Achieving high grades is quite a challenge. However, there are many tips and strategies that will not only improve your study skills, but can also ease the stress you may be experiencing every day.
Here are five strategies that may be effective in achieving academic success.
1. Get Organised
So simple, yet so effective. If you want to avoid the stress of being unable to meet deadlines, you’ll need to learn about time management as well as self-organisation. Invest your study time in improving your organisation. There are various apps to help you keep track of your tasks. If you need help with your homework or assignments, you need to seek assistance as early as possible. Getting organised means learning how to learn. For instance, are you sure that you know how to take notes? Recent studies showed that effective note-taking is one of the key factors to memorise material better and boost academic achievement.
2. Don’t Be Scared to Talk to Your Teachers
Why risk getting a lower grade because you were too scared to ask a teacher one more time to explain an assessment? There is nothing embarrassing about asking for assistance. This is the reason why you have teachers. Instead of spending hours guessing what you should do, you’d be better off asking your teacher directly and clarify the matter. Academic assignments are often about following the direct requirements. That is why it is crucial to get them right.
3. Develop Emotional Intelligence
Emotional intelligence is one of the crucial factors leading to academic achievement. Developing emotional intelligence involves strengthening active listening skills, increasing emotional vocabulary, enhancing self-awareness, developing empathy and learning about self-regulation. All these skills are essential to help a student become more self-reliant, self-motivated and self-controlled. These abilities are the key elements to better learning and as a result boost the chances of academic success. Learning and achieving is about remaining calm during difficulties, and knowing how to motivate yourself when you face obstacles.
4. Set Clear Goals and Go for It
If you want to balance your school and personal life, you need to learn how to plan and set specific goals. It will take some time during the planning process, but it will lift the burden of being overwhelmed with all the things that you need to do. When you pursue a goal, you know why you are doing something. As a result, you will have the sense of self-motivation. Setting goals isn’t only about studying. It is crucial that you dedicate time to your friends, family and yourself. A personal, specific and flexible goal is best if you want to reach academic success.
5. Sleep Matters
Many students underestimate the importance of good rest. A lack of sleep has a bad influence both on cognitive and physical activity. Make sure you keep a sleep regime by going to bed and getting up at the same time every day. Don’t stay up late, and avoid drinks that contain caffeine at least three hours before bedtime. Leave your devices away from your bedroom if they are a distraction. These simple tricks can truly better the quality of your sleep and in turn boost your cognitive activity.
Summing up, all these strategies will work even better if you support them with a positive outlook. Believe in yourself, and don’t let self-doubt diminish your achievements. Remember to follow your dreams and work towards your goals. After all, happiness will often lead to success, though success alone might not lead to happiness. Enjoy the process of reaching your goals, and it won’t take long for success to follow.
Based on work from Penn State University https://www.collegian.psu.edu/
Dr John Fry
Deputy Principal - Studies