The 10 Most Dangerous Things That Students Can Say to Themselves

Updated on July 6, 2024 By Daniel Wong 12 Comments

The way you talk to yourself has a huge impact on how you handle challenges.

It affects how you perform in every area of life, including your academics.

Negative thoughts sometimes become so much a part of your “self-talk” that you’re barely even aware of them.

In this article, I’ll show you the 10 most dangerous things that students can say to themselves, and why these 10 things prevent students from achieving their goals.

(To learn 3 bonus tips, download the free PDF summary below.)

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1. “I don’t feel like it”

There will be times when you don’t feel like doing something that you ought to.

One thing that successful students all have in common is that they don’t allow themselves to be driven by emotion.

To succeed, you must be able to put your feelings aside and follow through on your commitments, even when you don’t feel like it.

For example, if you’ve made a commitment to study for at least 1 hour every weekday, do everything necessary to keep to that commitment.

Or if you’ve decided to go for a 20-minute walk every evening, make sure you do it, regardless of how you feel.

To make it more enjoyable, you could listen to an audiobook or podcast during the walk. (That’s what I do during my walks, and it helps a lot!)

Doing things only when you feel motivated to do them isn’t a reliable way of reaching your goals.

This is because you definitely won’t feel motivated all the time.

It’s important to be able to do productive and meaningful things even when you don’t feel like doing them.

Over time, you’ll build self-discipline.

2. “I’ll do it later”

Procrastination is the enemy of success, because it prevents you from being prepared to perform at your best.

To combat procrastination, the first thing to do is recognise that you’re engaging in it.

If you find yourself frequently saying “I’ll do it later” or “I’ll do it the day before it’s due”, these are common signs of procrastination.

The most effective way of dealing with procrastination is to make specific commitments, e.g. “I complete all my assignments at least 2 days before they’re due”, “I start studying for every class test at least 1 week in advance”.

You can go even further than this and prioritise the very things that you least want to do. This turns procrastination on its head: the things you want to avoid doing, you do first.

Another way of dealing with procrastination is to say no to perfectionism.

Sometimes we procrastinate because we feel that something has to be perfect. The fear of falling short of perfection is what causes us to procrastinate.

If you find yourself falling into this trap, tell yourself every day that progress and the process are what matter most, not perfection.

3. “I don’t have enough time”

We all get 24 hours a day. How is it that some students are so productive while others aren’t?

The answer boils down to planning and prioritisation.

If you feel you don’t have enough time to study and do other meaningful things, the problem could be that you aren’t doing enough planning.

Planning means allocating your time to specific tasks so that you achieve your goals.

When you have a plan, you “make” the time you need to accomplish a particular task.

So when you say “I don’t have enough time”, check that you’ve set aside time in your daily and weekly schedule for the task.

If you haven’t, this would explain why it feels as if you don’t have enough time.

The second aspect is prioritisation.

It’s often the case that students who say they don’t have enough time to study, read, exercise, etc. do have enough time to play video games or watch shows or go on social media every day.

If this is the case for you, then it’s a matter of priorities.

Prioritising is the act of deciding that some things in your life are more important than others.

For example, when thinking about doing fun activities like playing video games, ask yourself: “Will this help me get to where I want to be in 5 years or 10 years?”

Of course, I’m not saying that you shouldn’t play any video games at all.

I’m just saying that the way you spend your time should reflect what you claim is most important to you.

4. “It’s too late to…”

There’s a famous Chinese proverb that says, “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.”

This principle applies to almost everything we do.

For example, you may feel that it’s too late to learn to play the guitar. Yes, it would have been good if you’d started learning to play the guitar 3 years ago.

But don’t let that thought prevent you from starting today.

Or you may feel that it’s too late to build a better relationship with your parents, because you’ve had a bad relationship with them for the past 5 years.

But without a doubt, today is the best day to start improving your relationship with your parents.

5. “I’m just not good at this”

When you’re learning a new skill or area of knowledge, do you ever think to yourself that “I’m just not good at this”?

If so, that’s a limiting mindset that will prevent you from growing and developing.

