The best tips for self-organisation in your distance learning

The Eisenhower Matrix (named after US President Dwight D. Eisenhower) helps you to structure and prioritise your tasks. This is how the method works: Write down all the tasks you want to do and divide them into one of four categories. You decide whether the task in question is

• unimportant and not urgent

• unimportant, but urgent

• important, but not urgent

• is important and urgent.

All tasks that contribute to your goals are important. Urgent tasks are usually linked to a fixed deadline by which you must complete them. The Eisenhower method gives you a recommendation for action for each category, which tells you how to proceed with the task.

Categories of the Eisenhower Matrix

Unimportant and not urgent (D-tasks)

This category is home to your time thieves: The many small, not so important and urgent tasks that take a lot of time. Time that you should first invest in one of the other three categories.

Recommendation for action: Do not do.

Example: Layout design of documents for which no content is yet available.

Unimportant but urgent (C-tasks)

You work on tasks in this category according to your time capacities. Don't give them more time than necessary and make sure you work through them efficiently.

Recommendation for action: Work through later.

Example: Answer e-mails and chat messages.

Important but not urgent (B tasks)

Do not lose sight of this type of task despite its low urgency: This is because they make an important contribution to the fulfilment of your goals. These are usually long-term in nature, so you can plan for them. Think about when you want to tackle your B-tasks and set clear deadlines for them.

Recommendation for action: Schedule.

Example: Studying for an exam that is not imminent.

Important and urgent (A-tasks)

Tasks that are both important and urgent should be done immediately. On the one hand, they contribute to the pursuit of your goals and, on the other hand, they give you a feeling of achievement when you have completed them. Make sure not to pile up too many tasks in this category.

Recommendation for action: Deal with immediately.

Example: Proofreading of your term paper with its timely submission

A proven time management strategy is the ALPEN method. Behind this term is a simple and practical approach that you can use to effectively plan your day. You proceed in five steps:

• Write down your tasks, activities and appointments

In the first step, you collect all tasks, activities and appointments of your day and list them like a to-do list. This gives you a first overview.

• Estimate length

Next, estimate the time needed for each task. Make sure that you calculate it realistically and rather more generously. This way, you avoid taking on too much and being stressed or disappointed later.

• Allow buffer time

Don't plan your whole day, because that is unrealistic and increases your stress level. It is better to calculate with only 50 to 60 per cent of your available time. This way, you can take breaks in between and unpredictable events won't take you off track so quickly.

• Making decisions

Despite buffer time, it is sometimes difficult to complete all the planned tasks. Prioritise the tasks you need to complete by the end of the day. The Eisenhower Matrix is helpful for this.

• Follow-up

In the last phase of the ALPEN method, you compare your original plan with the tasks you have actually completed. You should record and analyse deviations in order to be able to plan even better in the future. In this way, you also gain experience with each instance of use, which you can use to optimise your time management

With flashcards, you can efficiently learn not only terms and vocabulary, but also entire topics. Your learning process already starts when you create the flashcards. Try to formulate specific questions on the front page, as they could also appear in the exam. By formulating questions, you are already dealing with the topic in detail.

If you don't want to invest so much time in creating flashcards, you can also write individual terms on the front. The only important thing is that when you read the front page, you know what you want to ask yourself at this point. For a better overview, you can get a flashcard box or simply place them in different piles. You should organise your flashcards according to the following categories:

• Flashcards that have not been worked on

• Flashcards that you still have to repeat

• Flashcards that you have already answered correctly several times

In the loci method (locus is Latin for place), you link information to places. The method is based on the principle that the human brain retains associative images more easily than pure information in text form. It is easy to apply and very effective.

The starting point of the loci method is an imaginary environment with several distinctive places. This environment can be real or fictional. As an example, you can imagine your way home from shopping. On your way, you will encounter interesting places, so-called anchor points, which will remain in your memory. Remember these places in the order in which you pass them. You connect each piece of information with one of the anchor points. The link does not always have to make sense. The opposite is the case: The more abstract the link is, the better you can memorise the image.

Let's assume that you have memorised the anchor points front door, neighbour's house and bus stop on your way. For your next shopping trip, you would like to memorise three groceries. You need: Pasta, milk and cheese.

Front door: You are late and leave the house. As you step out of the doorway and look up, you are greeted by a dark cloud raining noodles down on you (noodles).

Neighbour's house: As you walk along the street, your neighbour greets you from the other side. They are walking the dog, which is spotted like a cow (milk).

Bus stop: When you arrive at the bus stop, the bus is just arriving. It takes you to the supermarket (cheese) on its big, round cheese wheels.

Are you more creative and visually inclined? Then the learning method of Mind Mapping is suitable for you. Starting with a specific keyword, you collect ideas in a two-part overview. The course of the lines helps you to get an overview of the learning content and to express relationships between individual aspects. You can create your mind maps in the traditional way with pen and paper or digitally with special software and practical online tools. FreePlane and FreeMind, for example, are free programmes for mind maps on the computer.

