If you plan to go to uni you will spend most of your time working on your own so study leave is good practice. It offers wonderful opportunities for using the bulk of your time in ways that suit your personal preferences. Some people prefer to study early in the morning or in the middle of the night.
The main risks are:
feeling there is more time available than there is
not developing sufficient structure to your time to ensure you get everything done
missing deadlines/ exams
drifting - not being sure where you are in time - have few regular appointments to mark out the time– with your teacher or a study group.
Four tips for managing your time
Keep a diary - write everything in it - take it everywhere
Keep a time planner so you can see easily what you need to do
Write all exams in your diary on the right date
Allow time for travel to exams etc
Optimum conditions for learning
We can improve the conditions for learning by being aware of some of the ways the brain works. Although we do not need to know a great deal about the brain, understanding some basics can help us to make the most of our minds. Some of the optimal conditions for learning are common sense and good for our general health. For example, the brain works well when:
it is rested - sleep affects our performance
it is hydrated - drinking water helps the electrical connections of the brain
it is unstressed - when it is stressed, it can focus only on 'escape', not on such matters as reading journals and writing assignments
it enjoys itself - it is important to look for any angle that can stimulate our interest in what we are learning. Sometimes this can take imagination if the subject itself seems boring
it has seen something several times - little and often works better than trying to understand something in one sitting