If you have this mindset, you’ll find excuses not to do your homework or to try to master a new topic.

Dr. Carol Dweck of Stanford University has identified two kinds of mindsets: the fixed mindset and the growth mindset.

People with a fixed mindset tend to fear failure. They frequently avoid challenges or anything that makes them feel bad about their level of ability.

On the other hand, people with a growth mindset take on challenges. They accept the discomfort that goes along with challenges, because they know it’s part of the learning process.

So the next time you’re learning something new and the thought “I’m just not good at this” pops into your head, remind yourself that this feeling of being stretched is a good thing.

Feel the discomfort and push through it as you put in the effort to improve!

6. “Nothing ever goes my way”

We all experience setbacks, and we all have days when nothing seems to go right.

But if you find yourself frequently thinking that “nothing ever goes my way”, ask yourself if this is accurate.

This kind of thinking is an example of what psychologists call all-or-nothing thinking.

Look back over the past month and make a list of all the situations that turned out well.

Maybe you did better than expected on a test, or maybe you made a couple of new friends, or maybe your physical fitness improved.

Through the process of making this list, you’ll begin to see that this kind of all-or-nothing thinking is rarely objective.

7. “If only…”

A limiting belief that will prevent you from succeeding as a student is the notion that something is holding you back.

This often takes the form of thoughts that begin with the statement “If only…”

For example, you might think to yourself:

“If only I was born into a wealthier family…”
“If only my parents gave me more freedom…”
“If only I went to a better school…”
“If only I didn’t have to travel so far to get to school…”
“If only other people made an effort to understand me better…”
“If only I was better-looking…”

These thoughts are sometimes based on valid observations.

You’ll always be able to find someone who has something you don’t. At the same time, there are always countless things for you to be thankful for.

Don’t let these “if only” thoughts become an excuse for not doing your best.

History is full of people who made profound contributions to the world, but who had to overcome huge obstacles along the way.

8. “I’m not __________ enough to…”

This is another kind of limiting belief that will stop you from making the most of your potential as a student.

It might take the form of something like “I’m not smart enough to get good grades” or “I’m not confident enough to be on the school debate team”.

These thoughts will stop you from even attempting something challenging.

If you struggle with these thoughts, there are two aspects to focus on.

First, ask yourself if the belief is accurate. Is it really true that you’re not smart enough or confident enough?

Second, even if there’s some truth to the belief, what’s to stop you from improving and putting yourself in a better position to succeed?

For example, if you lack confidence, you can take practical steps to become more assertive, improve your communication and leadership skills, contribute to the community, etc. As a result, you’ll become more confident.

Remember that the thoughts you have about your abilities are often self-fulfilling.

As Henry Ford once said, “Whether you think you can or you can’t, you’re right.”

9. “It’s my teacher’s/parent’s/friend’s fault”

There will be times when people let you down. But at the end of the day, we’re fully responsible for our lives.

After all, if you’re not responsible for your life, then who is?

So even though your friends, teachers and family members may not live up to your expectations, there’s no point blaming them.

Instead, think about what you can do to take ownership of the situation.

For example, if you’re tempted to blame your teacher for not explaining the material clearly, hold your tongue.

Decide what you can do to learn the material. Are there notes you can refer to? Are there videos that you can find online? Would it help if you clarify your doubts with your teacher outside of class time?

If you take this proactive approach, you’ll find that there’s almost always something you can do to take ownership of the situation.

Taking responsibility for your life may seem scary at first.

But it will actually give you a greater sense of control and autonomy, because it puts you in the driver’s seat of your life.

10. “I’ll try to…”

When you say that you’ll “try” to do something, you’re not making a firm commitment to take action. All you’re promising to do is “try”.

This gives you a convenient way out if things don’t go smoothly.

Instead of saying that you’ll try to take notes in class, say that you will take notes in class.

Instead of saying that you’ll try to get to bed before 10 pm, say that you will get to bed before 10 pm. If you need to, set an alarm for 9:45 pm every night as a reminder for you to get ready for bed.

Make an unwavering commitment to the positive changes you want to see in your life.

Conclusion

Are you guilty of any of the negative thought patterns listed in this article?

