Late night cramming, finishing assignments in the student lounge on the day they are due, praying for a good essay topic to come your way. Does any of this sound familiar? Yes, these are some of the characteristics of a university education with which many of us are familiar. How many times have you heard a joke on TV about flirting, drinking, and partying simply being “what you do in college.” Part of the university experience is about having fun, growing as a person, and yes some partying! However, let’s not forget about the actual “reason” for university in the first place. If you’ve forgot I’ll remind you! It’s about getting a great education, getting high grades, and preparing yourself for the future of your dreams. That’s fairly true isn’t it? The reason you came to university was to get an education?
I was lucky enough to get through university with some pretty good marks and options for the future. But, it didn’t come easy. I learned the hard way by trial and error to figure out the right combination of study tactics that worked for me. I wish the same school success for you as well. But not the same hard knocks of trial and error, although some of that is probably unavoidable. It can be much easier to get through university if you have a methodology to follow or even some simple tips to better studying. Even though it may be a bit of a fight to actually get your studying and assignments done, what with everything else going on around you, it is worth your while to learn some strategies to help you in this area. The following are some tips for studying that may help you with the studious part of your university career.
Tip #1: Make a decision for yourself to place a high priority on grades. You are the only one that will actually prioritize this. Even though your parents may really nag at you to get your studying and assignments done, ultimately it is up to you. You are the boss of your destiny, not your friends, profs, or parents. Make your residence a place that promotes studying, assignments, and learning. This will help you prioritize school work both at school and at home.
Tip #2: Create a habit of doing something fun and rewarding after studying. Make it a rule that you must get school work done first and play second. Fun time may include going out with friends, chatting on the phone or online with friends, watching a favourite TV program, playing a game, working out, etc.
Tip #3: Schedule time to study and do assignments every day at the same time if you can. Be specific about what time and for how long studying is to take place each day. This promotes studying as a habit and a regularly scheduled activity. We tend to find things easier to do when they have become a routine activity. However, also schedule in time when you will not be doing any homework, such as on Sunday.
Tip #4: Encourage a positive and focused study atmosphere. A good place to study is one with good lighting, a desk and chair, and few or no distractions. This place provides pencils, pens, paper, a stapler, calculator, ear plugs, tissue, highlighters, a computer, and anything else needed for your school work. This helps to avoid time wasted on looking around for each accessory separately.
Tip #5: Make it fun to get good grades. Set positive consequences in place for getting good grades. You want to pay attention to and be focused on the good things you do much more than the bad things you do. It can be easy to get into a habit of being hard on yourself for mistakes of the past. Learn from them, let them go, and move forward into a better future. Notice and celebrate the good things you do, especially getting good grades. Take yourself to a movie, buy yourself your favourite Starbucks treat, or just relax at home. Do whatever will be rewarding for you.
Tip #6: Work on creating new study habits. New habits take approximately 90 days to create. This means that you will need to use willpower and motivation for the first 90 days. After that the habits you have created will be more automatic and come much more easily. The earlier in life you establish healthy habits for yourself the better off you will be in the long run. Good habits not only include studying but also healthy eating, working out, balancing work and play, and being compassionate with yourself and with others.
