22 study habits that guarantee good grades (2023)

Were you expecting to get an A on your last test or exam, but your study habits got in the way?

Maybe you got a B, or maybe you did worse.

It's boring, right...

You devote all those hours to study. You even gave up time with your friends.

What if I could show you a way to work?smarterand not harder to get good grades and make time for the things you enjoy and find meaningful?

Better yet, what if I could guarantee it?

so i can

All you have to do is adopt these 22 study habits.

(I've been getting straight A's throughout my career as a student, so I can promise you these study habits are working.)

Want to get the grades you've always wanted while living a balanced life?

So let's start.

The best study habits

Add these effective study habits to your routine to get good grades with a lot less stress.

Habit #1: Make a weekly schedule

When you schedule time for a specific task, such as B. Learning, say to yourself, "I will focus on learning at this time, on this date, and it will take this number of hours."

Once written down, it becomes a reality and you are more likely to stick with it.

That may sound strange, but it's true.

Do this on your calendar, in a spreadsheet, or download a template—whatever works best for you.

First, think about your regular commitments such as school, sports, family time, religious activities, and so on.

Decide now at which times around these fixed dates you can best do your work and check each week.

Don't worry about exactly what work you're doing or what tasks you need to complete. Just focus on blocking the times.

Your weekly study schedule might look something like this (the blue boxes are when you're off work):

Plan a study-free day (at least half a day) once a week.

Everyone needs a break, so if you give yourself permission to take some time off, you're more likely to come back to work refreshed.

Habit #2: Make a pre-study checklist

Have you ever heard your mother tell you never to go to the supermarket without a shopping list?

You'll be walking up and down the hallways wasting time. You will make the wrong decisions about what to buy and end up with the wrong things for dinner.

Using a shopping list will focus your mind. You only add the items you need to your shopping cart and check them on the go.

It is no different than a checklist used by a pilot before take off or a mechanic when servicing a car.

Checklists are essentialwhile you learn to develop good study habits. They make sure you cover all the necessary steps to get a result.

Here are some of the things that might be on your pre-grad checklist:

• Configure desktop
• Make sure your phone is in another room or turned off
• Advise your family members not to disturb you until the end of the study session
• Gather all the necessary notes and reference books
• Get a glass of water
• Define timers

Keep your checklist handy and check everything off at the beginning of each lesson.

Habit #3: Create a study plan

The purpose of acurriculumresembles a checklist. It keeps you on track.

When camping, you might have a checklist that covers all the gear you need to pack in your car.

But you also need a road map showing you how to get to the camp. This allows you to plan your route and focus on your destination.

So create a study plan at the beginning of each study session.

For example, today you might have to do a math homework and write the summary notes for chapter 4 of your history book.

Write down the main tasks along with a list of steps you need to take along the way.

To complete your math homework, you can write:

• Read the math class notes
• Read the book chapter on algebraic calculations
• Ask questions 1 through 3

Your study plan will help you focus on what needs to be done today without getting distracted by things that can wait until tomorrow.

Habit #4: Study offline as much as possible

When you're studying you want to be focused, which means limiting all those annoying interruptions that come with being online.

Turn off your internet connection and give your brain the rest it needs to focus.

And while you're at it, try not to use a laptop to take notes.

This may sound like strange advice, howeverto searchshowed that taking notes by hand is a much smarter way of learning.

When you write notes by hand, your brain absorbs the meaning of what you write. But when you use a laptop, you don't process what you learn as deeply.

Habit #5: Before each study session, take three deep breaths

What comes to your mind so naturally that you don't even think about it?

Breathing.

Each of us breathes about 20,000 times a day, so you'd think we'd be pretty good at it. But did you know there are?better ways to breathe than others?

And guess who breathes better? Babies.

As babies, we all take deep breaths and relax. These breaths push oxygen through our body and into our brain, helping us focus better.

But as we get older, we breathe faster and shorter. As a result, we find it difficult to remain vigilant.

There are many ways to breathe deeper, but here's one method you can try before beginning each study session:

• Close your eyes and breathe through your nose for four seconds.
• Exhale through your mouth for four seconds
• repeat three times

Tip: Try it before bed too. It will help you sleep better.

Habit #6: Learn to motivate yourself

Do you think that sometimes it is almost impossible to start studying? In fact, your body feels like a heavy rock as you trudge to work.

Do not worry. Everyone feels like this from time to time.

You only have to know howmotivate you to study, and for that we'll make another list.

