of lecture is recommended per course. This can quickly add up if you are taking multiple courses.
It is important to decide if you have enough time given your other responsibilities and your health. Students with permanent disabilities who receive OSAP funding can take a reduced course load (minimum 40%) and still be considered a full-time student (for OSAP purposes).
If you aren’t sure what course load would be feasible for you or if you feel like you are always running out of time, try using the Time Calculator (Virginia Tech). This will help you estimate how much time you need for school and everything else.
Account for Setbacks
Rarely do plans go exactly as you intended. If you have fluctuating health, you will need flexibility in your schedule and in the expectations you place on yourself. Explore the “Creating a Weekly Schedule” part of the Time Management section for strategies on building flexibility into your schedule. Equally important is creating and adjusting your expectations for yourself. When creating goals or task lists, try asking yourself “How should I plan this if I were to have a bad week?”. This will help you create expectations that account for times you may be unwell, rather than expecting perfection.
Focus on Small and Doable Tasks
Dividing large assignments into smaller chunks can help with motivation and procrastination by making complex assignments feel more manageable. Rather than focusing on producing the final product (i.e. essay, project, exam) which can feel overwhelming, focus on only a few small steps at a time. You can use the Assignment Chunking Template and Assignment Planner to help break down assignments. You can also cross off tasks as you complete them, which will give you a better visualization of your progress and the value of your hard work.