(To learn 3 bonus tips, download the free PDF summary below.)

If so, don’t be discouraged. It’s all too easy to give in to such thoughts.

The first step in changing these thought patterns is to become more aware of them.

The next time you find yourself falling into one of these thought patterns, ask yourself these two questions:

“Is this thought objectively true?”
“Is this thought helpful?”

Most of the time, the answer to those two questions is no. You can then start to have a healthier internal dialogue with yourself.

By becoming more intentional about the thoughts you think, you’ll be on your way to developing better beliefs.

In turn, this will enable you to find meaning, fulfilment and success in your life as a student!

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What Is Educational Coaching? 10 Ways It Can Help Your Teen Today

Updated on January 6, 2026 By Daniel Wong 1 Comment

You might be familiar with the concept of tutoring, but what about educational coaching?

More than a buzzword, educational coaching is a unique approach to empowering teens to make the most of their potential.

It can dramatically improve your teens’ performance and put them on the right track to reach their academic goals and more.

What is coaching in education?

Think about what a sports coach does.

Let’s say that your children join a basketball team. There are numerous skills your kids must learn, like how to dribble, pass, and shoot.

A great basketball coach wouldn’t just teach these individual skills and nothing else — the team would never win any games!

Instead, the best coaches understand the value of a holistic approach, where the players are motivated and self-driven, and understand how they should operate in the context of a team.

The same is true of an educational coach.

Educational coaches don’t just teach students the subjects they’re struggling with or force them to memorise math formulas.

Instead, educational coaches teach students how to learn. They enable students to become self-motivated, focused, and proactive.

As a result, not only will your teens discover the value of education, they’ll also gain the fundamental skills and character traits they need for long-term success.

Let’s take a closer look at educational coaching and how it can benefit your teens today.

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What is educational coaching?

Educational coaching helps students become better learners by motivating them to solve their problems in an encouraging and empowering environment.

Rather than prioritising a particular outcome (e.g. get a good grade in a certain subject), educational coaching focuses on the process of how to become a self-driven and independent learner.

Through this process, students achieve sustainable and lasting success — both inside and outside of the classroom.

What is the difference between coaching and tutoring?

Educational coaching and tutoring might sound similar, but there are key differences between these two approaches.

Let’s take a look at these two models in education, so you can choose the right one for your teen.

Tutoring

Do your teens struggle with getting good grades in a couple of specific subjects, despite their hard work?

They’re putting in a lot of effort, but they just can’t master quadratic equations.

Or maybe, no matter how hard they study, they can’t seem to do well on their English exams.

In these examples, you might consider engaging a tutor.

A tutor is typically someone who is skilled in a specific subject, like math or English. A tutor would work with your teen to achieve an outcome-related goal, such as passing the next exam.

If your teen has an excellent learning attitude but is struggling with one particular subject, then tutoring might be helpful.

But if your teen lacks focus and intrinsic motivation, then tutoring isn’t going to help.

This is where educational coaching comes in…

Educational coaching

Parents regularly come to me and say things like:

“My teen is smart, but he doesn’t work hard and he gets bad grades.”
“My teen constantly complains about school. I feel like I’m always nagging her to study!”

If this sounds like the situation you’re in, don’t worry — you’re not alone.

Problems like these are all too common, but there’s good news:

Educational coaching can equip your teens with the mindset and skills they need to succeed in school and beyond.

Unlike tutoring, educational coaching walks your teens through the process of developing intrinsic motivation and cultivating the right learning attitude.

Your teen will learn how to learn, no matter what the subject.

Rather than focusing too much on grades, educational coaching is a collaborative, process-oriented approach that will enable your teen to become more motivated, focused, and disciplined.

Naturally, your teen’s grades will improve too!

How does an educational coach help teens?

The power of educational coaching is that it equips your teens with the skills they need for success long after they graduate from school.

Let’s take a closer look at the top 10 benefits of one-to-one educational coaching for your teen:

1. Cultivate inner motivation and drive in your teen

Do your teenagers procrastinate on their homework and assignments?