This time, write down all the reasons why you want to study hard, such as:

• I want to do my best
• I want to becomemore disciplined
• I want to prepare well for the future
• I want to develop endurance
• I want to learn as much as possible

Put your list somewhere where you can see it. Next time you want to watch TV instead of studying, go over your list again.

You will be amazed and be able to start your studies again in no time!

Habit #7: Take notes during class

Taking notes in class is aimportant learning tip for implementation.

Weil?

Think of the number of lessons you attend at school each day and the mountain of information that is thrown at you.

You could never remember everything you learned without taking notes.

Taking notes also helps you absorb and retain information much better than just listening.

Finally, think of your class notes as the backbone of yoursconcentrated study time. They summarize what you have learned and make your learning time more efficient.

(Here are some proven tips toohow to take notes effectively.)

Habit #8: Review what you learned in school that day

Reviewing new information you've learned in class is one of the most effective study habits you can develop.

Before the end of each day, read the notes you made or reread the chapter your teacher taught in class.

It won't take long and will help you retain what you've learned. This also makes the process of transferring information from short-term memory to long-term memory smoother.

Habit #9: Read your notes before you start doing your homework

This is similar to the last study habit we talked about.

The first thing you should do in your lesson is review the notes you took in class before you start your homework on the topic.

Don't forget to build this assignment into your study plan (see Habit #3).

This will boost your memory so you can start your homework well prepared.

Habit #10: Get at least eight hours of sleep every night

We all know that a good night's sleep makes us more alert and energetic the next day.

But did you know that it also improves your memory andmakes you a better student?

You probably think there is no waybest studentcould sleep enough, but you are wrong. In fact, getting eight hours of sleep before an exam is more effective than staying up late trying to absorb all the information.

The best way to guarantee eight hours of good qualitysleepgoes to bed at the same time every night. (If needed, set an alarm to remind you.)

Read a chapter of a book, but don't read it on your phone or tablet. Because the light from these screens makes it difficult for the brain to relax and inhibits the production of melatonin.

Also, turn off phones and other electronic devices that might disturb you at night.

Habit #11: Create an environment that helps you learn

Trying to work in a noisy or dimly lit room will hurt youstudy timeless effective.

To develop good study habits, take a few minutes to make sure your workplace is conducive to learning.

Here are some things to think about:

• Do you have the necessary supplies and stationery on hand?
• Is the lighting sufficient?
• Make sure your desk is tidy and organized (do this before and after each study session)
• Is the room the right temperature?
• Is your work chair comfortable?
• Is the room silent? (Use earplugs if necessary)
• Is your phone turned off?
• Delete any apps from your phone that you might want to open when you're supposed to be studying
• Are there other distractions in the room that might bother you, like a magazine or the TV? Turn them off or remove them completely.

Habit #12: Schedule your study sessions and breaks

Do you find it difficult to concentrate for more than 45 minutes at a time? That's perfectly fine.

In fact, I recommend you take a 5 minute study break every 30-40 minutes.

Don't get into the study habit of lengthening the break so that it becomes longer than the study time.

At the beginning of a study session, set a timer for 30 to 40 minutes and then take a break. Set the timer for the end of the break so you know when to get back to work.

Habit #13: When you take a break from studying, step away from your desk

To develop good study habits, you should take breaks and use them wisely.

Get away from your desk and do something completely different to give your brain and body a break. Take a short walk around the block or grab a snack in the kitchen.

i encourage youNOTo watch a video, turn on the TV or check your social media news feed.

This is because these activities don't give your brain a proper break.

Habit #14: Enjoy the breaks you have during the school day

Do you have a longer break in the middle of the school day or after lunch?

Is there anything useful you could do with that time?

Perhaps you can review the notes you made that morning or start preparing your study plan for the end of the day.

Another great way to use your free time is to find a colleague and talk about what you just learned. This is especially true if you need clarification or have questions about something.

Don't be afraid to ask questions. It's an excellent way to learn faster and better.

Habit #15: Stick to your homework

This may sound like a givenhabit of cultivating as a student, but I'm often surprised at how many students leave their homework stacked.

When it gets out of control, just the thought of doing your homework can become overwhelming and stressful.

Before you know it, you'll find that you're working so hard to catch up that you won't have time to study anything importantTests and exams that are exhausting enough on their own.

One of the most effective study habits is to start your homework on the appointed day.

At the very least, skim the questions while the information you have learned is still fresh in your mind.

