how to work out a study plan

[vivariumvivariumsvivaria]

Exam year, she did well in her GCSEs. She's working REALLY hard, as in, I'm concerned about the amount of studying she is doing. Weird problem to have, I know.

Anyone have resource for what is a manageable amount of studying? I want to draw up a study plan with her so she is also seeing her friends, getting some exercise, getting enough sleep.

She's going to burn out at this rate, she's very stressed and her mood is being affected.

What exactly is she doing? Homework, extra reading, revising what she’s just covered?

Yip, all of those. She makes notes in class, revises her notes, uses BBC Bitesize, finds wider reading and does past papers.

She's very worried about two of her subjects, says she just doesn't understand. We got a tutor for one, and can get another but, that's even more studying. It would be directed studying though, and so perhaps she'd feel less panicked.

She's doing at least 4 hours a night and has been since the schools went back.

She's also wakening at 5am, getting dressed and going back to bed "to save time". I'm a bit worried that she's actually stressed in a way that needs a GP chat.

I’m wondering if you can try and work out some reasonable goals together for each of those elements, then. In terms of either time or items to tick off.
Have you a parents evening coming up? If not could you speak to a teacher anyway to get them to tell her that the optional reading is only to be done if there is time (etc).
Or is there a way to measure if she’s on track with her understanding and can therefore ease up a bit?
I don’t have children this age, but have just been a student myself so I understand the feeling of worrying about not getting it.

Have you talked through what will happen if she does badly this year?

It sounds like she may have anxiety. I would suggest she checks our some study YouTubers. Unjaded jade is great as well as some others and they are a small community but very friendly. Unjaded jade has some great tactics for revision. They are all geeky but maybe it'll get her away from some books and she can learn some time saving techniques?

Thanks for your suggestions, these are all really helpful.

Yes, discussing what happens if she doesn't meet her goals is a good idea. She's been so focussed on "get grades, get on" and she's academic, so, it's never been a question.

She gave me a report card today - it's glowing. If the predicted grades are right, she's totally fine. She's stressing though, "what if they are just being kind to butter up the parents?" Which is a bit of illogical thinking.

Thanks for unjaded jade suggestion - that sounds ideal. She's geeky, that will be great.

Will take her out for a walk/coffee/cake/ninja attack chat at the weekend.

Man, I don't remember exams being this hard when I was doing them...

I think where I’m going, is that if you can agree some reasonable timings, if she’s then going way over then you know you need to tackle it somehow.

Also with Unjaded Jade she talks about the added stress when you are the top achiever in the class, you become the one to beat. I think the video is called why I wish I hadn't got all A*s.

I think she is a great StudyTuber, because she talks about working smart and being productive rather than hours and hours of work. She promotes positive mental health and looking after yourself.

She got rejected from Oxford and although devastated at the time, she realises that of course not everyone gets in who applies and even being an A* student can not get you everything you may want.

Depending what subjects she is doing Jack Edwards is another StudyTuber (promoting studying on YouTube) he did History I think.

Both of them talk about balance, school, family, friends, hobbies and looking after your mental health above all.

I didn't have a chat with her about it today, she had a lie in (til Lunch, but, that's ok, normal!) and did some baking and then watched tv. I don't think she's done any studying at all - so I didn't mention it.

Sent her the link to Unjaded Jade and Jack Edwards and suggested we have a look at it tomorrow together.