Parents, Stop Telling Your Kids to Study Hard for Their Own Good (And What to Do Instead)

Updated on January 6, 2026 By Daniel Wong 45 Comments

Yes, it is for your kids’ own good that they study hard.

But you shouldn’t tell them that.

Why not?

Because if you do, they’ll be less likely to study hard.

(I’ve spoken to and worked with more than 20,000 students, so I say this with confidence.)

In this article, I’ll provide an explanation.

I’ll also share three tips to help your kids develop intrinsic motivation.

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Don’t expect your kids to get an education in school

This might sound strange, so hear me out.

We live in a world where knowledge abounds.

It’s incredible that most of this knowledge is available for free online – you just have to seek it out.

A couple of decades ago, to get an education you had almost no choice but to attend school.

But today, you can take courses on Khan Academy, Coursera, Udacity, Udemy, and other websites.

If you’re diligent about taking these courses, you’d acquire more skills and knowledge than you would in almost any traditional school.

This means that, over time, the diplomas and degrees that schools give out will matter less.

It also means that students shouldn’t go to school expecting to get an education. Rather, school should form just one part of a student’s education.

In the future, diplomas and degrees won’t be the ticket to a well-paying job and a comfortable life. (This is already starting to be the case.)

But for now, such certificates still matter.

Statistics show that students who perform better in school are more likely to get jobs that pay better.

And students who study hard are obviously more likely to perform well in school.

Which means that if you want to motivate your kids, you should tell them to work hard in school for their own benefit, right?

Wrong.

Allow me to explain.

3 reasons it’s ineffective to tell your kids to study hard for their own good

Reason #1: Students today aren’t hungry for a “better life”

In developed countries today, most children and teenagers have more material things than they need.

More toys than they need.

More shoes than they need.

More clothes than they need.

More electronic devices than they need.

In contrast, one or two generations ago, most people experienced real hardship.

For example, my parents and grandparents grew up with far less (materially speaking) than I did.

From an early age, it was obvious to my parents that if they wanted to have a more comfortable life in the future, they needed to work hard in school.

Their teachers and parents told them that education was the key to success – and in that era, it was true.

Today, young people already lead lives of comfort, if not luxury.

Not all of them realise this, but some do.

For example, I know a student who dropped out of school at the age of 14 because she hated everything about school.

No matter what her parents said, she refused to go to school.

In a moment of reflection, she said, “You know, I’m not doing anything productive with my life. But my life is still pretty good. I have a smartphone, I have access to the Internet, I have a nice bed to sleep in, and I have air conditioning at home.”

If you live in a developed country, I’m guessing that your kids experience a similar level of material comfort as this 14-year-old girl.

Children and teenagers can’t imagine life without these comforts.

As such, they subconsciously assume that their life will continue to be comfortable, regardless of how hard they try in school.

I’ve worked with a few unmotivated teenagers who said to me: “I’ve already calculated how much my inheritance will be. I don’t think I’ll need to work a day in my life.”

I was in disbelief when I heard this.

It was almost as if these students were wishing death upon their parents so they could get their inheritance!

But it just goes to show that many young people assume they won’t need to work hard to maintain their current standard of living.

Because they’ve grown up with so much, they don’t feel the need to work hard so they can own even more “nice” things. They already own plenty of nice things!

This means that the desire to achieve more doesn’t motivate them to study hard in the same way it motivated people one or two generations ago.

This is the first reason why telling your kids to study hard so they can have a “better life” isn’t effective.

Reason #2: Students desperately want to feel as if their lives are significant, but studying doesn’t help them to feel this way

Through my interactions with thousands of students around the world, I’ve come to realise that they all want to feel as if they’re contributing.

When they feel as if they’re contributing, they also feel as if their lives are significant. This is an observation that’s backed up by research.

This, in turn, enables them to be more motivated and purpose-driven overall.

What does this have to do with studying hard?

Plenty.

The direct message students receive in school is that they should study hard to get good grades, so that they’ll be able to get a good job, so that they’ll be able to enjoy a comfortable life (which they are probably already enjoying).

The indirect message students receive is that they won’t make a real contribution until after they’ve completed their formal education.

What’s more, schools tend to emphasise achievement, both in academics and other activities.

But what young people crave is a sense that they’re contributing, that their lives are useful to others.

Students say to me, “If I study hard, I get A’s. If I don’t study hard, I get D’s. Either way, nothing about the world really changes.”

This statement bears more truth than parents and educators would like to admit.

It highlights the fact that students want to make an impact, no matter their age.

When they don’t have this sense of significance, they turn to social media and games.

Through these platforms, they can build a following, get “likes”, gain admiration for their looks and abilities, and “level up” their characters.

They get a real sense of significance and achievement in the online world, which they might not be able to get in the real world.

Social media and games are entertaining, but they also serve to help young people meet their real needs in a virtual way.

This is a big reason why millions of teenagers around the world are so addicted to their phones.

In summary, there’s no point telling your kids to study hard for their own good. This is because studying doesn’t give them the sense of significance they so desperately want and need.

Reason #3: The rewards of studying hard are too far in the future

As mentioned earlier, schools tell students the story that they should study hard and do their homework, so they can eventually get a diploma or degree. Thereafter, they can get a well-paying job.

To students, this isn’t an inspiring story.

In addition, for many students, they’re only likely to complete their schooling in 5, 10 or 15 years.

If you ask children or teenagers to wait just one year to get a new phone or game or pet, that already seems like an eternity to them.

But we’re expecting students to work hard in school for the next 5, 10 or 15 years because of the reward they’ll get at the end of the journey?

That’s not going to happen – especially not when young people are growing up in an age of instant gratification.

Even the least motivated students I’ve worked with understand that it’s for their own good that they study hard.

But the benefits that students will reap are too far down the road to keep them motivated.

3 tips to help your kids become self-motivated students

Now that we’ve talked about the three reasons why you shouldn’t tell your kids to study hard for their own good, it’s now time to talk about the alternative approaches that work.

Here are three tips to help your kids develop intrinsic motivation:

Tip #1: Focus more on contribution and less on achievement

One important purpose of education is to equip students with the knowledge and skills so they can make a contribution.

Contribution is the foundation of a meaningful life and of intrinsic motivation.

That’s why it’s especially unfortunate that students rarely think about how they can contribute.

Instead, they’re continually thinking about what they want to – or are “supposed” to – achieve. This leaves them feeling unmotivated and uninspired.

What’s the alternative?

To emphasise contribution above achievement.

Do this in the way you speak to your kids about what goes on in their lives.

Help them to see that there are always ways in which they can help and serve others.

Take practical steps to communicate this message too.

For example, as a family you could get involved in a fortnightly or monthly volunteering activity, such as:

Helping out at a soup kitchen
Tutoring younger children
Doing charity work

I’ve found that students who engage in such activities voluntarily at least a couple of times a month become more aware of their responsibilities toward others.

This helps them to adopt a more positive mindset when it comes to fulfilling their responsibilities as a student.

There’s no point forcing your kids to volunteer if they refuse to, but you can always start by setting a good example for them.

Even at home, there are many ways for your kids to contribute.

For example, they can…

Help out with chores
Cook a simple meal for the family once a week
Plan family celebrations
Suggest the itinerary for an upcoming family vacation

Overall, I encourage you to move away from the idea that students should only focus on their studies.

If students lead balanced lives that are centred on others, their motivation to acquire knowledge for the benefit of others will increase as well.

Tip #2: Focus more on the process and less on the outcome

Instead of asking your kids what grades they’re getting, turn your attention toward the process by asking questions such as:

“What did you try hard at?”
“What risks did you take?”
“What did you fail at?”
“What challenges did you face?”
“What will you do differently next time?”

Share with your kids the challenges you face, and what you’re doing to overcome those challenges.

This approach will remind your kids that the process is what matters, not the outcome.

Emphasise to them that grades are just a form of feedback, and that grades are never an end in themselves.

As the research shows, students who embrace this mindset are more likely to be successful in school and beyond.

Tip #3: Create a culture of learning at home

As a parent, you’re the leader of the home.

Your kids are watching you, so if you lead by example they’ll be more likely to develop a positive learning attitude.

Periodically share with your kids…

What books you’ve been reading (here are my recommendations for the best books for students)
What documentaries you’ve been watching
What courses you’ve been taking
What challenges you’ve been facing in your personal and professional life
What fears you’ve been overcoming
What skills you’ve been learning
What character traits you’ve been developing

If you do this in a non-preachy way, your kids will internalise the message that learning is fun.

More importantly, they’ll understand that getting better is its own reward.

And when they believe this for themselves, they’ll study hard because they’ll enjoy the process of learning and improving.

Conclusion

As we wrap up, take a minute to think about the long-term goals you have for your kids.

These goals are probably aligned with many – if not all – of the following statements:

I want them to be kind
I want them to be courageous
I want them to be generous
I want them to be resilient
I want them to be grateful
I want them to be trustworthy
I want them to be respectful
I want them to be people of integrity
I want them to love learning
I want them to find fulfilment
I want them to be passionate about serving and helping others
I want them to build meaningful relationships
I want them to contribute to their communities
I want them to lead lives of purpose

Yet somewhere along the way, you may have lost sight of these goals. You may have started to focus on what’s urgent, instead of what’s important.

(As a parent myself, I know it’s so easy to!)

It’s natural for parents to want their kids to perform well in school.

But I encourage you to aim higher than just getting your kids to study hard.

By applying Tips #1, #2 and #3, your kids will be more likely to head down the path of becoming people of character, contribution and commitment.

Then you won’t even need to remind them to study hard!

This transformational journey will take effort – both from you and your kids – but it’ll be worth it.

(If you haven’t already done so, make sure to download your free e-book below.)

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How to Relieve Stress Before a Test: 25 Research-Backed Tips

Updated on January 6, 2026 By Daniel Wong 47 Comments

Does exam stress frequently affect your grades?

If so, you’re in the right place.

In this article, I’ll share with you scientific tips that are proven to help you overcome exam stress.

I guarantee that if you apply the tips, you’ll become a calmer, happier and more successful student.

Let’s get started!

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Stay active and improve your physical health to relieve stress before a test

Physical activity is one of the best, scientifically proven methods to combat stress.

Exercise directly reduces stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol. At the same time, exercise stimulates the production of endorphins, which elevate your mood and are natural painkillers.

In addition, when your physical health improves, you’ll be in a better position to handle stress effectively.

1. Stretch

Everyone knows you should stretch to improve your flexibility, but did you also know that stretching is proven to reduce tension and blood pressure too?^[1]

Here’s a practical 15-minute stretching workout to get you started.

2. Take a short walk

Taking a walk has beneficial effects on your stress levels.^[2]

Walking gives you time to think, as well as time to get away from studying for a short while.

Going for a walk with your family or friends for 10 or 20 minutes a day is a great way to unwind.

3. Exercise regularly

Research has shown that high-intensity aerobic exercise has positive effects on well-being.^[3]

It’s time to get moving!

This doesn’t mean that you have to start training for a marathon, but it does mean that you need to introduce some regular exercise into your life.

Here are some suggestions:

Do some form of exercise (jogging, biking, walking, callisthenics) 3 to 5 times a week for 30 minutes each time.
Set small – even tiny – daily goals and focus on consistency. Scientific research indicates that frequency is more important than intensity when it comes to forming new habits like exercise.
Do exercise that’s enjoyable for you.
If you simply don’t find any form of exercise enjoyable, distract yourself with music, audiobooks or podcasts while you’re exercising.
Find an “exercise buddy”. It’s easier to stick to a routine when you have an exercise buddy.

