10 Habits Every Successful Student Should Have

When you’re a college student, it’s hard to find balance. However, like every element of life, things get a lot easier when you start introducing them as habits. With this in mind, we’re going to explore the top 10 habits all high-performing students should have in order to perform their best.

#1 – Get Yourself Organized

Get yourself a planner and plan when you’re going to work and how long for. Plan what subjects you’re going to study and when, as well as planning your tests and deadlines, ensuring you have everything you need to get ahead.

#2 – Make Sure You’re Taking Notes (By Hand)

When you’re listening, get into the habit of taking bullet-pointed notes to keep track of key points of what you’re learning. What’s more, writing these points by hand is a great way to retain information which means less studying later!

#3 – Don’t Study in One Big Block

Break down your study sessions into shorter periods of time, perhaps only an hour long. This helps you stay focused and on task the entire time, rather than struggling to keep your eyes open while the information goes over your head.

#4 – Set a Study Goal

“Every time you sit down to study, make sure you’re setting a goal of what you what to achieve. Maybe it’s reaching an hour of study or reading a certain number of pages. Whatever you choose, give yourself purpose,” shares Lawrence Turner, an education manager for WriteMYX and Brit Student.

#5 – Ask Questions

Teachers exist to help you learn about a certain subject, so you need to make sure you’re using them for the best results. If there’s something you don’t understand, don’t be afraid to ask for help.

#6 – Strictly Avoid Procrastination

“It’s so easy to fall into the habit of procrastinating, and once you’ve done it, it starts to become acceptable to do it over and over again, and you’ll fall into the habit of doing it all the time. Be strict and disciplined with yourself” explains Joseph Goody, a head of the internship department at 1Day2Write and Australia2Write.

#7 – Get Rid of Distractions

Going with the consideration above, it’s important to make sure you’re avoiding any distractions in your environment. Silence your phone, turn off the TV, and ideally have calm, ambient music if any at all.

#8 – Use Study Groups

Study groups are a great way to stay focused and absorb information because you’re all working as a team, however, you’ll want to make sure you’re using them effectively. If you’re not productive, it may be best to change the group or take a break.

#9 – Start with Hardest Task First

It’s so important to make sure you’re starting your study periods with the hardest subject first because this is when you’ll have the most energy and focus on tackling it. Once you have finished with that one, maybe take a study break and then come back to an easier topic.

#10 – Never EVER Multitask

If you work on one task at a time, and only focus on one thing, you can give 100% of your attention and get the best result, instead of dividing your attention.

Being a successful student takes a lot of work and different consideration. With these 10 tips from GradGuard, you’re sure to make your college experience a little easier!

BIO: Adelina Benson is a lifestyle blogger and writer at AcademicBrits.com and Origin Writings. She develops study plans for students around the world and helps to bust procrastination at PHD Kingdom. In her free time, she loves to blog to help business people reach their full potential.