When they finally sit down to study, do they get easily distracted?

It’s not easy to cultivate long-term motivation and drive — especially when your teen isn’t inspired to complete the task at hand.

Educational coaching helps students to cultivate important traits like:

Perseverance
Hard work
Focus
Discipline
Confidence

2. Help your teen to understand the importance of education

Do your teenagers struggle to understand why they need to learn history or geography?

Do they complain about having to memorise pointless facts — ones they’re confident they’ll never use in the future?

When we don’t understand why we’re learning something, it’s easy to get frustrated. That’s why process-oriented learning is so vital.

It shifts the focus from the outcome (memorising a set of facts) to the process of learning (finding joy in understanding concepts, developing new skills, mastering the material, etc.).

Educational coaching is a powerful method to instill in your teen the value of lifelong learning.

3. Guide your teen to set meaningful goals that he or she feels inspired to work toward

Some students enjoy planning for the future. Other students get overwhelmed by the thought of doing such planning.

Educational coaching helps your teens to develop short- and long-term goals that are meaningful and inspiring.

Rather than relying on temporary motivation to get things done, your teens will develop a sense of purpose and will set process-based goals they’ll want to work toward.

4. Enable your teen to eliminate negative attitudes and limiting beliefs

Limiting beliefs are false beliefs that stop us from pursuing our goals.

If your teen has a negative attitude toward school, it could be due to a limiting belief. For example, let’s say that your teen keeps getting bad grades on his English essays. He might start to internalise a limiting belief like:

“I’m just a bad writer, so there’s no point trying to improve.”

In reality, your teen might be a decent writer — he just needs to learn how to better structure his essays.

With the right educational coach, your teens will learn how to overcome negative thinking with science-backed techniques, so they can make the most of their potential.

5. Teach your teen responsibility and respect

Do you feel like your teenager doesn’t show you much respect?

Every parent wants to teach their children the value of respect, which will lead to a more harmonious family life.

After all, it’s frustrating to be continually arguing with your children when you just want what’s best for them!

Educational coaching teaches students responsibility and respect by equipping them to invest in their own personal development.

This is done in an empowering environment where the student feels supported, heard, and valued.

When your teenagers feel like they’re in control of their lives and their opinions matter, they’ll become more responsible and respectful, both at school and at home.

6. Build resilience in your teen

It’s not about the goal. It’s about growing to become the person that can accomplish that goal. – Tony Robbins

Academic success is a worthwhile goal to work toward, especially if students want to pursue scholarships or higher education.

But what’s even more important than getting good grades?

The character traits, mindset, and skills your teens will develop along the way to accomplishing their goals.

Resilience is the ability to work through life’s difficulties with determination — and it’s definitely a crucial life skill to develop.

Educational coaching provides students with the guidance and support they need to persevere through challenges, build resilience, and develop a growth mindset.

7. Teach your teen proven techniques to learn information effectively

Homework. Extra-curricular activities. Chores. Social engagements.

It’s hardly any wonder that most teenagers feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day!

Fortunately, getting good grades isn’t about studying more. It’s about studying smarter.

I’ve spent countless hours reading the best articles and research journals to discover how to study more effectively.

These are the tactics I used to get straight A’s throughout my formal education — and the proven techniques I now teach students in my one-to-one educational coaching sessions.

8. Provide step-by-step systems so your teen will prioritise tasks and manage time more effectively

I know I just said that students today are juggling a myriad of responsibilities.

Your teens might feel overwhelmed by their packed schedule, and I don’t want to downplay how much they have on their plate.

At the same time, I also want to say this:

We all get the same 24 hours in a day.

Some students know how to effectively manage their time and prioritise tasks, while others lack the step-by-step systems necessary to be as productive as possible.

I slept eight hours a night and still graduated from Duke University with a GPA of 3.98/4.0. I don’t say this to boast, really! I just want to show you that it’s possible to lead a balanced life while doing well in school.

The key is to implement the time management strategies that I share with my clients in my one-to-one educational coaching sessions.

9. Teach your teen test-taking strategies for less stress and better grades

It’s not a secret that tests are a significant part of your teenager’s life.

