Managing your time is essential to succeed well at university. You must deal with your studies, part-time job, classes, hobbies, friends, etc. Creating a daily timetable as a student will help you be more productive, manage your time, and have a healthy work-life balance. Don’t forget that breaks, physical activity, and hobbies are crucial to maintaining a well-rounded routine and for your mental health. Here are a few samples of daily routine timetables (tried and true!).
What are the best daily routine timetables for students?
Contents
- What is important to take into consideration
- 7 Daily routine timetable (tried and true)
- Daily routine timetable for an exam day
What is important to take into consideration
You must consider various factors while developing your routine to ensure productivity, well-being, and a balanced lifestyle.
Goals and objectives – You should set clear goals in your academic and personal life. You can manage your time to prioritize your objective by identifying what you want to achieve. You can aim for specific grades, projects, and personal development. It’s important not to scatter yourself in too many projects. You should put effort into the most essential parts of your day. If you are a morning person, work on important projects in the morning. It’s also necessary to celebrate progress. Rewarding yourself for completing a task or meeting a goal is going to motivate you in the long run. Remember that every small accomplishments and milestones are a step closer to your goal.
Efficacity – You should prioritize tasks. You need to allocate sufficient time for your most challenging and important subjects. At the beginning of your semester, write in your agenda every assignment, exam, and project you already know the deadline. You can plan your study session and avoid a last-week study rush before an exam. By planning, you’ll be optimizing your study time. Everyone has peak productivity periods (morning, afternoon, night), and you should schedule challenging subjects or tasks during your most alert hours and save more manageable tasks for times when you tend to feel less focused.
Study time – A great way to motivate yourself and optimize your time is using techniques like the Pomodoro Technique (work for a set time, then take a short break). With this technique, you will include regular breaks between study sessions to enhance your focus. Breaks help prevent burnout, improve focus, and maintain overall mental well-being. Don’t forget to distribute your study time among different subjects to avoid overload and ensure a comprehensive understanding of all topics.
Mental health – Remember to incorporate regular physical activity into your routine to maintain your mental health and concentration. You don’t need a full workout; it can be a walk or a 15-minute yoga session. You should also plan times for your meals since having balanced and nutritious meals will positively impact your well-being. Don’t we say Mens sana in corpore sano (a healthy mind in a healthy body)? And, of course, make sure to get enough sleep each night. It’s vital to your mental health and to maintain focus and cognitive function. I need 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night for a good day. You need to be aware of your needs! Finally, be mindful of your screen time since it wastes time and prevents you from using it for something better, like seeing your friends. It can help to allocate specific times in your calendar for social media. Avoid checking TikTok or Instagram in your bed (in the morning or at night). Your bed should only be for sleeping.
Flexibility – Your calendar needs to be flexible enough that you can adapt your routine when unexpected events or tasks arise. You can also change your schedule according to how you feel that day. Don’t hesitate to review and adjust your routine throughout the sessions. Adjustments will improve the effectiveness of your routine since you’ll be better able to accommodate your schedule, workload, or personal priorities.
Fun time – You should schedule time for social activities with your friends and family. By writing down time for them, you’ll be able to see them every week. A healthy social life contributes to your well-being! You should also allocate time for your hobbies because this will help reduce stress and make you happy. Meditation, deep breathing, or mindfulness exercises also manage stress. If you like doing those activities, add them to your calendar.
7 Daily routine timetable (tried and true)
Here are a few examples of 7 routine timetables for students. You should adjust them to your reality. There’s no time for classes since they are very different for everyone.
Monday – The Early Bird
- 6:00 AM – 6:30 AM: Wake up and morning routine
- 6:30 AM – 7:00 AM: Breakfast
- 7:00 AM – 8:00 AM: Morning exercise (This can be yoga or morning walk)
- 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM: Study Session 1
- 10:00 AM – 10:15 AM: Break
- 10:15 AM – 12:15 PM: Study Session 2
- 12:15 PM – 1:00 PM: Lunch Break
- 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM: Study Session 3
- 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM: Hobbies or extracurricular activities
- 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM: Leisure time
- 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM: Dinner
- 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM: Relaxation and free time
A morning exercise is excellent for your mood and to wake you up. If you wake up early, this is a great way to start your day fresh and ready. Try to eat before working out! Change the subject in every study session so you can cover all of them in a two or 3-day span. Since you’ll have started early, you’ll be able to finish at 3 pm and have studied 6 hours during the day.
Tuesday – The Night Owl
- 10:00 AM – 10:30 AM: Wake up and morning routine
- 10:30 AM – 11:00 AM: Breakfast
- 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM: Hobbies or extracurricular activities
- 12:30 PM – 1:00 PM: Lunch Break
- 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM: Workout
- 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM: Friends and Family
- 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM: Study Session 1
- 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM: Dinner
- 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM: Study Session 2
- 9:00 PM – 9:15 PM: Break
- 9:15 PM – 11:15 PM: Study Session 3
- 11:15 PM – 12:30 AM: Relaxation and free time
Make sure to have 8 hours of sleep! Try to take at least 1 hour after your last study session to relax before bedtime.
