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40 Good Habits for Students to Practise Every Day

Updated on September 30, 2020 By Daniel Wong 47 Comments

Note: I’ve received many emails and messages telling me that that the word “practise” in the title should be spelled as “practice”. But I write in British English, where the verb form of the word really is spelled as “practise”. 🙂

Why are some students more successful than others?

While there are many possible reasons, it often comes down to one thing…

Good habits.

Students with good habits achieve the most success. These habits give them the structure they need to reach their goals.

So I’ve created a list of 40 good habits for students to practise every day.

As you develop these habits, you’ll become a happier, healthier and more successful student.

1. Write down the three to five most important tasks to accomplish for the day.

Without a written list to help you stay on track, it’s easy to overlook and put off important tasks.

By writing down your three to five most important tasks for the day, you’ll focus on the critical tasks, not just the urgent ones.

If you want to study smart and become more productive, start cultivating this habit today.

2. Update your calendar with key dates and events.

A calendar is a great way to stay on schedule, day after day, while also planning for the future.

You can use a physical calendar or an online one like Google Calendar to record test dates, project submission deadlines, term breaks, etc.

This way, you’ll be on top of things at all times.

3. Work on your most challenging task during your most productive time of day.

Tackle your most challenging task when your mind and body are fresh.

This will ensure that you have the energy to complete the task most efficiently. It’ll make the rest of your day more productive too!

4. Write down at least one thing you’re thankful for.

Are you thankful for your friends? How about your family? What about your education?

It only takes a couple of minutes to write down something you’re thankful for.

But this useful habit will help you find long-term success and happiness.

5. Perform focused deep breathing for two minutes.

Stress can negatively impact academic performance, but there’s a quick solution to this.

Deep breathing is scientifically proven to reduce stress and even increase willpower.

So take just two minutes and perform focused deep breathing every day.

I recommend that you do these deep breathing exercises right before tests and exams to relieve stress as well. [Read more…]

How I Became a Top Student While Sleeping 8 Hours a Night

Updated on June 25, 2020 By Daniel Wong 63 Comments

Students today are busy. Really busy.

They have homework to do, projects to complete, extra classes to attend, and other responsibilities to fulfill.

It’s no wonder that most students are sleep-deprived, and find it hard to lead a balanced life.

But it doesn’t have to be this way.

In this article, I’ll share with you the 10 principles I used to become a top student who slept eight hours a night.

(I’ve since completed my formal education.)

In case you’re curious, here are some of my academic achievements:

I got 9 A1s for the GCE O-Levels.
I got 4 As and 2 “Special” Paper distinctions for the GCE A-Levels.
I received a full academic scholarship to study at Duke University in the USA.
I did a double major at Duke and graduated summa cum laude (First Class Honors). My GPA was 3.98/4.0.
I was inducted into three academic honor societies at Duke.

Just to be clear, I don’t think these achievements make me some super-impressive person.

Neither do I think that the main aim of education is to become a top student.

But through the process of becoming a better student, you’ll learn to be more organized, focused, disciplined and meticulous.

These are skills and traits that will be beneficial throughout your life.

Students who continually feel overwhelmed are those who spend most of their time on urgent tasks. These are usually the same students who are sleep-deprived!

To be an effective student, you must focus on important tasks before they become urgent.

The 10 principles outlined in this article will help you to do just that.

By applying the 10 principles, I guarantee you’ll study more effectively, be less stressed, and have more time for things outside of school – including sleep!

Sounds good, right?

Let’s get started.

Principle #1: Stick to a routine.

You should definitely make room in your life for spontaneity. But without some kind of structure or routine, you won’t be able to achieve maximal productivity.

Creating a weekly routine is one of the most important steps to becoming a top student who has a balanced life.

Follow these steps to create a weekly routine that works for you:

(a) Take out your calendar. (I use Google Calendar, but a hard copy calendar works, too.)

(b) Create events in your calendar for all of your fixed, recurring commitments, e.g., school, music classes, extracurriculars, family events, religious activities.