Yet many hardworking students underperform in exams due to anxiety, careless mistakes, and a lack of test-taking skills.

There are powerful test-taking strategies your teenager can use to start doing better on tests today.

An excellent place to start is my complete guide to taking tests and exams. For additional help, educational coaching is the best approach.

After all, nothing beats personalised support catered to your teenager’s individual needs and challenges.

10. Empower your teen to improve focus and overcome distractions

We live in an increasingly distracted world.

Statistics on teenagers and social media addiction are worrying, with 57% of teens saying that social media distracts them from homework.

Over time, these statistics will only become more worrying!

Through educational coaching, your teens will:

Eliminate distractions
Improve focus
Create an effective daily plan
Stop feeling unmotivated and overwhelmed
Pre-commit to the healthy behaviours they want to engage in

Here’s the thing…

Distractions and technology aren’t going anywhere. But with the right support through one-to-one educational coaching, your teenager will develop healthy habits and routines, and become an effective student.

Wondering if educational coaching will work for your teen?

If you’re interested in taking the next step, you can learn more about my one-on-one coaching programme for teens here.

(You can also read about my coaching clients’ success stories here.)

I’d love to personally coach your teenager to become motivated, focused, responsible, and resilient!

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

FREE E-BOOK:

Get your FREE copy of

16 Keys to Motivating Your Teenager.

The e-book has already been downloaded by many thousands of parents, so don't miss out!

How to Get Your Children to Set Academic Goals They WANT to Pursue

Updated on January 6, 2026 By Daniel Wong Leave a Comment

Are your children excited about their academic goals?

Do they even know what those academic goals are?

Don’t worry, most parents answer with a resounding “No”.

Motivating your children to do well in school is tricky, and distractions like smartphones and social media don’t make it any easier.

And yet, it is possible to get your children to pursue academic success — no exhausting micromanaging required.

Here’s the thing…

Goals matter, but not all goals are created equal.

It all boils down to setting the right educational goals.

Let’s take a closer look at what it means to set smart academic goals. I’ll also walk you through a proven system to help students set achievable goals and build life-long success habits.

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What is an academic goal?

The trouble with not having a goal is that you can spend your life running up and down the field and never score. – Bill Copeland

Academic goals are educational objectives your children set for themselves.

Notice that I said “your children set” — not you, the parent.

I know that’s easier said than done.

I’m a parent, too. As parents, we only want the best for our children.

Even so, our kids want to feel in control of their lives. They need to know their opinions matter.

You can help your children set smart academic goals without dictating the details of those objectives. In turn, they will be more motivated to follow through on their commitments.

They’ll build significant traits like focus, determination, and confidence, too.

When setting academic goals, it’s good to consider both short-term and long-term targets.

Short-term academic goals

When I refer to short-term academic goals, I mean educational objectives that typically take a year or less to achieve.

Short-term goals create powerful opportunities for confidence-building wins. They also provide direction — your children will know which side of the field to run towards to score that game-changing goal.

Plus, short-term academic goals lead to improvements in study habits, character, and resilience.

It’s this process of setting goals (not necessarily achieving the outcome) that sets your children up for ongoing success.

Here are some examples of short-term academic goals:

Get an A on my next math exam
Connect with a mentor who will give me guidance
Finish my research project by [specific date]
Join chess club
Participate in classroom discussions at least X times a week

Long-term academic goals

Long-term academic goals are a student’s North Star.

Motivation is fleeting, and focus may not always come easily.

Sometimes, your children might think:

“It’s only one grade — so what if it’s not an A?”

Relying on inspiration doesn’t work, but long-term academic goals do when they’re compelling.

The key is to help your children identify the why behind their big goals. There must be a meaningful emotional attachment to the dream.

Some students find it exciting to plan for their future. Others get overwhelmed by the sheer enormity of it, and that’s okay, too.

Remind your children that long-term academic goals might change as they develop new interests. What’s essential is creating a long-term educational plan that brings meaning and purpose to their academic studies.

Examples of academic goals

Since long-term academic goals are crucial, let’s take a closer look at some common examples.