Wednesday – The Gym Rat
- 7:00 AM – 7:30 AM: Wake up and morning routine
- 7:30 AM – 8:00 AM: Breakfast
- 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM: Morning exercise (This can be yoga or morning walk)
- 9:00 PM – 11:00 AM: Study Session 1
- 11:15 AM – 12:00 PM: Lunch break
- 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM: Workout
- 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Study Session 2
- 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Physical activity and outdoor time
- 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM: Study Session 3
- 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Dinner
- 8:00 PM – 8:30 PM: Night Stretches or Meditation
- 8:30 PM – 10:00 PM: Relaxation and free time
You need to adapt your schedule according to how much exercise you need daily. Exercise can be a great destresser.
Thursday – The Self-Care Gourou
- 7:00 AM – 7:30 AM: Wake up and morning routine
- 7:30 AM – 8:00 AM: Breakfast
- 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM: Morning exercise (This can be yoga or morning walk)
- 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM: Study Session 1
- 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Lunch break
- 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM: Physical activity and outdoor time
- 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Study Session 2
- 4:00 PM – 4:15 PM: Short break
- 4:15 PM – 6:15 PM: Study Session 3
- 6:15 PM – 7:00 PM: Dinner
- 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Leisure time (with Friends)
- 8:00 PM – 8:30 PM: Night Stretches or Meditation
- 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM: Relaxation and free time
Friday – The Social One
- 7:00 AM – 7:30 AM: Wake up and morning routine
- 7:30 AM – 8:00 AM: Breakfast
- 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM: Morning exercise (This can be yoga or morning walk)
- 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM: Study Session 1
- 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Lunch break
- 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM: Group study or collaborative project work (Study Session 2)
- 2:00 PM – 2:15 PM: Short break
- 2:15 PM – 4:15 PM: Study Session 3
- 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM: Hobbies or extracurricular activities
- 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM: Leisure time
- 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM: Dinner
- 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM: Go out with friends
- 9:30 PM – 10:30 PM: Relaxation and free time
You can do a few group studies, but you should still have some study sessions alone. You’ll be less distracted and more focused when studying by yourself.
Saturday – The Review
- 7:00 AM – 7:30 AM: Wake up and morning routine
- 7:30 AM – 8:00 AM: Breakfast
- 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM: Morning exercise (This can be yoga or morning walk)
- 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Review the week’s material, practice problems, or schedule
- 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: Lunch break
- Afternoon and evening: Leisure and social activities, spend time with your friends
Saturday can be a day to review your week’s studies and to plan your next week. You can then adapt your calendar according to the exam or assignment of the week.
Sunday – The Break
- 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM: Physical activity or exercise
- 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Organize and plan for the upcoming week
- 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: Lunch break
- Afternoon and evening: Leisure time, relaxation, and preparation for the next day
Sunday is your break! Everyone needs one, and this will make your weekly routine more sustainable.
Daily routine timetable for an exam day
Morning Routine:
- 6:00 AM – 6:30 AM: Wake up and morning routine
- 6:30 AM – 7:00 AM: Breakfast
- 7:00 AM – 8:00 AM: Morning exercise (This can be yoga or morning walk)
Start your day well with some light exercise.
Study Sessions:
- 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM: Study Session 1
- 10:00 AM – 10:15 AM: Short break
- 10:15 AM – 12:15 PM: Study Session 2
- 12:15 PM – 1:00 PM: Lunch and break
Your last day shouldn’t be filled with colossal study sessions since you should have studied beforehand. Those study sessions are there to remind you of important things and give you confidence.
Afternoon:
- 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM: Physical activity (Walk, jog, or stretch)
- 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM: Organize your next day
- 3:30 PM – 4:00 PM: Last study review
You should look at the time and place of your exam. Prepare the materials you’ll need for the exam in your bag.
Evening:
- 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM: Talk with your friends
- 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM: Leisure time (Read, watch a show, play an instrument, etc.)
- 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM: Dinner
- 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM: Relaxation/Free time
Unwind and relax. Try to avoid people from your exam. They might stress you.
Before Bedtime:
- 8:30 PM – 9:00 PM: Night Stretches or Meditation
- 9:00 PM – 9:30 PM: Wind-down activities (Reading, gentle stretching)
- 9:30 PM: Bedtime
Go to sleep early. The last things you do that day should relax and prepare you mentally for the next day. Avoid heavy exercise before bedtime; this can hinder your sleep.
Those are a few sample timetables; you can adjust them to fit your preferences, energy levels, and study needs. Make sure to allocate time for friends, hobbies, and mental health to create a balanced and sustainable routine. There is nothing more ineffective than working depressed and burned out. You need to learn to set and respect your limits. University is also meant to be enjoyed! Have fun with your friends and in extracurricular activities.