(d) Set aside time each day for leisure, relaxation, going out with friends, and so on.

At this point, your calendar will be filled with “fixed” appointments that will guide you as to how to spend your time.

Of course, these appointments may change once in a while. But by following what your calendar says you ought to be doing, you’ll have established a solid routine. [Read more…]

How to Stop Procrastinating on Homework: 30 Powerful Tips That Work

Updated on September 30, 2020 By Daniel Wong 31 Comments

You know what it feels like when everything hits you at once, right?

You have three tests to study for and a math assignment due tomorrow.

And you’ve also got a history report due the day after.

You tell yourself to get down to work. But with so much to do, you feel overwhelmed.

So you procrastinate.

You check your social media feed, watch a few videos, and get yourself a drink. But you know that none of this is bringing you closer to getting the work done.

Sound familiar?

Don’t worry – you are not alone. Procrastination is a problem that everyone faces, but there are ways around it.

By following the tips in this article, you’ll be able to overcome it.

So read on to discover 30 powerful tips to help you stop procrastinating on your homework.

1. Take a quiz to see how much you procrastinate.

The first step to changing your behavior is to become more self-aware.

How often do you procrastinate? What kinds of tasks do you tend to put off? Is procrastination a small or big problem for you?

To answer these questions, I suggest that you take this online quiz designed by Psychology Today.

2. Figure out why you’re procrastinating.

Procrastination is a complex issue that involves multiple factors.

Are you procrastinating because:

You’re not sure you’ll be able to solve all the homework problems?
You’re subconsciously rebelling against your teachers or parents?
You’re not interested in the subject or topic?
You’re physically or mentally tired?
You’re waiting for the perfect time to start?
You don’t know where to start?

Once you’ve identified exactly why you’re procrastinating, you can pick out the tips in this article that will get to the root of the problem.

3. Write down what you’re procrastinating on.

Students tend to procrastinate when they’re feeling stressed and overwhelmed.

But you might be surprised to discover that simply by writing down the specific tasks you’re putting off, the situation will feel more manageable.

It’s a quick solution, and it makes a real difference.

Give it a try and you’ll be less likely to procrastinate. [Read more…]

15 Things Students Should Do Before Starting the New School Year

Updated on June 25, 2020 By Daniel Wong 12 Comments

The school holidays.

For most students, it’s their favorite time of the year.

It’s easy to see why.

During the school holidays, there’s no homework to do, no tests to study for, and no projects to work on.

But the new school year is just around the corner. So you might as well be prepared, right? 🙂

I’ve come up with this list of 15 things every student should do before beginning the new school year.

If you do the things on this list, I guarantee that you’ll be off to a great start!

1. Adjust your sleeping and waking times.

During the school holidays, you’ve probably been sleeping and waking up late.

Now’s the time to make adjustments. If you don’t, you’ll take longer to get used to the schedule when school starts again.

Adjust your sleeping and waking times gradually over two weeks. Go to bed 5 to 10 minutes earlier each night, and you’ll be able to shift your sleeping schedule significantly over those two weeks.

You can even set an alarm to go off every night, as a reminder to go to bed.

2. Get a management diary or weekly planner.

The inside of the diary or planner should look something like this:

If you prefer to go digital, you can use an online calendar instead, such as Google Calendar.

By using these tools regularly, you’ll be able to plan your time and priorities.

Block out time in your schedule for academics, extracurricular activities, social events, family time, etc.

3. Write down key dates in your diary or planner.

As a follow-up to Point #2, block out important dates such as:

National holidays
Birthdays
Anniversaries
Family events
School holidays
School events
Exam dates

After doing this, you’ll have a good overview of the major events in the coming school year.

This will allow for you to plan your schedule and commitments. [Read more…]

40 Productive Things to Do During the School Holidays

Updated on June 25, 2020 By Daniel Wong 61 Comments

Exams are over and school’s out.