4. Get some sunlight every day

A way to increase your serotonin levels is to increase your exposure to sunlight.^[4]

Anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes of sunlight per day will help to keep your serotonin levels in the healthy range.

But remember to wear a hat and to apply sunscreen if you’re going to be out in direct sunlight for longer than 15 minutes.

5. Get enough sleep

Hitting the books for long hours at a go is tiring, and it’s not a good study habit. When it cuts into your usual hours of sleep, research shows us that stress levels will increase.^[5]

Stress and sleep have a two-way relationship. Stress can make it more difficult to fall asleep. It can even lead to sleep disorders.

At the same time, getting a good night’s sleep reduces the effects of stress.

Practise these tips to get a good night’s rest every night:

Try to go to sleep and get up at the same time every day. This helps to set your body’s internal clock and optimises the quality of your sleep.
Avoid sleeping in, even on weekends. Aim to keep your sleep schedule as regular as possible. If you have a late night, try taking a short nap the following day, rather than sleeping in.
Keep your electronic devices out of your bedroom. The blue light emitted by your electronic devices (e.g. phone, tablet, computer, TV) is especially disruptive to sleep.
Wind down before you go to bed. Turn off all your devices an hour before it’s time to sleep. Read a book, listen to some calming music, or think of a happy memory.

6. Do deep breathing exercises

Science has proven that deep breathing reduces your cortisol levels.^[6]

There are many deep breathing exercises you could try, but here are a couple of them to get you started:

Belly breathing: Sit or lie in a comfortable position and place one hand on your belly. Breathe in deeply through your nose, and feel your hand being pushed outwards as the air fills your lungs. Now exhale through your mouth, and feel your hand moving inwards. Repeat 5 to 6 times.
Morning breathing: When you get out of bed, stand up straight, bend your knees slightly, and bend forward from the waist. Let your arms hang limply towards the floor. Breathe in slowly, returning to your original standing position as you do. Your head should be the last part of your body to straighten. Exhale slowly, returning to the bent position by the end of your breath. Repeat 5 to 6 times.

7. Get enough vitamin C

Studies indicate that vitamin C (ascorbic acid) helps to reduce blood pressure and cortisol, which are both signs of stress.^[7]

The human body doesn’t produce vitamin C, so it’s vital that you consume plenty of it in your diet.

Here’s a list of fruits and vegetables that are rich in vitamin C:

Guava
Pepper/capsicum
Kiwifruit
Strawberries
Orange
Papaya
Broccoli
Tomato
Kale

8. Reduce your sugar intake

Research shows that when you’re stressed, your adrenal glands release cortisol – a stress hormone – to manage it.^[8]

But cortisol also affects your blood sugar level. So, the more your sugar intake spikes, the more stressed you’ll feel.

Did you know that what happens in the morning has more effect on how your body manages stress than at any other time?

This is because your body sets its blood sugar “clock” based on what you do after you wake up.

Here are some practical tips to help you reduce your sugar intake and maintain a healthy diet:

Don’t:

Skip breakfast.
Eat sugary cereals or candy.
Drink sugary drinks.

Do:

Eat a high-protein breakfast. Include eggs, peanut butter, oats or nuts.
Eat 4 to 5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day.
Eat more fish, e.g. salmon, trout.

Organisational tips to prevent stress before a test

Strong organisational skills and focus will help you schedule time to study for an exam well in advance.

Starting too late and cramming in too much information before an exam is a common cause of anxiety. So, take that pressure off of yourself and turn stressful exams into… just exams without the stress.

9. Clear your room and your desk

Have you heard the saying “A cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind”?

It turns out it’s not just something your mother says to get you to clean your room. It’s scientifically correct.^[9]

The more clutter you have around your workspace, the less you’re able to concentrate on preparing for the exam. This is because your brain is being bombarded by so many distractions.

Physical clutter overloads your brain and impairs your ability to think, which leads to stress.

So you need to clear your desk and your room. Do the following to get organised:

Reduce as much clutter as you can around your workspace. Get rid of anything that doesn’t need to be there, e.g. photos, snacks, staplers. Move them out of sight, or out of your room completely.
Use drawers. Store things away in your drawers or wardrobe. The only things you should have on your desk are the tools and books you need to complete your current assignment.
Clean your space. Now that you’ve cleared your space, give your desk and room a good clean.
Straighten up before you go. Take 5 minutes at the end of the day to clear everything away, so you can start again tomorrow with an uncluttered desk and an uncluttered mind.

10. Learn and apply time management techniques

A study involving students revealed that those who had been taught time management techniques showed lower levels of exam-related anxiety than those who had not.^[10]

Effective time management includes getting enough rest and a good night’s sleep, which leaves you feeling more energised so that you’re able to focus when studying.

Managing your time well helps you to avoid feeling overwhelmed, so you’ll be less stressed.

Here are just a few of the many time management techniques I used to become a straight-A student, while still getting 8 hours of sleep a night:

Take a break after studying for 40 to 50 minutes. For most students, working in blocks of 40 to 50 minutes helps them to be as productive as possible.
Complete assignments at least one to two days before they’re due. By doing this, you’ll have time to check through your work thoroughly.
Block out time for studying. Put it in your calendar and treat it as if it’s a fixed appointment.

11. Don’t multitask

Multitasking is bad for your health.^[11] It increases your heart rate and blood pressure, and causes stress.

Doing several tasks at once may seem like an efficient use of your time, but multitasking actually wastes time and reduces the quality of your work.

Here’s how to avoid multitasking:

Get rid of all distractions before you start work (see Tip #1).
Close all the unused tabs in your browser, and minimise all other windows on your computer screen.
Make a list of all the tasks you need to complete for the day; work through the list one item at a time.
Set a realistic deadline for every task on the list.

12. Reduce your phone usage

Who would have thought your mobile phone could cause stress?

Research shows that overuse of mobile phones not only causes stress, but can also have a negative impact on your mental health.^[12]

So it’s time to get smart about your smartphone.

Here are a few things you could try:

Check your social media feeds just once or twice a day.
Turn off all notifications.
Put your phone on airplane mode, or better still, switch it off after 9pm.

If you’re still struggling, there are fun apps designed to help you ignore your mobile phone and focus on studying for your exams, such as Forest.

When you want to concentrate, you can plant a seed in Forest, which will take 30 minutes to grow. But if you get distracted and leave the app, your tree will wither and die.

Stimulate your senses and de-stress before a test

If you know you typically get stressed before an exam, try sensory stimulation. These activities can help you get out of your head and into your body.

If you try any of these tips while taking a study break, be sure to get back to work soon. Otherwise, you’ll just be procrastinating and you’ll be even more stressed afterwards.

13. Sing your heart out

Researchers have discovered that singing can soothe your tension and elevate your spirits. This reduces the effects of stress.^[13]

When you sing, you release endorphins, which are associated with feelings of pleasure.

And the more you sing, the more you increase your endorphins and lower your levels of cortisol.

So if you’re trying to beat exam stress, sing your heart out when you’re taking a break!

14. Read something for leisure

It’s proven that reading for pleasure can reduce stress by up to 68%.^[14]

Reading relaxes your body by lowering your heart rate and easing the tension in your muscles.

So the next time you feel the tension rise at the thought of an impending exam, pick up a good book and give yourself a 10-minute reading break.

15. Try aromatherapy

Research has shown that aromatherapy has the power to evoke emotions and memories and can impact your body through your nervous system.^[15]

This makes aromatherapy an effective tool to help you deal with exam stress.

Here are 6 scents or oils to help you relieve stress and improve your sleep quality:

Lavender
Lemon
Bergamot
Ylang ylang
Clary sage
Jasmine

Various studies have shown that these aromatherapy oils can lower your blood pressure, heart rate, and even skin temperature, as well as soothe anxiety by calming the nervous system.

16. Drink tea

A study has found that black tea has health benefits linked to stress relief.^[16]

Other teas that anecdotally aid stress relief are peppermint tea, because it’s a natural muscle relaxant; chamomile tea, which helps insomnia and reduces irritability; and lemon balm tea, which reduces cortisol and improves sleep.

Enjoy a soothing cup of tea every day, and it will help you to prepare more effectively for your exams.

17. Eat dark chocolate

Research has shown that eating a small amount of dark chocolate every day reduces stress hormone levels.^[17]

This is great news for chocolate lovers!

But remember, the chocolate must be dark (with 70% or more cocoa).

In addition, dark chocolate is a calorie-dense food, so it’s not recommended that you eat more than 40g to 60g a day.

Strengthen your mental endurance ahead of stressful exams

School and life can get stressful at times.

The situation isn’t always going to be within your control, but you can control how you react to and deal with stress.

Before a stressful situation comes up, you can work on building your mental endurance to become more confident and resilient.

18. Practise mindfulness

Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) is scientifically proven to be an effective treatment for reducing stress.^[18]

Although it was initially created to help hospital patients, MBSR is now used by a broad range of people, including students.

Mindfulness is the practice of being aware of your mind and body.

For example, to practise mindfulness, close your eyes and focus entirely on your breathing. Be aware of every breath and “follow” the air as it goes from your lungs and out through your nose.

You can also try lying with your back on the floor while keeping your eyes closed. “Move” your focus through your body, focusing on one area at a time.

You don’t have to be sitting or lying down to practise mindfulness. You can do it while you’re walking.

Focus on the sensations in your body as you walk. Notice the feeling in your feet as they touch the ground, and the movement of your hips with each step.

The more you practise mindfulness, the more fully present you’ll be wherever you are, and the less stressed you’ll be.

19. Listen to quiet, calming music

I’ve already mentioned that singing can help to reduce exam stress, but so can listening to music – especially slow, soothing classical music, like this.

The comforting power of music is well established, which makes music an effective stress management tool.^[19]

Listening to music has a relaxing effect on our minds and bodies, slowing our pulse, lowering our blood pressure, and decreasing our levels of stress hormones.

So set aside 10 minutes a day to tune in to some classical music and tune out your exam stress.

20. Write down the things you’re worried about

It’s been proven that if you take a few moments to write about your fears just before you take an exam, it will help to reduce your anxiety and improve your grades.^[20]

In the experiment, students were asked to complete a brief expressive writing assignment right before taking a test.

The results showed that doing the writing assignment significantly improved the students’ exam scores, especially those who were habitually anxious about taking tests.

Just writing about your worries before an exam can boost your grades – so do this before your next exam!

21. Think of a happy memory

Research suggests that the natural chemical, serotonin, creates a sense of well-being and helps your brain to function at peak capacity.^[21]

One way to produce more serotonin is to think positive thoughts.

How?

Start by thinking about a happy memory – something that makes you smile. Think of it as your happy place and go there in your mind as often as possible.

When you feel stressed, think about your favourite memory from your childhood, or about something you did as a family recently that was fun.

22. Write down 3 things you’re thankful for

I’m sure you’re grateful for many things in your life.

Maybe you’re grateful for a loving family or loyal friends. Or maybe you’re just grateful you passed your last math exam.

But perhaps you don’t express that gratitude often.

Did you know that if you write down all the things you’re grateful for, your health will improve?

Studies have found that expressing gratitude can lower your blood pressure, improve your sleep and boost your immune system.^[22]

So when you’re taking a break from studying, why not write down 3 things you’re grateful for?

It could be something you take for granted, like the invention of the Internet (I’m extremely thankful for that!), or something like the fact that you get to attend school.

Your body and mind will thank you for cultivating a habit of gratitude.

23. Use positive affirmations

Repeating positive affirmations is a powerful way to calm yourself down and banish those exam butterflies.