The psychologist Hermann Ebbinghaus noted as early as 1885 that what is learned is lost over time: Thus, after a few days, we retain only 20 per cent of what we have previously learned in our memory. This makes it all the more important to repeat what you have learned. Regular repetition causes this to be moved from your cache (the hippocampus) to your long-term memory (the cerebral cortex) – a process that happens while you sleep. During this process, the information gathered during the day is passed on from the hippocampus to the cerebral cortex. However, the brain sets priorities here, so that not all information is always transmitted. Emotional and dramatic experiences are often more likely to be consolidated than sober information. Therefore, it is particularly effective if you study immediately before sleeping. This way, you can be sure that your learning content is not overwritten by other impressions.

Make sure you take breaks while you study. Working for several hours at a stretch without interruption does no good: That is because it's not good for you or your body. It is better to always take a short break, for example, 10-15 minutes after an hour of studying. Use your breaks wisely to relax and recharge your energy reserves. Read a book, treat yourself to a good meal or get some fresh air. This will get you back in shape!

Reward your hard work and learning: Go to the cinema, do something with friends or fulfil a long-kept wish. To do this, you define a learning goal that you achieve before your reward. This way, you do something good for yourself and motivate yourself for the next learning unit!

Trello

With Trello, you can assign your tasks to different categories (so-called boards) and work on them in list and card form. Useful features include the synchronisation between device and platforms, the visually clear form and also the interface to other services, for example, Dropbox, Hangouts or Twitter. There are different versions of Trello: The simplest one is free of charge and absolutely sufficient for your study organisation!

Appointment management with Google Calendar

The free Google Calendar helps you to manage your appointments digitally. For a better overview, you have the option of creating thematically different calendars. The app is a real winner in terms of compatibility, as it is not only available for Android, but also for iOS. This way, you can easily view, create or edit your appointments at any time. Any changes you make will be sent to the rest of your devices via your Google Account. Using the Google calendar via voice control offers you additional convenience.

Do you find it difficult to put your smartphone aside while you study? Then the app Forest could be interesting for you; with it, you set a period of time before you start studying in which you do not want to use your smartphone. While you are studying, a tree grows in the app. The tree gets bigger the longer the period lasts. Each mature tree is added to your forest.

But beware: If you close the app within the set time period, the tree dies. What remains is a withered tree stump. In this way, the app shows you the consequences of your actions. The comparison with the "forests" of your friends gives you additional incentive for smartphone asceticism. The app also offers a whitelist that allows you to access up to three apps in an emergency. A quick glance at the diary or answering an urgent call thus goes unpunished and does not result in virtual tree death.

Evernote

Evernote is an all-rounder when it comes to digital note management. In addition, you can add image and video content or PDFs. You can structure your notes by assigning keywords.

The search function is particularly practical: As soon as you start a query, Evernote searches through all the notes. In addition to digital entries, this also includes handwritten entries, text content from photos or linked Office documents. Evernote is available across all platforms and synchronises the current status of your notes with all your devices.

Microsoft OneNote

Microsoft OneNote is modelled on a traditional notebook, with the difference that it is managed digitally. You structure and collect your notes by creating hierarchically ordered pages. You can also attach image and video content or PDFs.

Similar to Evernote, OneNote has text and speech recognition, which you can also use to search for text components of images. The application can be used and synchronised across multiple platforms.

GoodNotes

You have an iPhone or iPad? Then connect your digital world with the analogue one: The GoodNotes app offers you the ideal introduction to paperless document management. You can use the touch-sensitive pen to record notes and graphics.

GoodNotes makes your everyday study life easier by allowing you to make entries and changes in digital scripts in an uncomplicated way. If there is not enough space, a blank page can be inserted at the touch of a button.

In addition, you have the option of searching for handwritten notes or converting them to a digital script through the intelligent character recognition.

Google Documents

Google Documents is a free text editor that you can access via your browser. This tool supports you above all in the effective organisation of teamwork.

All documents can be edited by several people at the same time, with changes displayed in real time. The documents stored in the Google Drive cloud are available for retrieval at any time.

The BRAINYOO app extends the classic advantages of flashcards with useful functions in the digital space. Once created, the flashcards are available on all your devices. The cross-platform synchronisation ensures that your learning status is permanently updated. You can also include pictures or graphics.

With Khan Academy you can deepen your knowledge in natural science and humanities topics or train them through repetition. The non-profit organisation behind it has made it its goal to provide free education with the help of learning videos and exercises. There are now over 10,000 videos and learning units (mostly in English).

The app saves your current learning status and synchronises your progress with the browser version. Individual lessons can also be saved locally on your smartphone when you are on the move. You can then access it in offline mode without consuming data.