Achieve a high GPA

Getting a high GPA (grade point average) is not the main thing to focus on.

A grade is just a letter on a page. There’s no doubt that it’s possible to lead a fulfilling and successful life without straight A’s.

Still, a high GPA is a sign of a hardworking, disciplined student — traits that many scholarship committees, universities, and job boards value. Achieving a high GPA might be a long-term academic goal that makes sense for children and teens.

Get accepted into their dream university

Have your children or teens already selected their dream universities?

Maybe it’s a local university with an esteemed journalism program. Or perhaps your children want to study where you earned your degree.

Acceptance into a dream school can be a motivating and exciting long-term academic goal for students.

Earn a bachelor’s degree

Earning a bachelor’s degree is a necessary first step for many career paths. Even if the subject doesn’t provide a direct job path (like English or Philosophy), pursuing a bachelor’s degree is an opportunity for your children to dive deep into their interests while paving the way for ongoing education.

In addition, university classes build communication, social, and problem-solving skills — all great reasons for your children to want to get a bachelor’s degree.

Earn a master’s degree

Some career paths require a master’s degree. If your children dream of being mental health counsellors or urban planners, they’re going to need to spend additional time in university.

Another reason to consider a master’s degree is for the financial benefits. The data shows that some jobs pay individuals with a master’s degree up to 18% more than those with bachelor’s degrees.

Whether your children and teenagers’ goals are career advancement or financial security, earning a master’s degree might be a relevant long-term goal.

How setting academic goals helps students

We’ve explored different types of academic targets and made a sample list of goals for students. Now, let’s look at how you can help your children and teens to set and attain their academic goals.

Academic goals are a training plan for success

Let’s imagine that your boss tells you that you have to run a marathon.

(Let’s not get into why your boss would want you to do this.)

If you’re not a runner, running 42 kilometres probably sounds exhausting. Impossible, even.

You have no idea where to start, so you don’t. You tell your boss you can’t run the marathon, and that’s the end of it.

Now, picture this instead…

No one is forcing you to run a marathon. You’ve decided it’s a long-term goal that motivates you to become a healthier person. Plus, you’ve always wanted to get outdoors more.

So you find a coach. She gives you a 16-week training plan, and you start with some short runs. The weeks go by and suddenly, you’re on your way to running the full marathon. You have milestones to keep you on track as you race towards a finish line you’re excited to cross.

Long-term academic goals are like a marathon; short-term objectives are the training workouts to help them stay the course.

I’ve said this before, but it’s worth repeating.

It’s the process — not achieving the outcome — that makes the difference.

Finishing a marathon is fantastic, but what’s even more important than that?

Who you had to become to complete those early morning runs and exhausting training sessions. The mental fortitude and physical strength you gained through the practice of showing up, day after day.

Life is a continuous journey of learning, improving, and developing.

Educational goals enable your teens to develop valuable life skills, regardless of the outcome.

Academic goals measure progress

There’s a well-known business saying that “if you can’t measure it, you can’t improve it”.

This goes for academics, too. Short-term educational goals give your children clear benchmarks to track their progress and make any necessary changes along the way.

Academic goals build a sense of purpose

Students need to know that they have control over their lives and that their decisions make a difference.

Having academic goals does precisely that. Suddenly, schoolwork has meaning. Homework no longer seems pointless, and getting good grades becomes exciting.

What’s more, a sense of purpose builds self-confidence, motivation, and autonomy — all excellent traits of responsible teenagers.

How to set and meet academic goals

At this point in the article, you’re no longer wondering what academic goals are. Even better, your children now have (or will soon have) lists of short- and long-term objectives they’re excited to pursue.

But there’s one problem: Not all goals lead to results.

It’s not because your children aren’t working hard enough or don’t care about their studies.

The secret to setting the right academic goals is to focus on achieving progress — not perfection.

Your children are going to face challenges and encounter setbacks on their journey.

Maybe your children or teenagers studied for weeks yet still didn’t ace their big exam.

Or maybe they fell behind in calculus while working on their college applications.

Such disappointments are normal. At the same time, obstacles present powerful opportunities for personal development and growth.