In fact, research has shown that positive affirmations can help reduce exam stress by reducing adrenalin levels.^[23]

Here are some positive affirmations you can try the next time you feel those stress levels rising. Repeat them out loud to yourself several times a day:

I’m becoming more focused.
I’m continuing to work hard.
I’m getting better at taking exams.
I’m enjoying the process of learning.
I’m motivated to prepare well for this exam.
I’m going to perform well on this exam.
Learning is meaningful and fun.
I’m developing self-discipline.
I love the challenge of taking exams.

24. Focus on progress, not perfection

Do you sometimes feel as if you’re not good enough? Do you think that you’ll never be able to achieve the goals you’ve set for yourself?

If so, you may be a perfectionist.

This is another way of saying you’re too hard on yourself, which means that you need to focus on the progress you’re making instead of your perceived failures.^[24]

Being a perfectionist may sound ideal, but it often causes undue stress.

These are some ways to deal with it:

Set realistic goals instead of trying to achieve the impossible.
Celebrate small and big successes.
Make sure you take time out from studying to do things you enjoy.
Invest in the relationships that matter the most to you.
Find ways to contribute at home and at school, because this will shift your focus toward the needs of others.
Learn to use words like “acceptable” and “good”, because if you always aim for “perfection”, you may not even make progress.

25. Be kind to yourself

It’s easy to become anxious when all you can focus on is the fear of failing the exam.

Stress weaves its way into your life when you’re too hard on yourself. So ease up and give yourself a break. It’s time to practise self-compassion.

Research indicates that self-compassion reduces your stress levels and improves your sense of well-being.^[25]

These are some ways to practise self-compassion:

At the end of each day, write down 3 of your achievements. It doesn’t matter how big or small these achievements are, e.g. completing your math assignment, reading a chapter of your history textbook. What matters is that you acknowledge these achievements.
Talk to yourself kindly. Speak to yourself as if you’re your own best friend.
Do something fun every day. Life doesn’t have to be serious all the time.
Set realistic goals. Don’t set yourself up for failure by setting impossible targets.

Conclusion

These are the 25 tips backed by research, which will enable you to beat exam stress.

Now it’s over to you…

Do you use any techniques to overcome exam stress that aren’t listed in this article?

Or maybe you have a question you’d like to ask.

Let me know by leaving a comment below!

(If you haven’t already done so, make sure to download your free quick action guide below.)

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12 Guaranteed Ways for Students to Improve Focus and Reduce Procrastination.

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How to Get Motivated to Study: 23 Tips for Students Who Procrastinate

Updated on January 6, 2026 By Daniel Wong 148 Comments

Is it hard for you to get motivated to study?

Let’s face it…

It’s so easy to watch one more video or to scroll through your social media feed one more time.

But your exams are approaching.

You have a rising sense of panic, but you don’t know where to begin. The more you panic, the harder it is to get to work.

If this is the situation you’re in, keep reading.

In this article, I’m going to explain 23 proven strategies that successful students use to motivate themselves to study.

Get ready to say goodbye to procrastination!

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How to motivate yourself to study

When you’re feeling unmotivated, taking the first step is usually the hardest part.

Here are the best ways to motivate yourself, so you can study productively.

1. Discover why you procrastinate

Procrastinating on your schoolwork is a complex problem that can have many different causes.

Here are some of the most common:

You’ve convinced yourself that your homework is beyond your abilities
Putting off your homework is a way of rebelling against your parents or teachers
You’ve decided the topic is boring
You’re waiting for the “perfect” time to start
The task has become so overwhelming that you don’t know where to start

Understanding why you procrastinate is a key first step to getting motivated.

Spend some time reflecting on what makes you procrastinate. This will enable you to identify which of the following tips will help you the most.

2. Break the material down into chunks

A major cause of procrastination is that the task ahead seems overwhelming.

That’s when you need to “chunk down”. Break down each task into small chunks.

Assign yourself a certain number of those chunks each day. Suddenly, you’re no longer faced with a scary task, but rather a series of manageable chunks.

A chunk might be reading two pages of your textbook, completing five multiple-choice questions, or finding four reference articles on the Internet for your paper.

3. Reward yourself

Every time you complete one or two chunks, reward yourself with a short period of relaxation.

It could be five minutes on your favourite smartphone game, a short walk, or playing the guitar.

Rewarding yourself with short and enjoyable breaks is a key part of the “chunking down” technique.

4. Create a study routine

We’re creatures of habit.

Bad study habits are easy to fall into, but you can also develop good study habits to help you keep up with your schoolwork.

If it’s a challenge for you to get motivated to study, you can put this principle to work for you.

Habits are so powerful that once you develop a study routine, you’ll find it difficult to go into relaxation mode without studying.

How should you go about creating a study routine?

The first thing to do is to set up a study schedule (see Tip #14).

Be aware, however, that habits aren’t formed overnight.

Research indicates that it typically takes 20 to 30 days to form a habit. So you’ll have to put in some work before this technique pays off.

5. Be clear about why you want to get good grades

One of the best ways to get motivated to study is to be very clear about why you want to get good grades in the first place.

Make a list of the reasons you want to do well academically.

Here are some typical reasons:

I want to learn more and develop myself
I want to develop the habit of pursuing excellence
I want to become a more focused and disciplined student
I want to get into a good school or programme
I want to have a meaningful career
I want to provide well for my family and my parents in the future
I want to know that I gave it my best shot
I want to live with no regrets

Write down your own list of reasons for studying hard, and put the list at your study desk.

Then, when you’re feeling unmotivated, read the list one more time.

6. Use a mind map to organise the information

If you’re like most people, chances are you’ve been taught to use lists to summarise information. A classic example is to-do lists.

As such, it may seem natural to use lists to summarise the information you’re studying.

But there are times when mind maps are more effective than lists as a way of organising information.

Why?

Because mind maps mimic how the brain works.

When you create a mind map, you’re mapping out the way your brain has processed a certain topic.

This makes it easier to get a handle on the topic. It’ll also make it easier for you to retrieve that information when you need it.

You can create a mind map using pen and paper. But if you prefer to do it on your phone, tablet or computer, you can use an app like SimpleMind.

7. Make a “boring” subject interesting

When you find it difficult to study because the subject is “boring”, ask yourself:

“Is the subject really boring, or does it seem that way because I have closed my mind to it?”

As G.K. Chesterton once said: “There are no boring subjects, only disinterested minds.”

If you think a subject is boring, try to engage with the subject by asking yourself questions.

When was this technique or theory developed?

Who developed it?

What problem did it solve?

How would the world be different today if not for this technique or theory?

If you ask the right questions, you can make any subject interesting.

8. Understand the topic, don’t just memorise it

One of the keys to effective studying is to develop an understanding of a topic rather than just memorising facts.

In some situations, rote memorisation may be necessary.

But, in general, the more years you spend in school, the more you’ll be expected to understand relationships and connections between different concepts.

This will require you to apply principles to a given set of facts or to draw conclusions from a given set of facts.

Understanding a topic is far more rewarding than memorising it. So this approach to studying is not only more effective – it will keep you motivated.

9. Look for gaps in your understanding

Try giving a mini-presentation on a topic to a friend or relative. You can do this in a formal way, or you could simply talk to them about the topic.

By doing so, you’ll deepen your knowledge.

But you’ll also realise quickly if there are gaps in your understanding of the topic.

As Albert Einstein once said, “If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.”

10. Study in short bursts

Research shows that we learn better when we study in short bursts.

It’s called “spaced learning”, and the theory behind it is that learning involves the creation of memories.

Memories are formed through links between neurons. In order for these memories to become embedded, the neurons have to be left undisturbed for a period of time.

That’s why we learn better in short bursts of studying. This approach gives the neurons time to “lay down” these new memories.

Read on to Tip #11 to learn about how to put this tip into practice.

11. Use the Pomodoro technique

If you want a system for studying in short bursts, try the Pomodoro technique.

Francesco Cirillo invented the technique in Italy in the late 1980s.

Using a kitchen timer shaped like a tomato (“pomodoro” means tomato in Italian), he found he could concentrate better by studying in short stretches.

Here’s how to apply the Pomodoro technique:

Decide on the task that you’ll work on
Set the timer for 25 minutes
Work on the task
Stop working when the timer rings
Put a checkmark on a piece of paper
If you have fewer than four checkmarks, take a 3- to 5-minute break, then repeat from Step 1
After four pomodoros, take a 15- to 30-minute break
Draw a line through the four checkmarks and start counting your checkmarks afresh

There are lots of apps to help you apply the Pomodoro technique and become a student who’s better at time management. Here are some of the best apps out there.

12. Don’t expect to feel motivated all the time

Strangely enough, one of the best ways to deal with a lack of motivation is to stop expecting to feel motivated all the time.

The fact is that no one feels motivated all the time.

So don’t rely on feeling motivated in order to get the work done.

Sometimes the motivation just won’t be there.

That’s why you need a study routine and study habits, because systems always beat motivation.

13. Exercise your brain

To get motivated to study, you need to train your brain. Think of your brain as a muscle.

Developing your ability to focus is like training to be a world-class sprinter.

It’s all about consistency and making gradual progress.

Continually exercise your brain, even when you’re not studying.

You can do this by reading, thinking through challenging world issues, doing puzzles, or journaling.

The greater the variety of ways in which you train your brain, the stronger and more flexible your brain will become.

There are also various websites with exercises designed to train your brain. Here are three popular ones:

Just as with a physical workout, a key part of training your brain is rest and recovery. So make sure that you get at least 8 hours of sleep a night (many students even need 9 to 10 hours of sleep a night).

Nutrition is another important aspect of training your brain.

The brain needs certain fatty acids in order to function optimally. You can get these fatty acids from eating nuts, avocados and salmon. Other brain foods include:

Berries
Beans
Pumpkin seeds
Pomegranate juice
Dark chocolate

14. Organise your time

The act of creating a study schedule is a form of commitment, so it will help you to stay motivated.

Here are some useful steps in creating a study schedule:

For each subject, make a list of the tasks you need to complete in order to be ready for the exam
Download a study schedule template and block out the times you have available each day to study
As far as possible, choose blocks of time that are the same each day (e.g. 3:30pm to 5:30pm) so that your study schedule is easy to remember
Create a daily plan which lists the most important tasks to be completed for the day

Review your study schedule at the end of each week.

Assess whether you’re on track to reach your study goals by exam time. If you’re not, adjust your schedule by finding additional blocks of time for studying.

15. Study in a group

Many students find it motivational to study in a group.

Of course, it’s crucial that you find the right students to join the study group. These students should have the desire to learn the material well and get excellent grades.

I recommend that the study group have no more than four students. If the group is larger than four, it tends to become distracting.

Studying is more fun in a group. It also gives everyone a sense of accountability.

When you study in a group, you can make commitments to each other related to new habits you want to develop, or bad habits you want to break.

But the benefits of studying in a group don’t stop there.

When you study in a group you can pool your notes together and get much better notes than any one person could possibly produce.

Also, studying in a group takes advantage of the fact that everyone has different strengths and weaknesses. If there’s a concept you don’t understand, chances are that someone in your group will be able to explain it to you.

16. Make learning active, not passive

Passive learning is where you try to absorb information and knowledge. It’s based on the idea that you’re an empty vessel waiting to be filled.

But research shows that this isn’t the best way to learn.

We actually construct knowledge by integrating the new material with what we already know and have already experienced.

So if you want to learn a new topic quickly and effectively, use as much active learning as you can.