And millions of students around the world are thinking to themselves, “Now what am I going to do with all this free time?”

Sure, there are games to play, movies to watch, and friends to hang out with.

But there are also plenty of productive things to do during the school holidays.

So I’ve come up with this list of 40 meaningful things to do.

1. Reflect on the semester gone by.

Take out a sheet of paper and answer these three questions:

What did I do well in the past semester?
What did I not do so well in the past semester?
What will I do differently in the coming semester?

2. Set process goals for the coming semester.

This is a follow-up to Point #1.

Set process goals for the coming semester instead of performance goals, because process goals are far more effective.

What’s the difference between the two types of goals?

Process goals are what you intend to do, while performance goals are what you intend to achieve.

Here’s an example.

Performance goal: Get an A for math next semester.

Process goal: Do three extra math questions every day after dinner.

By setting process goals, you’re more likely to take action than if you only set performance goals.

So take some time and set 5 to 10 process goals for the coming semester. [Read more…]

40 Powerful Quotes That Will Motivate You to Study

Updated on September 30, 2020 By Daniel Wong 141 Comments

Do you ever struggle with a lack of motivation?

You’re supposed to be studying for next week’s test. But instead you end up texting your friends, watching videos, or playing games.

After procrastinating for an hour or more, you finally get down to work.

But you just don’t feel that motivated.

Does this sound familiar?

Developing long-term motivation is a complicated issue.

But you can become motivated to study in the short term by reading inspirational quotes.

So I’ve compiled this list of 40 powerful quotes to help you study hard for your next test or exam.

The quotes are listed below according to the following categories:

Believing in yourself
Cultivating a success mindset
Overcoming procrastination
Hard work
Not making excuses
Perseverance

Believing in yourself

1. Believe you can and you’re halfway there.

2. You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them.

3. It always seems impossible until it’s done.

4. Don’t let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do. – John Wooden [Read more…]

How to Study Smart: 20 Scientific Ways to Learn Faster

Updated on September 30, 2020 By Daniel Wong 235 Comments

168.

That’s how many hours there are in one week.

If you’re a student, you probably feel like this isn’t enough.

I know… You have so many assignments to do, projects to work on, and tests to study for.

Plus, you have other activities and commitments.

And you want to have a social life too.

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could study smarter (not harder), get good grades, and lead a balanced life?

Of course it would. That’s why I wrote this article.

The main aim of education isn’t to get straight A’s. But learning how to learn is a vital life skill.

So I spent hours scouring scientific articles and research journals to find the best ways to learn more effectively.

I’m a lifelong straight-A student myself, and I have since completed my formal education. Over the course of my academic career, I’ve used almost all the tips outlined in this article, so I can verify that they work.

Let’s get started. Here are 20 scientific ways to learn faster.

1. Learn the same information in a variety of ways.

The research (Willis, J. 2008) shows that different media stimulate different parts of the brain. The more areas of the brain that are activated, the more likely it is that you’ll understand and retain the information.^[1]

So to learn a specific topic, you could do the following:

Read the class notes
Read the textbook
Watch a Khan Academy video
Look up other online resources
Create a mind map
Teach someone what you’ve learned
Do practice problems from a variety of sources

Of course, you won’t be able to do all of these things in one sitting. But each time you review the topic, use a different resource or method – you’ll learn faster this way.

2. Study multiple subjects each day, rather than focusing on just one or two subjects.

It’s more effective to study multiple subjects each day to help you stay focused, than to deep-dive into one or two subjects (Rohrer, D. 2012).^[2]

For example, if you’re preparing for exams in math, history, physics, and chemistry, it’s better to study a bit of each subject every day. This approach will help you to learn faster than by focusing on just math on Monday, history on Tuesday, physics on Wednesday, chemistry on Thursday, and so on.

Why?

Because you’re likely to confuse similar information if you study a lot of the same subject in one day.

So as a tip to learn faster, spread out your study time for each subject. In so doing, your brain will have more time to consolidate your learning. [Read more…]