What matters most is making progress towards academic goals.

We can’t control the outcome, but we can manage the processes that move us closer to the desired result. And we do that by helping students set process-based goals.

Here are a few examples of process-based goals:

I will work with my math tutor twice a week.
I will get at least 7–8 hours of sleep every night.
I will sit in the front row of the class to ensure that I stay focused.
I will put my phone on aeroplane mode while studying so that I don’t get distracted.
I will drink at least eight glasses of water daily.

Get specific with your process-based goals.

“I will study for 2 hours every weeknight” is much easier to track than “I will study more”.

Then, every week or two, monitor your progress. Encourage your children to review their process-based goals and assess how they’ve been doing.

Are they getting closer to achieving their short- and long-term academic goals? If not, that’s okay!

Help your children to make any necessary tweaks or adjustments to their process-based goals.

This way, your children will continually be working towards their academic goals without being fixated on a specific outcome.

They’ll begin to enjoy the process of improving and developing — and be much more likely to get the results they want, too.

The difference between academic and career goals

As we begin to wrap up this article, you might be wondering, “What’s the difference between academic and career goals?”

I like to say that academic goals are the stepping-stones to future career objectives.

If your children want to become doctors, they will first have to get specific grades and diplomas.

Job success isn’t as straightforward as getting straight A’s. Employees are “graded” on performance, creativity, teamwork, and leadership — all valuable skills your children will learn through the process of pursuing their goals.

Don’t worry if your children have no idea what career they would like to pursue. Career goals often evolve, and students tend to change their minds over time.

The bottom line is that it’s terrific if your children have career goals, but don’t focus on them too much.

Instead, focus on both short- and long-term academic goals that bring purpose to your children and teens’ studies, and enable them to build vital skills.

Want even more tips?

When you help your children to commit to smart academic goals, you set them up for long-term success.

It’s great if your children achieve their goals. Even better, though, is the process of becoming hardworking and disciplined students with compelling visions of the future.

Setting academic goals is only one way to motivate your children and teens. Want even more tips?

Do you want to learn how to help your children and teens…

Find a renewed passion for learning?
Take responsibility for their education and life?
Build character and resilience?
Do what they ought to — without you nagging?

If so, download my e-book, 16 Keys to Motivating Your Teenager.

The guide is completely free, and I’ve received countless emails from happy parents who have benefitted from the e-book.

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How to Get Good Grades: 10 Useful Strategies for Students

Updated on January 6, 2026 By Daniel Wong 21 Comments

Are you struggling with how to get good grades?

Don’t worry — you’re not alone.

I’ve spoken to thousands of students around the world, and many are quick to say:

“I study hard but I still get bad grades.”

Here’s the thing…

Those successful students that you know? They aren’t necessarily any more intelligent than the rest of the class.

They’ve simply developed study strategies that help them perform better in school.

You can get good grades, too. Your academic goals can be achieved by studying more effectively, not by studying “harder”.

In this article, I’ll cover the winning habits I used to be a straight-A student throughout my academic career — no all-nighters required.

Ready to stop stressing about grades and start doing better in school? Then let’s explore the useful strategies that will help you do just that.

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Why is it important to get good grades?

The first step to doing better in school isn’t cracking open a textbook — it’s understanding why good grades matter.

Now, let me say this…

Your grades do not define your intelligence or self-worth.

Your academic record is only one part of your education, and you can lead a successful life with or without straight A’s.

That being said, there are real benefits to getting good grades.

For example, a solid academic record provides more opportunities for scholarships, higher education, and employment. Academic excellence may be the bridge to your dream career.

More significant, though, are the life-changing skills you’ll gain as you work toward becoming a top student — traits like focus, determination, discipline, and confidence. These values are crucial to achieving any of your goals, inside or outside the classroom.

A good grade is more than just a letter on a page. Achieving academic success after learning how to focus when studying is a rewarding experience that offers long-lasting benefits.

10 ways to do better in school

Now that you know the value of good grades, let’s dive into the habits that will help you get them.

1. Know why good grades matter to you

We already covered why academic success is generally important.