Examples of active learning are:

Finding applications of the new topic in your own life
Doing case studies where the new ideas or theories are put into a specific context
Doing group projects
Reviewing and commenting on the work of your friends
Thinking of ways to apply concepts to problems you come across

17. Schedule relaxation

This may seem obvious, but when your focus is studying for an upcoming exam, it’s easy to forget that you need time to relax.

Remember Point #10 and “spaced learning”?

We learn new information by creating memories. But those memories need time to be formed. That means having gaps between learning spurts.

In short, you need to schedule relaxation to recharge and learn better.

18. Exercise regularly

When you’re focused on studying for a major exam, it’s common to overlook exercise.

But, as far as possible, get 20 to 30 minutes of physical activity every day.

This is because regular exercise is vital if you want to study effectively and stay motivated.

Aerobic activity, such as swimming, jogging or walking, sends oxygen, blood and nutrients to your brain.

This helps you to think and concentrate.

Research even shows that short periods of light exercise immediately after studying improves the recall of new information.

19. Visualise yourself doing the task successfully

If you’re having trouble with a particular task, visualise yourself completing that task successfully.

Sports psychologists have long known about the power of visualisation as a technique for accomplishing difficult tasks.

Visualisation uses the “theatre of the mind” to mentally rehearse completing challenging tasks.

It works by laying down neural pathways in the brain. When you repeatedly visualise yourself completing a task, it makes it easier to perform the task in reality.

So spend a few minutes every day visualising yourself successfully completing your various study-related tasks – especially if you find them daunting.

20. Remind yourself that this won’t go on forever

Studying for exams can seem like an endless marathon, but it does have an end date.

Remind yourself of this, particularly on days when you feel overwhelmed or unmotivated.

Telling yourself that “this won’t go on forever” will allow you to focus on the light at the end of the tunnel.

But it will also make you study harder, because you know that you have urgent tasks at hand.

21. Focus on the process, not the result

When you’re studying, it’s often difficult to see the fruit of your labour, especially at the beginning.

That’s why you should focus on the process, not the result.

Did you complete most of your planned tasks today? Congratulate yourself.

Did you stick to your study schedule in general today? Maintain your focus.

Did you put your phone in another room when you were studying, so you wouldn’t be distracted? Keep it up.

Remember, it’s habits that you’re trying to form.

If you get the process right, the results will follow.

22. Get rid of distractions

This may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s amazing how many students try to study with one eye on their textbook and the other eye on their social media feed.

It’s almost as if they want to be distracted.

List all the common distractions you face when you’re studying. Do your best to eliminate every single one of them.

For example, you could:

Turn off your Internet access
Put your phone on flight mode
Put your phone in another room
Mute your group chats
Use earplugs
Delete all the games on your phone, tablet and computer

23. If you don’t feel like starting, set a timer for 5 minutes

Sometimes, the hardest part of anything is simply starting.

But the fear of doing something is almost always worse than the actual doing. Once you start, you’ll find it wasn’t as bad as you thought.

The same applies to the fear of learning. If you don’t feel like getting to work, set a timer for 5 minutes.

You can tell yourself that once those 5 minutes are up, you can stop work.

But, in all likelihood, you would have got some momentum going, so you’ll continue.

I hope these words of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe will inspire you:

“Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.”

Conclusion

The keys to getting motivated to study are organising your time and work, and knowing how to use your mind effectively.

That’s what I’ve shown you in this article: 23 tips for organising your time, developing the right mindset, and using your brain in the most efficient way possible.

(Download the free PDF below to learn 7 bonus tips.)

Follow these tips for studying smart – not hard – and you’ll soon be on your way to becoming a successful student who doesn’t procrastinate!

Like this article? Please share it with your friends.

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This article is 3,000 words long, so I’ve created a PDF summary for your convenience. Enter your email below to download it. The PDF contains all the tips found here, plus 7 exclusive bonus tips that you’ll only find in the PDF.

How to Be Successful in School: 40 Practical Tips for Students

Updated on June 6, 2023 By Daniel Wong 175 Comments

Do you think of yourself as a smart student?

Probably not.

If you’re like most students, you probably feel as if you take some time to grasp new concepts.

Or that you don’t perform up to expectations because of exam stress.

I know…

It seems as if success at school comes to some students naturally. These students always get good grades, no matter what else is going on in their personal lives or extracurricular activities.

I was a straight-A student throughout my academic career, and I was obsessed with how to do better in school.

But I’ll be the first one to say that grades aren’t everything. Grades are only one part of your education.

I now realise that successful students aren’t necessarily more intelligent than other students. They’re just more disciplined and focused, and they’ve developed winning study habits.

So if you don’t feel as if you’re a smart student, don’t worry.

In this article, I’m going to share with you how to be successful in school, even if you don’t think of yourself as a top student.

(Download the free bonus below to learn 10 bonus tips too!)

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Enter your email below to download a PDF summary of this article. The PDF contains all the tips found here, plus 10 exclusive bonus tips that you’ll only find in the PDF.

1. Rely on systems, not motivation

How can students do better in school? By being methodical and systematic, instead of waiting to feel motivated.

Students who do well in school don’t wait until they’re in the mood to do a focused study session before they get down to work.

Neither do they wait until they feel motivated before they start preparing for an exam.

Instead, successful students rely on systems to ensure that they get the work done, even when they don’t feel like it.

(Keep on reading to find out what some of these systems are.)

2. Review any new information you’ve learned on the same day

This daily review won’t take long to complete, but it’s a vital step that ensures you stay on top of the material.

Applying this tip will also help you to move the information to your long-term memory more quickly.

3. Write everything down

To be an effective student, write everything down.

This includes homework to be completed, test and exam dates, project deadlines, competition dates, school and family events, etc.

Don’t assume that you’ll be able to remember anything; write it all down to stay organised.

This tip might sound extreme, but life only gets busier as you get older.

Good organisational skills are the basis for achieving success at school and beyond. So this tip will serve you well for the rest of your life.

4. Create a rough weekly schedule

It’s impossible to follow a schedule down to the minute, but it’s still helpful to create a schedule.

Write down your rough weekly schedule based on your recurring commitments, e.g. school, extracurricular activities, family and social events, religious activities.

Then block out regular time each week for homework and studying.

For example, your rough weekly schedule might state that you’ll do work on:

Monday, Wednesday and Friday: 7pm to 9:30pm
Tuesday and Thursday: 4pm to 7pm
Saturday and Sunday: 2pm to 5pm

5. Get rid of distractions before they become distractions

The biggest obstacle to doing well in school is distractions.

To overcome distractions, you can’t only depend on willpower. Few of us have the willpower necessary to fight off all the distractions that surround us in this digital era.

Here are some ways to eliminate distractions before they become distractions:

Turn off notifications on your phone/tablet
Delete all the apps that distract you
Put your phone/tablet in another room before you start work
Set a really, really long password to unlock your phone/tablet
Restrict your Internet access
Have only one tab open in your browser at any one time
Find an accountability partner as you make these changes

6. Develop good posture

Good posture improves your mood, and also enhances your memory and learning.

So sit up straight, pull your shoulders back, and lift up your chin – and you’ll perform better in school.

For more tips on improving your posture, check out this detailed article.

7. Don’t multitask

It’s a fact: There’s no such thing as multitasking.

Whenever you’re multitasking, you’re actually just switching between tasks. This reduces your studying efficiency.

So don’t multitask when you’re studying or doing your homework. Instead, focus on one task at a time, and you’ll find that you get your homework done faster.

8. Cultivate the belief that intelligence isn’t a fixed trait

Research has proven that students who believe that they can become smarter actually do become smarter.

Belief is that powerful.

In other words, intelligence is a trait that you can develop over time.

Don’t ever label yourself as “dumb” or “not academically inclined”, because with the right mindset you can become more intelligent.

How can you do better in school? It starts with believing that you can. By telling yourself that you’re incompetent before you even try, you’ve already lost the battle.

Develop a can-do attitude and your grades will naturally improve.

9. Work in short blocks of time

I’ve found that most students can’t maintain a high level of focus for more than 45 minutes at a go.

As such, I generally recommend working in 30- to 45-minute blocks, followed by a 5- to 10-minute break.

Working in shorter blocks of time is more effective for the majority of students, rather than struggling to focus for a couple of hours straight.

10. Exercise regularly

Regular exercise helps you to remember information better, enhances your concentration, and makes you more creative.

This is in addition to the other health benefits of exercise.

What does this mean for students who want to be successful in school?

Make exercise a fixed part of your weekly routine. Exercise three to four times a week, for at least 20 to 30 minutes each time.

11. Be organised

Students who aren’t organised end up wasting precious time looking for items or notes, or doing last-minute work they forgot about.

Here are some ways to become more organised:

Set a daily reminder to check if there’s any homework due the following day
Set reminders to start preparing for tests and exams
Use the MyStudyLife app
Use a planner or Google Calendar
Clear your desk at the end of every day
Use an app like Google Keep to do a “brain dump”

12. Break big tasks into smaller ones

Big tasks seem complicated and overwhelming, which is why many students procrastinate.

Break every big task down into smaller tasks. For instance, instead of deciding to work on your history paper, you might break the task down into the following smaller tasks:

Read Chapter 3 (notes)
Read Chapter 3 (textbook)
Do online research (5 to 10 articles)
Develop thesis statement
Write outline
Write introduction
Write main paragraph #1
Write main paragraph #2
Write main paragraph #3
Write main paragraph #4
Write main paragraph #5
Write conclusion
Proofread and edit

When you work on the history paper, focus on completing one task at a time. This will make it less likely that you’ll procrastinate.

13. Get at least 8 hours of sleep every night

Students who perform well are effective learners. As the research shows, sleep is a vital part of becoming an effective learner.

Sleep boosts memory and enhances learning. So go to bed at roughly the same time every day, and make it a priority to get 8 hours of sleep a night.

If you do this, I’m sure you’ll see an improvement in your academic performance.

Pulling all-nighters definitely isn’t how to do better in school. It might enable you to get some last-minute work done.

But over time, your performance in school will decline.

14. Create a conducive studying environment

Here are some tips to do this:

Tidy your desk daily
Ensure that you have all the stationery, notebooks, etc. that you need
Ensure that the lighting in the room is suitable
Use earplugs to block out noise if necessary
Put up one or two motivational quotes at your study area
Get a comfortable chair
Remove all distractions from the room

15. Keep track of important dates, deadlines, etc.

This is related to Tip #3, but it’s more specific.

I’ve worked with many students who try to keep track of important dates by storing them in their brains.

Needless to say, these students occasionally forget about upcoming tests or deadlines. This results in panic – and low-quality work too.

Use Google Calendar or Google Keep (an old-fashioned planner works too) to keep track of important dates, and you’ll become a more effective student.

16. Take notes during class

I’m always surprised by how many students tell me that they don’t take notes in class. This is despite the fact that taking notes is vital to your success at school.

It’s important to take notes in class because it helps you to pay attention and to learn the concepts better.

I prefer taking notes in a linear, sequential manner. But there are several other note-taking systems that you can learn about here.

17. Ask lots of questions

Asking your friends and teachers questions about what you’re learning is a great way to stay engaged. It also ensures that you understand the new material.

Don’t be afraid of asking silly questions. Besides, if you pay attention in class, your questions will likely be logical and insightful.

18. Eat healthily

Research shows that the better your nutrition, the better your brain function.

And the better your brain function, the better your performance in school.

