A new year, a new semester. As college students start coming back from a relaxing winter break, it’s time to start preparing for the spring semester by practicing good habits. Many people make new year’s resolutions, so add a few college-themed goals to that list to start the year off right! Here are some good overall habits for college students to help them achieve academic and personal success!
Flickr user Penn State
1. Get a Head Start on Assignments
One good study habit for successful college students is not procrastinating or waiting until the last minute to start assignments. It is never a good idea and you won’t deliver your best work. It creates a stressful scramble that can hurt your grades and class performance.
Instead, use your syllabus to your advantage and get started on things earlier—especially bigger projects. Spacing out the work makes it so much more manageable. Spending a few minutes or an hour every day working on upcoming assignments will put you ahead of your schoolwork and help you a lot throughout the semester.
Whether you spend the time outlining a paper, conducting preliminary research, or simply reading ahead, these small steps can significantly improve the quality of your submission.
2. Get Organized
Staying organized is key to being more productive and less overwhelmed. And yes, it’s a game-changer for academic success. You won’t need to spend hours looking for things you need.
To stay organized through the semester, there are a few things you need to do right off as soon as you get back to school.
- Create dedicated folders or notebooks for classes, where you can keep all your notes, handouts, syllabi, and other materials in one convenient spot.
- Hang up a calendar and mark important due dates at the beginning of the semester. Being able to see what’s coming up will help you prioritize tasks and avoid last-minute stress.
- Clean your room and desk—seriously, this can make things easier to find and is scientifically proven to lower your stress levels.
While building organizational habits might take time, the benefits are undeniable. A well-organized student is less stressed, more efficient, and so much more productive.
3. Revisit Your Study Habits
Have you set up strong study habits from the beginning of the year or could you improve on them? Your study habits should set you up for success. If they don’t, change them! The college curriculum is vast and even if you’re a natural learner, you do need to set up strong study habits for academic success.
Start by reviewing class materials, studying for tests, and completing homework.
Different strategies work for different students. Depending on what works for you, you may want to:
- Create flash cards.
- Create a study schedule.
- Work with a tutor.
- Build a study group with your peers.
- Talk to your teacher.
- Take better notes.
- Visit the library more often.
Try making it fun! Maybe using fun-colored pens for those flash cards? Maybe music helps you relax and focus? Or maybe sipping a delicious Frappuccino at your local coffee shop will help do the trick.
4. Go to Office Hours
If you’re struggling in a class, a particular element of a lecture is stumping you, or you’re unsure which direction to take on a project, go to office hours. Even if you just want to get a handle on where you’re at with the material: go to office hours. These are underutilized resources for college students even though they offer several benefits. It’s a direct way to interact with your teachers and improve your academic performance.
Many students need a little one-on-one focus to help grasp a concept. Some teachers might even give you extra credit opportunities if you take the initiative. Going to office hours also shows initiative and might give you good rapport.
5. Meet with Your Academic Advisor
Advisors are gold mines when it comes to scheduling, college degree planning, major resources, and future career paths. You should definitely get to know them so they can get to know you, and offer you personalized help and advice.
Academic advisors can suggest minors, and classes, and show you potential internships or networking contacts. So, make it a New Year’s goal to meet up with them more than just once during your semester.
6. Say No
It’s okay to say “no.” Time is a precious commodity in college, as is attention. You won’t be able to do everything you want to do at once. If you are a full-time student, have a part-time job, are a member of multiple clubs, play a sport, hang out with friends, and volunteer three times a week, then it’s easy to burn out. Manage your schedule (and your sanity) by saying no to certain things. This will allow you to pay attention to the things that are most important to you.
7. Step Outside Your Comfort Zone
College isn’t all about academics and grades. It is also a time of exploration and discovery. Learning something new, especially outside of school, can help you develop new skills and open amazing doors and opportunities. They could even lead to new friendships, hobbies, and jobs.
One of your New Years resolutions should be to push yourself a little and see what’s out there.
- Try out for the school play.
- Audition for the choir.
- Read your poem to an audience.
- Volunteer in your community.
- Enroll in music or dance classes.
- Start a passion project.
Don’t be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone and try something that intimidates you. You may be surprised to find how much you love it.
8. Get a Handle on Your Finances
Hopefully you’ve already set up a budget at the beginning of the academic year and are maintaining it. If not, make this one of your New Years goals.
Without a clear budget, it’s easy to overspend or underestimate expenses. On the other hand, a solid budget can help you stay on top of your finances and avoid unnecessary debt after graduation.
Start by assessing your current financial situation. Review all your income sources and compare them to your monthly expenses. Your goal is that your total income always be higher than your total expenses. If it isn’t, you’ll have to make some adjustments to stay on top of your budget.
As part of your financial planning, it’s important to consider how you’re going to cover the cost of tuition and other major college expenses. Make sure to explore all the different ways you can pay for college.
9. Get Active
Your physical health and wellness are important to keep in mind during college. Staying active and having a healthy diet will help your performance throughout the semester and keep your sleep schedule normal. Sleep deprivation, junk food, and a low fitness level can cause you to not perform your best. Even if you can only work out a few times a week and eat well, the health benefits of it all are worth it!
10. Reward Yourself!
Take some time to reward yourself and recognize your achievements. If you are constantly on the go, give yourself a break to just chill. See friends, visit with family, get a workout in. Taking some time to enjoy the things you love will help you avoid burnout.
Whether you passed a difficult test or just got through a week of tough studying, take some time for you. This could be a night out with friends, a night in by yourself to read your book, or watching a Ted Lasso binge. How you reward yourself is completely up to you, but always take the time to acknowledge your achievements.
These good habits for college students will allow them to enjoy their college careers and be more successful after they graduate. Say goodbye to your old habits that no longer benefit you and create positive changes in college life.
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