by Emily Elizabeth Smith, Great Lakes student
Becoming an effective college student requires the ability to meet coursework demands and to form functional and successful study habits. The vast majority of successful students achieve their success by developing and applying effective study habits.
What makes good study habits?
A habit is just a behavior that is repeated until it is automatic. A habit is something that is done on a scheduled, regular and planned basis that is not relegated to a second place or optional place in one`s life. It is simply done, no reservations, no excuses, no exceptions. Study habits are the ways that we study. The habits that we have formed during our school years. Study habits can be ‘good’ which means they work and help us to make good grades – or “bad” which just means they don`t work and don`t help us make good grades.
~Journal of Education and Practice
This article contains some of the top study habits utilized by highly successful students. Integrating these tools into your everyday college routine can be difficult at first. However, it is important to remain diligent and not get discouraged—work to develop each of the study habits below and you will be able to better maintain solid grades, your ability to learn and apply knowledge, and become the most efficient and organized college student possible.
1. Stay organized
Learning to stay organized will benefit you in every college course you take. Staying organized throughout college is essential to successfully passing your classes. Being organized in your classes will help you complete your assignments on time and study effectively while getting the most out of your education. Getting a planner, keeping track of syllabi, having a class schedule handy, color coding assignments and important dates, setting reminders, and building a daily routine will all contribute to the success of your college career. Instead of keeping one bulky binder or a backpack of loose paper, organize your notes and handouts into separate folders. This makes it easier to find what you need for each exam, keep your homework together, and prevent overwhelming clutter.
2. Do the reading
Many college courses are centered around extensive reading assignments. Keeping up on course reading will keep you involved in the material and allow for you to contribute in classroom discussions. Breaking up the reading into manageable sections is key. Doing this allows your brain more time to absorb smaller portions of information rather than reading everything the night before. If you are assigned multiple chapters of reading from the textbook between classes, getting behind could have you struggling to read half or more of the material right before the test—this does not work! The best thing you can do is stay caught up on all of your work.
3. Notes
Coming to class prepared is the first step to taking notes effectively. Make sure you are caught up on all reading and other assignments so you have a solid understanding of the material before the lecture. This allows you to focus in on other important details rather than struggling to grasp new concepts while taking notes. Being conscious of the direction of the lectures will help you keep your notes organized. Work to adapt to the material as the professor leads the topic into various directions. Reviewing and editing your notes after class gives you the opportunity to re-read the material while organizing it into logical sections.
4. Don’t cram
College students can easily fall into the trap of late at night studying that results in expending more energy trying to keep their eyelids open than actual studying. Becoming successful student involves learning to be consistent in your studies and having regular, yet shorter, study periods. Not only is it important that you plan when you're going to study, it's important you create a consistent, daily study routine. Your study session will yield productive results if you are both mentally and emotionally prepared with each session.
5. Use a planner
Planners are life savers! Trying to keep up with classwork, friends, and extracurricular activities can be easily overwhelming. Keeping up with a planner unlocks a sense of security and organization in your daily routine. Instead of using a phone or laptop to quickly type assignments in a notes app, physically writing things down does wonders for remembering important tasks. If it is difficult for you to find a planner that suits you, you can buy a blank notebook and turn it into a task management system tailored to your specific needs.
6. Set goals
Consistently setting new goals for yourself pushes you to be active in your learning. Falling into idleness in your college career can leave you feeling unaccomplished or that you are lacking direction. Setting both short-term and long-term goals is an important part of student success. Setting goals has a positive impact on performance as they work to direct attention and efforts towards activities aimed at achieving goals. Achievable goals steers students away from irrelevant activities. The content team from MindTools explains a functional goal-setting mindset: “When you set goals for yourself, it is important that they motivate you: this means making sure that they are important to you, and that there is value in achieving them. If you have little interest in the outcome, or they are irrelevant given the larger picture, then the chances of you putting in the work to make them happen are slim. Motivation is key to achieving goals.” Being self-aware and mindful of the steps you are taking to reach your goals can make the hard work less daunting. Take the time to figure out what you want to gain from your college experience and work to create goals to help get you there.
7. Asking for help
Unless you took Advanced Placement or college-level courses in high school, your new intense workload will be a big adjustment. Being aware of the resources available to you for academic help can be the difference between a passing or a failing grade. Some of the extra help opportunities can be found in class study groups, by contacting your professor for help directly, or tutors employed by the college. These resources are there because students will struggle with their coursework over their college career—you are not alone! Feeling overwhelmed by coursework is a natural experience that you will have to adjust to, but you do not have to do it by yourself. Make the most of your education by doing everything in your power to understand the material and earn that grade.
8. Study over the weekend
College students look forward to the weekend with no classes to attend. However, the work continues outside of the classroom. Yes, the weekend can be used to relax and prepare for the week to come. However, using this time to keep your mind focused on your coursework is immensely beneficial to the quality of your learning. Consistent review of the material will make the adjustment back into the school week easier. If you don’t have an assignment due on Monday, set goals to work ahead or spend extra time enhancing your understanding of class material. Using the weekend as a tool for your academic success is as equally important as taking some time to unwind and relax your mind!
9. Think positively
Being in the right, healthy mindset can make all the difference when it comes to your college experience. Making a conscious effort to think positively when studying or heading into an exam decreases stress and prepares you to give your best effort. Don’t get caught up in destructive thoughts that will limit your mental abilities. Strive to be the best version of yourself. You are only human—give yourself credit! It can be as simple as speaking praise out loud to yourself. Make the decision to cultivate a positive mindset.
10. Take care of yourself
Mental and physical health is always the number one priority. The topic of mental health is one of immeasurable importance for today’s college students. There is nothing to feel ashamed of if you get into a funk that you just cannot snap out of. Most colleges and universities have wellness centers where you can go to get counseling or quiet time. Simply talking to someone helps you to better understand yourself and how to navigate your circumstances. Many colleges offer wellness events throughout the semesters as well. These gives you an opportunity to learn about the different resources at your disposal.
For your physical health, be deliberate in adopting a regular sleep schedule, making healthy food choices, and setting aside time for exercise. With busy schedules, it is always easier to grab fast food or snacks from the vending machine. This makes putting on weight during your college years very easy. Unhealthy eating, lack of sleep, and not exercising enough can have negative impacts on your overall health and affect your learning ability.
Despite the known benefits of regular physical activity, research shows a significant decline in physical activity participation and an increase in sedentary behavior during young adulthood during the college years. There is a significant amount of literature examining the relationship between physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness and cognitive/academic outcomes among adolescent, adult and senior citizen populations.
--International Journal of Exercise Science
The Good Study Habits Takeaway!
Don’t let old habits and new distractions become stumbling blocks on the path to earning your college degree. By incorporating these ten effective study habits into your daily routine, you will see yourself transform into a capable, disciplined college student. How do you start implementing these tips? Simply make the decision and commitment to yourself to initiate this revamping of your routine and follow through.
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Emily Elizabeth Smith is a twenty-one-year-old college student attending Great Lakes Christian College where she is double majoring in Interpersonal and Organizational Communication and Bible Theology. She previously attended Alma College and Lansing Community College but decided to transfer to Great Lakes to immerse herself in an environment where she can mature in her faith and build personal, lifelong relationships with her professors and peers. She is a strong writer winning various awards throughout her schooling career such as the campus-wide poetry contest at Alma College. Emily’s plans after her time at Great Lakes are to use her invaluable skills to serve as a Kingdom representative of God and invest herself in enabling others to do their best, allowing communicative teamwork to move her into the professional workforce.