Here are some basic tips to eat more healthily:

Eat vegetables and fruit
Eat meat and fish
Eat eggs
Eat nuts
Avoid processed foods
Avoid sugar
Avoid trans fats
Avoid artificial sweeteners
Drink plenty of water
Avoid sugary beverages

So, if you’re wondering how to do well in school, one thing you can do right away is to change your diet.

19. Do consistent work

Don’t do last-minute work, and don’t cram for exams.

Easier said than done, I know.

But if you do consistent work, you won’t even need to study that hard for your final exams. You’ll naturally do better in school because you’ll retain the information more effectively.

(By applying the rest of the tips in this article, you should be well on your way to doing consistent work.)

20. Manage your thoughts and emotions

Students who lose focus or motivation are typically discouraged. They’re often discouraged because they feel as if they won’t do well academically, so they lose hope.

The question you probably still have on your mind is…

How to be a good student?

By managing your thoughts and emotions effectively – especially when faced with disappointment.

To do so, take a step back and ask yourself the following questions:

Are these thoughts true?
Are these thoughts helpful?
Am I taking things too personally?
How can I view the situation more positively?
Do I need to forgive the other person?
Do I need to forgive myself?
How can I be more compassionate toward myself?
What productive actions can I take to improve the situation?

Through answering these questions, you’ll adopt a more positive and resilient mindset.

21. Take a few minutes to prepare for each class

As Benjamin Franklin once said, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”

Preparing for class is something every student should do.

Every night, think about the classes that you’ll be having the following day in school.

Take a few minutes to skim the textbook or notes, so that you’ll be familiar with what your teacher will cover the next day.

In addition, do a quick recap of the previous topic, because the new topic will likely build on what you’ve already learned.

This process won’t take long, but it will pay off in the long run.

22. Give yourself rewards

To keep yourself motivated, give yourself small rewards whenever possible.

For example, you might decide that after 45 minutes of work, you’ll reward yourself with a 5-minute YouTube video.

Or if you enjoy exercising, you might decide that after you finish your math and science homework, you’ll get to do a 30-minute workout.

Rewards are a simple way to encourage you to get to work, even when you don’t feel like it. That’s a useful strategy for how to do better in school.

23. Manage your stress

Students who don’t manage their stress well are more likely to experience performance anxiety and get worse grades.

To manage your stress levels:

Perform deep breathing exercises
Listen to music
Spend time with friends on a regular basis
Exercise
Read a book
Keep a gratitude journal
Take a few minutes to reflect at the end of each day

24. Do and submit your homework on time

This tip might sound like common sense, but a large proportion of the students I work with don’t do this.

Make it a non-negotiable to submit your homework on time, and give a good effort for each assignment.

This is the foundation of how to be a good student.

25. Challenge yourself

Taking it one step further, don’t just do the assigned homework.

Challenge yourself and do extra questions that require deep thinking. Look for online resources. Learn information that’s outside the syllabus.

This will help you to see the wonder and beauty in all that you’re learning. You’ll also be reminded that getting better is its own reward.

26. Make time to relax

Doing well in school isn’t about getting good grades and outperforming your classmates. It’s about leading a balanced life that’s focused on contributing to others.

To lead a balanced life, it’s important to set aside time for relaxation.

Block out time for relaxation in your weekly schedule to ensure that you don’t burn out.

27. Be consistent about your study time

This is a follow-up to Tip #4. In addition to having a regular weekly schedule that you stick to, it’s important to be consistent about your study time.

The more consistent you are, the less likely it is that you’ll need to feel “inspired” to get down to work.

On the contrary, you’ll get down to work out of habit and routine. This is crucial if you want to manage your time as a student effectively.

28. Have a specific plan or objective for each study session

Many students share with me that their mindset toward studying is that they’ll “study hard”. This might sound good, but it actually means that they don’t have a specific objective or plan.

They’re interested in attaining success at school and getting good grades, but they’re not clear about what positive actions they’re going to take in particular.

This vague approach isn’t the one that effective students take toward their academics.

For each study session, set a clear objective as to what you intend to achieve. This might be to read through a set of notes thoroughly or complete 30 multiple-choice questions.

29. Use memory techniques

Memory techniques are powerful ways to learn information more quickly.

Here are some of the most useful ones I’ve come across:

30. Test yourself periodically

Don’t assume that just because you’ve read the notes and looked through some examples that you understand the material well.

For all you know, you might have been daydreaming during those study sessions.

What else should you do to be a good student, if reading your notes doesn’t guarantee that you’ll get better grades?

Test yourself periodically. Do plenty of practice questions and keep a list of the mistakes you’ve made, so that you won’t repeat those mistakes in the exam.

31. Take practice exams under exam conditions

It isn’t practical to do too many practice exams under exam conditions, because it’s time-consuming.

But before every exam, I recommend that you do at least two to three practice exams under exam conditions.

This will help you to prepare adequately, and will train you to deal with the time pressure of the exam too.

32. Start studying for tests at least one to two weeks in advance

Cramming for tests is always a bad idea. It won’t enable you to achieve long-term success at school.

I recommend that you set a reminder on your phone (or make a note in your planner) one to two weeks before every scheduled test, so that you’ll start preparing for the test.

For big exams, I recommend that you start studying four weeks in advance or more.

This study tip is a vital one for students to implement.

33. Find ways to help others and contribute

Students often lose motivation when they focus too much on achievement and too little on contribution.

After all, the aim of education is to become equipped with skills and knowledge so that you can help others.

When students lose sight of this, they sometimes feel as if school is meaningless.

To keep things in perspective, find simple ways to contribute in your capacity as a student, e.g. volunteering, fundraising, solving problems in your school, serving the underprivileged.

These types of activities will teach you to have a heart of service and humility. They’ll empower you as you discover how to do better in school and life.

34. Develop a sense of purpose

Few students can maintain a consistent level of concentration and drive if they lack a sense of purpose.

If students feel as if their school life is just about striving to get straight A’s, they will likely run out of steam.

How can you develop a sense of purpose?

Think about…

What values you want to live by
What long-term goals would be meaningful to you
How you’d like to contribute to the good of others
What your duties and responsibilities are
What relationships you’d like to nurture
What kind of person you’d like to become

As you reflect on these aspects of your life, you’ll have a clearer idea about how to do well in school in light of the purpose you’re living out.

This clarity will help you to be more successful in school.

35. Don’t blame others

The key to developing resilience is to take full responsibility for your life.

This means that you refuse to blame others for anything that’s going on in your life.

No blaming your teachers, parents or friends.

No blaming the school principal or the government.

No playing the victim.

When you take this approach toward your student life, you’ll see that there’s always something you can do to improve the situation.

36. Hang out with people who are motivated and focused

No matter how much we’d like to think that we’re immune to peer pressure, we’re most definitely not.

Peer pressure affects people of all ages. This means that we must be intentional about the people we surround ourselves with.

Do you hang out with people who are pessimistic?

Are they always complaining?

Do they pursue excellence, or do they try to find shortcuts?

Spend time with people who are positive, motivated, focused, kind, generous and hardworking. You’ll find yourself developing those traits as the days and weeks go by.

As a result, you’ll become more successful in school.

37. Analyse the mistakes you make in tests and exams

It might not be a pleasant experience, but I encourage you to go through every mistake you make in tests and exams.

Analyse why you made each mistake. Ask yourself questions such as:

Was the mistake due to carelessness?
Did I forget a key fact?
Did I have a poor understanding of a certain concept?
How can I make certain that I won’t repeat the mistake?
What do I need to do to be better prepared for future tests?

This analysis will help you to make continual progress in your academics.

38. Pre-commit to specific behaviours and habits

Pre-commitment is a strategy in which you commit in advance to certain desirable behaviours. This way, you won’t be tempted to do otherwise in the future.

Here are some examples:

Use the StayFocusd Chrome extension to restrict the amount of time you spend on certain websites
Ask your parents to change the password on your tablet, so that every time you want to use your tablet you need them to unlock it
Tell a friend that you’ll delete all your social media apps on your phone by the end of the day – if not, you’ll give your friend $100

Pre-commitment is a powerful strategy that all good students use.

39. Keep a “done” list

Just as important as keeping a to-do list is keeping a “done” list.

Write down all the things you’ve accomplished at the end of each day. This will help to remind you that you’ve indeed been productive, even if you don’t feel so.

In the long run, keeping a “done” list will help you to stay positive and motivated.

40. Don’t try to remember to do things; make it impossible to forget

Some examples of these “things” might be:

Homework
Projects
Studying for tests
Bringing your textbook to school
Bringing your water bottle to school
Bringing your calculator into the exam hall for a math exam

The list goes on.

To be successful in school, don’t just try to remember to do these things. Rather, make it impossible to forget to do these things.

There’s a huge difference between these two approaches.

To make it impossible to forget to do something, you might need to stick a Post-it note on the front door. Or set an alarm (or two alarms). Or create a daily reminder to check your calendar or planner.

As you adopt this approach, you’ll become a more reliable and effective student!

Conclusion

If you apply all the tips in this article, it’s almost impossible that you won’t become a better student. (To get 10 more bonus tips, enter your email in the box at the end of this article.)

Of course, it’s neither reasonable nor practical to expect you to implement all the tips at once.

After all, the road to success is built one step at a time.

Success – as a student and in life in general – is about daily choices and habits.

Implement one or two tips in the coming week, and get some like-minded friends to join you.

As you gain momentum, implement more tips as the weeks go by. (You can try applying my rules for success in life too.)

You’ll soon find that you’re becoming a more successful student who’s leading a more balanced life too.

Wishing you all the best – I’m excited about this journey that you’re about to embark on!

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50 Words of Wisdom Every Student Needs to Hear

Updated on January 6, 2026 By Daniel Wong 66 Comments

I completed my formal education some years ago.

Thinking about the 17 years I spent in school, I realise that I would have had a more fulfilling time if I’d been wiser.

It takes time to acquire wisdom. To help students through this process, I decided to write this article, in which I’ll share 50 words of wisdom every student should hear.

If you apply the advice in this article, I’m confident that you’ll become a happier and more successful student.

(Download the free PDF below to learn 10 bonus tips.)

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1. Don’t take your parents for granted. Your parents may nag you, and you may feel as if they don’t understand you. But they love you unconditionally, so appreciate them as often as you can.

2. Getting a bad grade isn’t the end of the world. In a few years, you won’t even remember most of your grades. If you get a bad grade, learn from your mistakes and prepare better for the next exam.

3. Use the Internet as a tool for education more than entertainment. The Internet can keep you entertained for hours. But with sites like Udemy, Udacity and How Stuff Works, the Internet can also make you a far more educated person.

4. Stress is a fact of life, but it should never become a way of life. This means that it’s normal to feel stressed and tired once in a while. But if you feel stressed and tired almost every day, then you need to reevaluate your life to see what you ought to be doing differently.

5. Learn to manage your money. As a student, you probably don’t have tons of money. That’s a good thing, because you can learn to spend, save, invest and give with little risk. Learn money management skills while you’re still young!

6. Make sleep a priority. Research has proven that sleep is essential for health and brain function. Make it a priority to get eight hours of sleep a night, and you’ll be a happier and better student.

7. Ask for help when you need it. There’s no shame in asking for help. If you can’t find the answer on Google, don’t hesitate to ask your teachers or parents. They’ll be more than willing to assist you.

8. Write things down. Your brain isn’t a perfect storage device, so write things down. Use a notebook or an app like Google Keep to ensure that you don’t forget anything important. If you write things down, you’ll be a more organised and effective student.

9. If you need motivation to study, go to the library. When you’re surrounded by people who are studying, you’ll feel inspired to study. Don’t underestimate the effect your environment has on your motivation. This study tip is extremely valuable!

