Preparing for the semester ahead can be filled with a wide range of emotions. From excitement to nervousness, all this built-up anticipation can create a bit of stress. Fortunately, there are several strategies that can both help to calm your nerves as well as allow you to feel your best and improve your performance in school.
Throughout this article, we will discuss five unique tips that will generate more success in when you go back to school this year. So long as you commit to creating strong habits through practice and hard work, you’ll be excelling in any quiz, exam or assignment thrown your way.
1. Get organized
Getting yourself physically and mentally organized for the school year ahead will help you stay on top of your schedule. Starting with the space around you, it’s important to have all your back-to-school gear prepared in advance. For example, sharpen all your pencils, tidy up your binder and get in the habit of laying out your school clothes the night before. Doing all of this will help you stay focused, encourage more productivity and keep you feeling confident.
Next, you’ll need to organize your mental space. This means getting clear on your objectives, structuring your day and tackling things one at a time, rather than attempting to multitask. A 2016 study notes that students who commit to organizing a structured to-do list are more likely to follow through with these tasks.
2. Maintain strong, open communication with your teachers
Building a strong rapport with your teachers is an underrated strategy. Not only will it help you excel inside of the classroom setting, but it will give you more opportunities in the real world when it comes to obtaining a letter of reference.
In the classroom, developing an open line of communication with your teachers will give you the upper hand in understanding the lecture material. Oftentimes, students underestimate the power of chatting with their teachers after class. Doing this will give you more direction on assignments and clear up confusion before exams.
3. Take breaks throughout the day
Just like our muscles need rest from a long run, our brains need time to recover from a long day spent in school or studying. Taking short breaks throughout a study session can improve your focus on the task at hand. Studies have shown that study breaks can allow you to retain more information, be more productive and improve your attention span. Consider setting a timer every 60-90 minutes to remind yourself to get up and walk around.
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4. Get involved in a small study group
As many students know, studying on your own can become tiresome over time. Study groups are a great way to spark more excitement and curiosity into this routine. Not only will it help you stay on top of all your courses, but it also improves your motivation to actually study.
Here are some other ways study groups are beneficial:
- They keep you accountable
- They help you avoid procrastination
- They encourage more creativity
- They help you build communication skills
- They enhance greater understanding
5. Get enough sleep
Maintaining a regular sleep schedule of eight to 10 hours can improve your focus, working memory and overall productivity. Research shows that students who were getting enough hours of sleep prior to their exams achieved higher grades on average. Never underestimate the power of your nightly zzzs.
Bringing It All Together
Generating greater success in school starts by making small changes to your routine as early as possible. You’ll find that over time, these little changes will turn into habits that will keep you moving on the right path. Start by focusing on one new tip every day for your first month back to school and see how it helps you out. You’ll notice your motivation, enjoyment, and overall academic success will all begin to climb higher and higher day by day.