That way, if you need to come back to it later, you have a rough structure to start from, making it a lot easier to complete.

Habit #16: Ask your teachers for help at least once a week

Your teachers are there for youhelp you be successful. Don't be afraid to reach out to them.

Asking for help is an important learning habit to cultivate.

Make asking for help part of your weekly schedule (see Habit 1) and keep a list of all the questions that come up during the week.

Bring the questionnaire with you and don't let it pile up.

If you let the questions pile up, you may feel overwhelmed and reluctant to seek help.

Habit #17: Use a planner to keep track of tasks and deadlines

unlessorganized when it comes to school matters, waste precious time on last minute jobs you forgot.

Or you stay up late to do a task that you should have started a week earlier.

Use a planner to keep track of important dates, tasks, and deadlines. You can use a physical journal or an online journal like Google Calendar.

The most important thing is to keep your planner up to date so you don't have to rely on your memory or wait for your professors to remind you.

Plan and study effectivelyimprove your exam skillsand performance.

For example, don't just give the date of an exam when using your scheduler. Add a reminder to start checking on time for the test.

And check your planner at least once a week. Meet all your upcoming deadlines every Monday and prioritize the tasks and projects you need to get done during the week.

Habit #18: Test yourself regularly

Don't wait for the regular tests and exams before you start studying. Set mini-tests for yourself every few weeks.

You may have reviewed your lecture notes at one point, but that doesn't mean the information was absorbed or effectively memorized for a future exam.

Here's how you can test yourself...

As you review your lesson notes, highlight some of the most important things you learned.

For example, in history, it can be the date of an important event. Write some test questions on a separate piece of paper, e.g. B. "When did the war start?" or "What caused the Civil War?"

The next day, take the test questions and see how many answers you can remember.

It takes some effort to pass a test you give yourself, but that effort will pay off when the time for the exam comes.

Habit #19: Check your work before you consider it done

When you've completed a task, don't consider it complete until you've double-checked your work for sloppy errors.

Here's what to look for:

• spelling mistake
• grammar mistake
• bad presentation
• Did I answer the question?
• Have I left out important facts?
• Do I have the right equations?

Habit #20: Keep a "worries" list

It's common for students to worry about not doing well, but it's a distracting pastime.

Worrying about something can interfere with your ability to focus on learning and improvement.

That's why you need to keep a "worries" list.

As strange as it may seemto searchshowed that writing down a list of your school fears can actually improve your grades.

Writing down a list of your worries is like unloading your fears and freeing your brain to focus on learning.

So whenever a concern comes to mind, write it down and move on.

Habit #21: Use online resources (when your teacher isn't available)

Unless you can easily find the answer on the internet, your professor should be the first person you should ask a question or concern about the subject matter.

But if your professors aren't available when you need to clarify something (which is usually in the middle of study hours), there are great online resources you can use.

Here are some of them:

• Khan Academy
• SparkNotes
• BBC Bitessize
• Mathispower4u

Habit #22: If you struggle with procrastination, use the Pomodoro Technique

Procrastination, or lack of concentration, is a major problem during college.

We've already talked about the need to take regular breaks (see Habit 13), but there's another method you might find helpful.

It's called the Pomodoro Technique.

The idea is that if you break your study time into focused but manageable 25-minute chunks, you'll stay on top of your work.

Instead of trying to focus for two or more hours at a time, which takes a lot of energy and willpower.

The point is to train your brain to focus on a task that needs to get done and put off any distractions until later.

See how it works:

• Set a timer for 25 minutes
• Focus 100% on studying until the timer rings
• Take a five-minute break — and remember to step away from your desk
• Repeat this until the end of your lesson

Here are some apps you can try:

• Focus Booster– Available for desktop and mobile devices. You can download the first version for free.
• Marinara-Timer– This one is free and does not need to be downloaded. Just open it and start the stopwatch.

look at thisArticlefor even more apps to use.

Start practicing your new study habits

Well done! You've read about the 22 Study Habits That Will Surely Improve Your Grades.

(Also here are 8bad study habitsYou will want to avoid.)

Reading about these habits is a good place to start. But nothing changes if you click away this article.

if you are wonderinghow to get good grades, you must take action - every day, every week and every month. Start tomorrow with just one new study habit. Make it part of your daily routine.

After a week, choose another one and put it into practice.

Before you know it, you'll be turning those disappointing B's and C's into clear A's. I guarantee!

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