10. Learn to embrace challenges rather than avoid them. Choose to see challenges as fun opportunities to learn. Even if you can’t overcome the challenge, you would have still grown as a person.

11. Don’t blame others. I used to blame my teachers, parents and peers for almost every problem I faced. Don’t be like me. The sooner you stop blaming others, the sooner you’ll learn to take full responsibility for your life.

12. Go to every single class. If the class is boring, see it as an opportunity to improve your ability to focus. If the class is about a topic you’ve learned before, see it as an opportunity to review the information.

13. Be grateful. Grateful students are happy students. No matter what situation you’re in, there’s always something to be thankful for: school, friends, family, food, health, nature, technology, etc.

14. Don’t take shortcuts. It’s tempting to take shortcuts, but resist the urge to do so. The more shortcuts you take, the less you’ll learn and the less you’ll grow as a person. Don’t shortchange yourself.

15. Be kind to yourself. Do you ever tell yourself that you’re lazy, ugly, dumb or irresponsible? Would you ever say those things to your best friend? Be kind to yourself, and learn to become your own best friend. In fact, research has proven that self-compassion is a key component of success.

16. Spend more time thinking about others than yourself. If you spend most of your time thinking about yourself, you’ll be unhappy. No matter how many good things there are going on in your life, you’ll be tempted to ask yourself questions like “Why can’t I be as popular as her?” or “Why are my parents so strict?” Instead, focus on helping others and you’ll be a happier student.

17. Say no without feeling guilty. Leading an effective student life is all about knowing what your priorities and values are. If there are activities or opportunities that aren’t aligned with your priorities, say no with confidence.

18. Don’t rely on others for things that are your own responsibility. I used to rely on others to remember things or run errands on my behalf. But I now realise that this was irresponsible behaviour. Don’t rely on other people for things that you should handle yourself.

19. Exercise regularly. Exercise is good for your body and your brain. So if you think you don’t have time to exercise, you actually don’t have time not to exercise. Exercise will make you a healthier and more effective student.

20. Don’t try to remember things; make them impossible to forget. One of the most important traits to develop when you’re in school is dependability. To become a dependable student, make it impossible to forget things, e.g. submitting homework, bringing a textbook to school, asking your parents to sign a consent form. Use a diary, sticky note or app to ensure that you don’t forget.

21. Ask yourself throughout the day, “What’s important now?” We often do what we feel like doing at the moment – even if that behaviour isn’t in our long-term interests. To fight this tendency, ask yourself, “What’s important now?” The answer will usually be clear.

22. Look for the good in every situation. For example, I once read about a woman who was exhausted after working at a restaurant for 14 hours straight in a day. She exclaimed, “I’m tired, but it feels so good to have spent all my energy doing something meaningful like work!” With an attitude like that, you’ll be a winner in life for sure.

23. Celebrate the successes of others. Your life as a student may feel like a competition, but it isn’t. Celebrate the accomplishments and successes of your peers, and don’t be a sore loser.

24. Don’t feel as if you need to have it all figured out. As a teenager, I used to think that I would have everything figured out by the time I finished school. But I still don’t feel as if I have everything figured out, and I don’t think I ever will. Life is a continual journey of learning and maturing – learn to enjoy the journey!

25. Spend time with people who have the same (or similar) values and goals as you. All of us are influenced greatly by the people we surround ourselves with. Choose to surround yourself with people who will inspire you to become a better person and student.

26. No experience in life is wasted. To paraphrase Tony Robbins, cultivate the belief that life is happening for you, not to you. If you believe that life is happening for your good, you’ll be able to see even challenges and frustrations in a positive light.

27. Don’t expect to become an educated person just by going to school. School is a crucial part of your education, but it’s just one part. Why? Because there are many skills you won’t master through formal education alone, e.g. persuasion, negotiation, design thinking, adaptive thinking. Take a proactive approach toward learning these types of skills through these must-read books for students, videos, online courses and real-world experiences.

28. Say “thank you” and “sorry” often. Don’t just say these words for the sake of saying them. If you mean it when you say “thank you” and “sorry”, you’ll build stronger relationships with both your friends and family.

29. Don’t worry about being popular or cool. Popularity is overrated. Responsibility, duty, excellence, kindness, courage and generosity aren’t – so focus on these instead.

30. Be curious. For most of my life as a student, I only learned information that was going to be tested on the exam. But later on, when I became a curious student who wanted to learn about all kinds of things, I started to enjoy school more. Not only that, I started to enjoy life more, because I realised that there’s so much beauty in the world around us. Start becoming more curious today!

31. Every choice you make shapes your character, so choose wisely. As a student, you make hundreds of choices every day: what to eat, how to spend your money, who to talk to, what clothes to wear, how hard to work, etc. Every decision shapes your character and destiny, so don’t take it lightly.

32. 90% of success is doing what others aren’t willing to do. Most students aren’t willing to do the extra assignment, proofread the essay one more time, put their tablet away when it’s time to focus, or delete the distracting apps on their phone. Be the student who is willing to do those things – and more. If you adopt this mindset in life, you’re almost guaranteed to become successful.

33. You’re never too young to make an impact. As a student, I thought of myself as a “kid” who couldn’t make an impact. But just look at these children and teenagers who are making huge contributions to the world. No matter how old you are, believe you can contribute, and start small in whatever way you can.

34. Assume the best of others. Many disagreements arise because we assume the worst of others. We assume that others are selfish and inconsiderate. But this is rarely true. If you assume the best of others, you’ll make an effort to understand their perspective. This, in turn, will enable you to resolve conflicts more quickly.

35. Invest in the relationships that matter most. Relationships must be nurtured – this takes time. List the people who mean the most to you. Make an intentional effort to invest in these relationships, at least on a weekly or fortnightly basis.

36. The grass isn’t greener on the other side; the grass is greener where you water it. (This is my shortened version of a quote from Robert Fulghum.) Do you ever think to yourself, “If only I went to a different school… If only I were born in a different city… If only I were better-looking…”? If so, remember that the grass is greener where you water it. “Water the grass” by choosing to have a positive attitude and by taking action, instead of complaining.

37. Everything worth doing takes time and effort. This applies to grades, relationships, career, character, and more. If you want to go somewhere meaningful and rewarding in life, there are no shortcuts.

38. Compliment others sincerely. Do this as often as you can, preferably daily. This is a simple way to appreciate others and make their day just a little bit brighter.

39. Forgive others and yourself. If you do this, you won’t be filled with anger and resentment. If you extend forgiveness freely, your life will be more peaceful and joyous.

40. To be successful, you must learn how to deal with negative emotions. When you’re feeling frustrated, angry, disappointed or sad, you’re more likely to make bad decisions. You can’t avoid all negative emotions, but you can learn to manage them so they don’t derail you.

41. Become reasonably good at public speaking. I’m not saying that everyone should become a professional speaker. But I am saying that over the course of your life you’ll have many opportunities to speak in public. So you might as well become proficient at it sooner rather than later (or never).

42. Attitude matters more than intelligence or talent. As Zig Ziglar once said, “Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude.” Intelligence and talent play a part in how successful you become as a student and in life. But attitude matters much more. Start cultivating a positive and resilient attitude today.

43. Be present. When I was a student, I spent far too much time thinking about my past mistakes and worrying about the future. I spent far too little time in the present: living in the moment, appreciating the small things, being 100% focused, seeing the beauty in what I was learning, cherishing relationships. Wherever you are, be present.

44. Show your parents respect and appreciation. This might be hard for you to do, especially if you think your parents are unreasonable or overbearing. But I encourage you to do it anyway. First of all, it’s the right thing to do. Second of all, when parents don’t receive respect and appreciation from their children, they tend to become even more unreasonable and overbearing. So it’s in everyone’s best interests that you show your parents respect and appreciation.

45. Fear should usually be seen as a signal to advance, not retreat. Most of the time, when we feel afraid our life isn’t actually in danger. Common fears include public speaking, failure, rejection, and the fear of learning. As such, fear should usually be seen as something to move towards, because in doing so you’ll experience personal growth.

46. Don’t watch TV. Studies show that watching too much TV is linked to depression. Watching some TV won’t hurt you, but if you decide not to watch TV at all, you’ll have more time for meaningful and productive activities. If you need to de-stress, check out this list of science-backed ways to do so.

47. Pay attention in class. If you do this, you won’t need to spend so much time studying because you would have already understood most of the concepts taught in class. If you have trouble paying attention, I recommend that you improve your focus gradually. For example, you could start by setting a timer for 10 minutes, as a reminder that you’ll pay attention for just 10 minutes. After the 10 minutes are up, you can allow yourself to be distracted for a minute or two before you start another 10-minute “focus session”. Every day, increase the length of the “focus session” by one minute.

48. When faced with a problem, ask yourself, “What is one thing I can do now to improve the situation?” I’ve underlined those three words/phrases for good reasons. When you focus on just one thing you can do, you won’t feel overwhelmed. When you focus on what you can do now, you’ll be more motivated to take action right away. And when you focus on what you can do now to improve the situation, you’ll almost certainly be able to think of at least one productive action to take. Ask this powerful question whenever you’re faced with a problem, and you’ll become a more effective student and person.

49. Looking successful is different from being successful. Looking successful is about prestige, popularity, status and accomplishments. Being successful is about purpose, relationships, character and contribution. As a student, ensure that you’re working towards being successful, not just looking successful.

50. Focus on progress, not perfection. There’s no such thing as a perfect student. After all, we’re flawed human beings. If you aim to achieve perfection, you’ll be disappointed, and you may lose motivation. On the other hand, if you focus on progress, you’ll realise that getting better is its own reward. This is the key to being an effective, fulfilled student.

Conclusion

I don’t claim to be the wisest person around, but I hope you’ve found this article useful.

(Download the free PDF below to learn 10 additional tips.)

It took me many years to learn these lessons, and I know I still have much more wisdom to acquire.

Don’t feel as if you need to put all the tips into practice right away. Instead, revisit this article periodically and focus on just one tip a week.

It will make a huge difference in the long run. Wishing you all the best!

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45 Time Management Tips for Students (Advice From a Lifelong Straight-A Student)

Updated on January 6, 2026 By Daniel Wong 48 Comments

Everyone gets the same 24 hours each day.

Albert Einstein, Mother Teresa, Isaac Newton, Eleanor Roosevelt, Leonardo da Vinci – they all had 24 hours a day, just like you and me.

What enabled them to lead such significant lives?

They managed their time well.

This article is all about effective time management tips for students.

As a student, I got straight A’s while sleeping eight hours a night, and graduated from Duke University with a GPA of 3.98/4.0.

(I don’t say this to boast, because education definitely isn’t only about getting straight A’s!)

But given that so many students ask me to share time management tips with them, I decided to compile the best ones I know.

By putting the tips in this article into practice, you’ll become more focused and less stressed.

You’ll have more time to do meaningful things outside of school too!

So let’s take a look at the 45 tips.

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1. Take a study break every 40 to 50 minutes

Research shows that working in blocks of 40 to 50 minutes is optimal for productivity.

If you feel as if you can’t focus for that long, try out the Pomodoro Technique for a start.

2. If you’re feeling unmotivated, set a timer for two minutes

If you don’t feel like doing work, set a timer for two minutes. Then tell yourself that you just need to focus for that amount of time.

Chances are that once you’ve started work, you’ll continue even after the two minutes are up.

3. Make good use of your travel time

It’s tempting to use your commute time to surf the Internet or go through your social media feeds.

But you can use the time to think about a concept you haven’t grasped, write in your gratitude journal, or listen to an audiobook.

This is a simple time management tip that goes a long way in helping you become a successful student!

4. Keep a time log for a few days

Do you feel as if you’ve been unproductive, but you’re not sure where all your time has been going?

If so, I recommend that you keep a time log for three to four days.

Keep track of everything you do during those few days. You’ll then have a much better idea as to how you can manage your time more effectively.

5. If you don’t understand a new concept, speak to your teacher right away

If you do this, you’ll save a lot of time in the long run, because you’ll be clarifying your doubts as they arise.

6. Keep an ongoing list of every single thing you have to do

Don’t rely on your brain as a storage device.

Instead, write down every single thing you need to do: assignments, projects, errands, etc.

Review the list daily to ensure that you’re working on the most important task at any given time.

By doing this, you’ll become a far more organised student.

7. Unfollow everyone on social media, except the people you really care about

I did this a year ago, and it’s saved me hundreds of hours!

Not only that, I realise that I don’t even miss not getting updates from most of those people I’d been following.

8. Turn off notifications on your tablet and phone

Do this and say goodbye to all the interruptions you’ve been getting when you were supposed to be focusing on your schoolwork.

This tip alone will make you a much more productive student.

9. Unsubscribe from all YouTube channels

This tip is similar to Tip #7. If you unsubscribe from all YouTube channels, you’ll discover that there are only a few channels whose videos you really enjoy.

These are the channels that you’ll intentionally visit so you can watch the latest videos they’ve posted.

Which means you don’t actually need to subscribe to these channels!

10. Mute your group chats on your phone

In most group chats, there’s a lot of “noise” – messages that are neither urgent nor important.

Mute your group chats, and look through them once a day to ensure that you haven’t missed out anything important.

11. Use a very long password for your tablet and phone

Set a password that’s 15 to 20 characters long.

By doing this, you’ll become more conscious about when and how you use your tablet and phone.

You won’t use these devices mindlessly, which means that you’ll become a more focused and effective student.

12. Delete all social media apps on your tablet and phone

Once again, this tip will empower you to use your tablet and phone more intentionally.

If you want to check your social media feeds, you can still do so through the Internet browser.

But you’re less likely to do so as often because of the slight inconvenience, as compared to opening the social media app directly.

13. Before you start a study session, put your tablet and phone in another room

This is a simple way to ensure that these electronic devices don’t distract you.

By maximising the effectiveness of each study session, you’ll manage your time better.

14. At the beginning of each study session, write down the task you’re going to work on

It’s easy to get sidetracked during a work session, which is where this study tip comes in handy.

On a rough sheet of paper, write down the specific task you’re going to work on (e.g. Science assignment, Question #1 to 5) and put it on your study table.

This will remind you to maintain your focus on that task as you’re working on it.

15. Create a rough schedule for each day of the week

Every successful person I know follows a daily routine. So do these famous people.

To be a master of time management, create a schedule for each day of the week, e.g. when you’ll exercise, relax, study, spend time with family.

It’s impossible to follow the schedule to the minute. But you’ll be far more productive if you use the schedule as a rough framework, rather than not using a schedule at all.

16. Be realistic about what you can accomplish each day

Many students overestimate what they can accomplish each day. When they don’t manage to complete everything they intended to, they get discouraged. As a result, they lose the motivation to study.

So be realistic when you plan your day, and assume that there will be a few unforeseen interruptions.

17. Make time to reflect on a weekly basis

Once a week, take ten minutes to think about the week gone by.

Think about what went well and what didn’t go so well.

Decide what changes you’ll make in the coming week, and write them down.

18. For every homework assignment you receive, decide when you’re going to start working on it

Be as specific as possible, e.g. “I’m going to start working on the English essay this coming Wednesday at 4 p.m.”

This is far better than saying to yourself, “I’m going to start working on the English essay as soon as possible.”

(On a related note, you might be wondering: “When is the best time to study?” To answer that question, you can click that link and read an article I’ve written on the topic.)

19. Finish every homework assignment at least one to two days before it’s due

In this way, you’ll have time to check through your work thoroughly.

And just in case something urgent pops up at the last minute, you’ll still be able to complete the assignment on time.

20. Learn to say no

There’s an endless list of ways that you could spend your time.

This means that you must learn to say no to the things that aren’t aligned with your priorities.

Get in the habit of saying no more often. If you need ideas as to how you can say no both politely and firmly, check out this article.

21. Determine when you’re most productive, and work on your hardest assignments during that time

Do you work best in the afternoon? Or are you most productive at night?

Work on your hardest assignments and projects during your most productive hours of the day. This is a powerful way to make the most of your time.

22. In your calendar, block out time for homework and studying

As the saying goes, “If it doesn’t get scheduled, it doesn’t get done.”

If you’re serious about effective time management, then block out time in your schedule for homework and studying.

23. Remove all distractions from your study table

If there are magazines, books, souvenirs, toys, etc. on or near your study table, which distract you while you’re studying, then remove them.

Put them at the other end of the room, or move them to another room.

(Go ahead, do it right now!)

24. Get eight hours of sleep every night

Research has proven that a lack of sleep affects your concentration, memory, mood, and overall health.

Do you want to learn how to study productively? Then make sure that you get at least eight hours of sleep every night.

(Students always tell me that it’s impossible to get eight hours of sleep a night. But if you apply all the tips in this article, I’m sure you’ll be able to!)

25. Prepare for class every day

Every day, think about the classes you’ll be attending in school the following day.

Take a few minutes to skim through the notes from the previous class, as well as the notes for the upcoming class (assuming you already have them).

This way, you’ll be well prepared for each class, which means that you’ll gain more from what is taught.

26. Exercise at least three times a week

Exercise boosts your memory and brain function.

So make it a priority to exercise at least three times a week or more.

By ensuring that your brain is functioning optimally, you’ll be able to concentrate better and manage your time better too.

27. Write down all your test dates and assignment due dates in your calendar

As mentioned in Point #6, don’t rely on your brain as a storage device.

Write down all important dates in your calendar, e.g. tests, exams, assignment and project due dates.

When you do this consistently, you won’t be caught off-guard a day before an assignment is due.

28. Set reminders for when to start studying for tests

It’s a good idea to set a reminder or make a note in your calendar as to when you’ll start preparing for an upcoming test.

This makes it more likely that you’ll start studying for the test early. As a result, you’ll experience less test-related stress.

29. Review new information you’ve learned within 24 hours

This is crucial if you want to move the information to your long-term memory.

Furthermore, by reviewing the new information within 24 hours, you’ll also be able to identify which concepts you don’t fully understand. You can then apply Tip #5.

30. For projects and big assignments, always be clear about what the next step is

One of the main reasons that students procrastinate is that they aren’t clear what exactly they should do next for a project or assignment.

I recommend that you keep a list of “next actions” for each project or big assignment, so that you always know what you ought to do next.

31. Never skip classes

I know… when the teacher is boring or the material is uninteresting to you, it’s so tempting to skip class.

But resist the temptation.

If you skip classes, you’ll need to spend more time in the long run catching up. In addition, during class your teacher will highlight the key concepts. This will make it easier for you to understand the material.

32. If you’re feeling unmotivated, change your studying environment

There’s no harm in mixing it up once in a while to give you a boost in productivity.

On weekdays, you might decide to do all of your homework and studying at home. While on weekends, you might decide to go to a nearby library or café for a change in environment.

33. If a task takes less than three minutes to complete, do it right away

Many tasks fall in this category: sending a file to your classmate via email, asking your parents to sign a consent form, clearing the clothes off of your room floor.

Once you get a chance to perform the task, do it immediately. This will ensure that these small tasks don’t pile up and become overwhelming.

34. Create a study plan for every test and exam

Don’t just tell yourself that you’ll study hard for an upcoming test.

After all, studying hard isn’t the same as studying intelligently.

I recommend that you create a study plan where you list specifically what you’ll do to prepare for the test. Create a rough timeline to go along with the plan as well.

35. Put a clock on your study table

Students often lose track of time while they’re studying or doing their homework.

I recommend that you put a clock on your study table so that you’re always aware of the time.

Being aware of the time is vital if you want to become a student who’s an expert at time management.

36. Eliminate any perfectionist tendencies

Students who are perfectionists are also the ones who are most likely to procrastinate on schoolwork.

If you’re a perfectionist, set a rule for yourself that you can only work on one task at a time, and that you must complete the task before moving on to another task.

This way, you won’t jump from one task to another, while making little progress overall.

37. Clear your study table at least once every two days

Scientists have found that physical clutter makes it harder for you to concentrate.

My own experiences tell me that this is true too, which is why I do my best to keep my desk free of clutter.

I recommend that you clear your study table at least once every two days – once a day is even more ideal.

This will help you to be more focused and productive!

38. Write down your priorities and review them weekly

Take ten minutes to write down your priorities in life. (Don’t list more than four or five.)

Think about whether the way you spend your time is in line with these priorities.

Repeat this review process once a week to ensure that you stay on track.

39. Check your email and text messages just three to four times a day

For most students, checking and replying to text messages and emails takes an hour or two each day.

To become a more efficient student, make it a point to check your email and text messages just a few times each day.

40. Eat a healthy breakfast every single day

Eating a healthy breakfast has been linked to enhanced focus and mental performance.

This explains why successful students never skip breakfast!

41. Do deep breathing exercises for two to three minutes a day

Deep breathing improves focus and reduces stress.

Start with a couple of minutes of deep breathing a day, and increase gradually from there.

Read this article for the specifics on how to perform deep breathing exercises.

42. List your main distractions and time wasters, and eliminate them

Students often aren’t even aware what their main distractions and time wasters are.

So take a few minutes and think about what your biggest distractions are. Write them down on a sheet of paper, and come up with an action plan to eliminate – or at least reduce – them.

43. Set a fixed time to stop work each day

For example, you might decide that you’ll stop work at 9 p.m. every day.

Once you start keeping to this, you’ll notice that your time management has improved.

This is because having a fixed “stop time” every day keeps you focused on the tasks you need to complete. You won’t find yourself thinking that there’s still plenty of time to get the work done.

44. Hang out with motivated and productive people

As Jim Rohn once said, “You’re the average of the five people you spend most of your time with.”

Make it a point to hang out with motivated, passionate and productive people. You’ll become more like them over time.

You’ll also begin to say more positive things to yourself that will help you to be successful too.

45. Listen to Baroque music while you’re studying

Studies have shown that listening to certain kinds of Baroque music has a beneficial effect on learning.

I listen to Baroque music every time I do work, and I’ve found that it helps me to concentrate.

You can start by listening to the Baroque music found here.

Conclusion

“Time management” sounds like a simple concept, but it isn’t.

There are so many distractions in this digital age we live in. As such, it’s becoming harder and harder for students to master the art of time management.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that it’s impossible to be a productive student. It just means that it’ll require effort on your part.

Effort to get rid of old studying-related habits.

Effort to form new studying-related habits.

Effort to keep on trying, even when you feel like you’ll never be a focused student.

This article is close to 3,000 words long. You’ve made it to the end, so I know you’re committed to putting in the necessary effort.

Apply the tips in this article one day at a time, and you’ll be on your way to becoming a successful student.

More than that, you would have developed the skills and habits that will enable you to make a greater contribution to society over the long run.

I wish you all the best on this meaningful journey!

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30 Organisational Tips for School (Finally Become an Organised Student!)

Updated on January 6, 2026 By Daniel Wong 41 Comments

Life as a student is busy.

So when you’re in school, applying organisational tips can have a big impact on how you perform.

If you’re not organised and you feel like you’re not on top of things, you’ll be stressed.

You might end up working late and sleeping less, but this isn’t a good idea.

Getting organised for school is all about developing good study habits and systems.

Through my experiences, I’ve come up with these 30 simple tips that will help students to become structured, productive, and effective.

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How to be organised in school (and outside of school, too)

These school-related organisational tips are all about using systems and routines to stay on track.

Implementing these tips will enable you to get your work done on time, be fully prepared for tests, and still have time to relax.

1. Develop a routine

Consistency is the key to student success. So write down your general weekly schedule and create a routine.

Include things like when you’ll do your homework, when you’ll review the things you’ve learned, when you’ll exercise, and so on.

It’s not possible to stick to a routine 100% of the time, but at least set up the framework to keep you focused and on track.

2. Set rules for yourself

Set some very specific rules for yourself. These could be things like “complete all projects and assignments at least two days before they are due” or “start studying for tests at least one week in advance”.

Review your rules once a month and adjust them if necessary.

3. Write everything down

No one has a perfect memory, and trying to remember everything is stressful. So make a habit of writing down all your events, meetings, ideas, and things you need to do.

Use a notebook or planner, or try an app like Google Keep or Any.do that you can use on your phone and computer.

To be organised in school, choose the method you’ll use most consistently.

When you write everything down, you’ll be less anxious because you won’t be relying on your brain as a storage device.

4. Create your own deadline that is before the actual deadline

Create your own deadlines and put them in your planner or calendar. Having your own deadline reduces stress for you as a student. You’ll also be more likely to submit your best work.

Don’t treat the actual deadline as the deadline. Set your own deadline one or two days before, and plan accordingly.

This will help you because you probably already experience enough stress related to taking tests and exams!

5. Work on one task at a time; don’t multitask

One of the most important organisational tips for students is to focus on one task at a time.

Multitasking seems like a good idea because you can pretend that you’re working twice as hard.

We all get bored of the tasks we’re working on, so jumping about seems more fun.

The problem is that it doesn’t result in the best outcomes.

Here’s what I recommend: Take a scrap piece of paper and write down the task you’re working on right now, e.g. Math assignment, questions 1 to 5.

Put that scrap piece of paper on your study table, to serve as a reminder for you to stay focused on the task at hand.

6. Use the following websites and apps . . .

Test out the following websites and apps to make studying fun, keep you organised, and remove distractions.

Habitica

Habitica is an app that turns your goals into a fun game. It makes it more likely that you’ll stick to your goals and enjoy the process too.

MyStudyLife

This app replaces a planner and helps you organise your schedule, tasks and exam preparation. It also sends you reminders of upcoming events.

7. Use a planner

I recommend that you put the planner on your desk once you get to class and leave it there throughout the school day. This makes it more likely that you’ll use it because it’s right in front of you.

If you leave your planner in your backpack, you may feel like it’s too troublesome to take it out to use.

Put everything in your planner: homework, test and exam dates, family events, social events, etc. This way, you’ll be far more organised.

If you’re allowed to use your phone or computer in class, then you can use Google Calendar, Google Keep, or MyStudyLife instead of a hard copy planner.

8. Declutter once a week

Your physical space should be organised for things to do with school, including your notes and assignments.

At the end of each week, look through all the papers, notes, brochures, and other things you’ve accumulated. Recycle or throw away all the things you don’t need.

Clutter attracts clutter. So if you declutter once a week, you’ll be more likely to stay organised in general. You’ll also find it easier to stay focused.

9. Put sticky notes on the front door to help you remember things

You can use this organisational tip for school-related things you don’t want to forget, such as bringing an extra T-shirt or asking your parents to sign a consent form.

Put a sticky note on the front door. The note can have just the key word written on it, like “T-shirt” or “Form”. This will make it almost guaranteed that you’ll remember.

10. Keep one notebook and one binder for each subject

Take all your notes for one subject in one notebook. When you run out of space, start a new notebook. Label each notebook clearly, e.g. History Notebook 1, History Notebook 2. This will make it easy for you to find the information you need in the future.

Doing this will help you stay organised in school.

I discourage you from taking notes on loose sheets of paper. I also discourage you from using only one notebook, in which you take notes across all your different subjects.

Make a habit of keeping one binder for each subject and filing your assignments and printed notes according to type. File all your assignments together in sequential order, followed by your printed notes, which should also be filed together in sequential order.

(Here are some tips on how to properly take notes.)

11. Bring an accordion folder to school every day

This accordion folder is for your daily use.

Create one section of the accordion folder for each subject, and label each section clearly.

I recommend reserving the front section for incomplete homework, so the homework will be easy to find.

12. Do filing once a week

At the end of each week, transfer all the printed notes, assignments, etc. from the accordion folder to the respective subject’s binder.

Doing this weekly is a good practice, to ensure that your accordion folder doesn’t get too full or messy.

13. Do five minutes of daily planning each day

Before you start doing your homework or studying for a test, look at your planner first. Take note of all upcoming deadlines, and think about your schedule for the rest of the day.

Then you can decide what specific tasks to work on for the day. Doing daily planning will ensure that you’re always working on the most important tasks, and that you don’t leave anything out.

14. Learn to say no

Organisational tips can help you balance your school life with other activities, but only up to a point.

If you want to be an organised, effective student, you can’t say yes to everything – there will always be trade-offs you’ll need to make.

So decide on the boundaries you want to set for yourself. Decide how many times you’ll go out with your friends each week, how many days each week you’ll devote to extracurricular activities, and what your priorities are.

Then practise saying no to protect these boundaries. And don’t feel guilty when you say no! Remember, it’s not about being a busy student; it’s about being an effective student.

15. Block out time in your schedule for the things that matter most

Blocking out time in your schedule is a critical time management strategy for students.

If you don’t do this, other things which are less important will fill your schedule.

In your calendar or planner, block out time for things like family events, religious activities, volunteering, and studying.

Then honour these commitments and stick to your schedule as much as possible.

16. Break down big tasks into smaller tasks

Breaking down big tasks and projects makes them seem less overwhelming and more manageable.

Doing this also makes it clearer what your specific next step is, so you’ll be less likely to procrastinate on your assignments.

Here’s an example. Rather than telling yourself that you need to write your paper fast, break it down into smaller tasks like:

Read 10 articles on the topic for research
Write outline
Write introduction
Write main point #1
Write main point #2
Write main point #3
Write conclusion
Proofread the paper
Adjust the formatting, layout, etc. of the paper
Submit paper

17. Once a week, review the upcoming events in your planner/calendar

Each week, take a few minutes to see what important events and deadlines are coming up over the next month. This will help to ensure that you don’t overlook any important projects, tests, or assignments.

Reviewing your schedule helps you to stay on top of things. It also keeps you calm and in control, and allows you to adjust your daily and weekly priorities.

18. If a task takes two minutes or less to do, do it immediately

The “two-minute rule” was popularised by productivity expert David Allen. When you follow this rule, small tasks don’t pile up and become overwhelming.

Things like texting a friend, sending your classmate some information via email, or asking your parents to sign a consent form are all quick tasks that take less than two minutes to complete.

When you do these tasks immediately, you’ll feel a sense of achievement too.

19. Clear your desk at the end of each day

This organisational tip only takes a minute to do and prevents clutter from building up. I recommend doing this when you’re done with your homework or studying for the day.

It will make it easier for you to find what you need when you next sit down to work.

In addition, when you have a neat desk, you’ll concentrate better and feel more motivated to study.

20. Develop a specific plan for every upcoming test and exam

Don’t just tell yourself that you’ll study hard for the test or exam.

That’s too vague, and you may feel as if you’re never prepared enough.

Instead, develop a plan. Write down what resources you’re going to use, how many practice questions or exam papers you intend to do, how many times you plan to read the notes, what study tips you’ll put into practice, etc.

Write all the steps down on a sheet of paper and create a rough timeline as well.

When you’ve completed everything on your plan, you’ll know that you’re well prepared. By always having a plan, you’ll learn faster and be more efficient.

21. Create a conducive environment at home for studying

To be an effective and organised student, set up a dedicated study area at home.

You need to have the right environment to work. You need all the necessary materials, stationery, paper and study tools. You also need a suitable table and lamp.

And if you want to be productive, you definitely shouldn’t study on your bed! That’s one of the most common reasons for feeling sleepy while studying.

22. Before you start work, eliminate all distractions

Take a moment and think about the distractions you typically face when you’re trying to study. Common ones include text messages, notifications on your phone, social media, YouTube, books, and magazines.

Remove these distractions before you get to work. Put your phone in another room, turn off Internet access on your computer, and put the books and magazines at the other end of the room.

23. Use a stopwatch or timer

School organisational tips include making the most of your time.

When you want to have a productive study session, use a timer to help you focus. Using a timer adds a sense of urgency.

Try working in blocks of 30 to 40 minutes, followed by a short break. If you’re up for it, set a timer for your breaks too, so that you don’t take a 45-minute break when you only intended to take a 10-minute break.

24. Double-check that you’ve completed all the homework that’s due the next day

Set a recurring reminder so that you’ll do this every school day in the mid-afternoon.

This will prevent you from scrambling at the last minute or pulling an all-nighter just to get the assignment done.

25. Every day, review all the new information you learned in school earlier that day

A quick review of the key concepts should only take you about 20 minutes.

Doing this helps to ensure understanding, so you stay on top of the material.

If you really can’t do this review on the same day, do it the following day while the information is still fresh in your mind.

26. Keep an ongoing list of the questions you have about the class material

As you read your notes and the textbook, keep a list of the things you don’t understand and the questions you have. As soon as you’re able to, ask your teachers about the items on your list.

If you do this consistently, you won’t need to spend so much time studying for tests and exams, because you already understand the information.

27. Every school night, pack your backpack for the following day

This way, you won’t have to scramble in the morning to pack. Set a reminder on your phone or put a Post-It note on your desk to ensure that you do this every school night.

Create a checklist for the things you need to remember to bring to school, and put the checklist somewhere accessible.

28. Wake up a little bit earlier each morning so you don’t have to rush

For most students, waking up 5 to 10 minutes earlier is enough to avoid the unnecessary stress of rushing in the morning.

When you rush, you often forget things – which means that your day doesn’t start well. Top students go to bed early, get at least eight hours of sleep every night, and set their alarm so they wake up a bit earlier.

I recommend that you put the alarm clock at the other end of the room, so you won’t be tempted to snooze. I also recommend using the Alarmy app if you use your phone as an alarm clock. It’s the best alarm clock app I’ve ever used!

You can get Alarmy for your Android or iOS device.

29. Every school night, pick out the clothes you’re going to wear the following day

If you wear a school uniform to go to school, then this organisational tip is easy to apply. But it still saves you time.

Take your school uniform or the clothes you’ll wear the following day, and hang them somewhere easily accessible, like on the door knob of your room door.

This only takes you a minute to do, but makes the morning that much less stressful.

30. Make your bed every morning

This is a small victory to start the day.

It sets the tone for the day and will help you to be more productive overall.

Even this US Navy admiral recommends this simple tip as a way of improving your motivation and focus!

Get organised for school, one step at a time

This is a long article that might leave you feeling overwhelmed, especially if you’re not already an organised student.

So take one step at a time.

Start by identifying which areas you need to work on, and then prioritise them.

Adopt one new habit in the coming week. Once you’re comfortable with that habit, adopt one more.

Remember that no one is perfect. Your journey as a student – and in life, too – is always about progress, not perfection.

Start making progress toward becoming an organised and focused student today!

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