But if you really want to know how to get good grades, it’s essential to understand why academic success matters to you.

What difference will good grades make in your life, now and in the future?

Do you have dreams of attending a specific university or following a particular career path?

Maybe you want to develop your grit and persistence — to have the confidence that comes with knowing you gave school your best effort. Or perhaps you want financial security and the ability to provide for your family in the future.

There’s no right or wrong here. Just ensure that your motivation for pursuing academic excellence is a compelling one.

Even with the best study habits, it isn’t easy to consistently put in the work required to get good grades.

Sometimes, you’ll want to quit. When you’re feeling frustrated or overwhelmed, come back to your why. It will put all those study sessions in perspective — and make the journey to becoming a successful and resilient student a more rewarding one, too.

2. Write down all important deadlines and dates

Upcoming exams. Project assignments. Events and extra-curricular activities.

You’re a busy student with a lot of dates to remember.

It’s normal to think that you can keep track of all your deadlines in your head. The only problem is, relying on memory (and memory alone) doesn’t work for anyone.

Instead, it leads to forgotten assignments, last-minute panic, and low-quality work.

There’s a simple way never to forget another assignment again. Write down every due date. Use Google Calendar or Google Keep. You can even jot it down in an old-fashioned notebook.

Choose the medium that works for you.

The less you stress about deadlines, the more energy you’ll have for completing your assignments. You’ll become a more effective student and you’ll free up valuable mental capacity for the things that matter.

3. Don’t forget to schedule your downtime

In your calendar, take a moment and block out time for relaxation.

That’s right. Not only am I permitting you to schedule downtime, I’m encouraging you to do so.

Relaxation is necessary for mental and physical well-being. You’re not a robot — no one expects you to study like one.

Pursue the activities you love. Allow your mind to be at play. Your overall health and happiness will improve, and you’ll become a better student in the process.

That’s because exercise improves concentration and creativity. Relaxation promotes memory and retention.

Free time to pursue the activities you love outside of academics develops a school-life balance — a lifelong pursuit that brings more meaning to your goals and joy to your life.

Even small blocks of relaxation are helpful. Most students can only maintain deep focus for 30 to 45 minutes at a go. Scheduling short intervals of downtime after longer chunks of work is a strategic and fun way to approach assignments.

And try not to use your phone or computer during your quick study breaks. As studies have shown, your brain won’t fully relax, and the distraction often makes it more challenging to go back to the task at hand.

4. Find a seat at the front

Can you choose where you sit in class? Then grab a seat at the front of the room.

Studies show that students who sit in the first few rows tend to get significantly higher exam scores than their peers.

Why does sitting at the front of the class make such a big difference in test scores?

One reason is focus. If you’re at the back of the room, it’s easy to become distracted by your classmates. If you sit at the front, your attention will be on the teacher — not what is happening around you.

Then there’s the issue of accountability. If you’re tucked away in a corner, it’s easy to get away with passing notes, dozing off, or doodling.

Set yourself up for success by controlling as much of your environment as possible, and you’ll stop fretting about how to get good grades.

5. Take more effective notes

Now that you’re sitting at the front of the class, you’re ready to take notes as you actively listen to your teacher.

You’ve got your notebook open and your pen in hand. What more do you need to know?

For one, there’s how to take notes effectively.

There’s a structure to note-taking that works. Otherwise, you risk jotting down ideas that make little sense later on.

Here are some tips for note-taking success:

Handwrite your notes

Handwriting your notes helps you to process and frame the information in a way that works for you.

You’ll think more deeply about what you’re writing and, as a result, remember more from the lesson during your study sessions later.

Organise your notes

Whichever note-taking method you use, keep your notes neat and organised.

Group together similar ideas. Copy your notes after class if your handwriting is messy and hard to read. Clear, easy-to-navigate notes are crucial for anyone struggling with how to get good grades.

6. Understand the topic (don’t just memorise the information)

Many students think that studying is all about memorisation.

So they make heaps of notecards for dates, facts and names, then hope they can retain enough information for the exam day.

The problem with memorising information is that it only works for the short term.

Have you ever taken an exam, only to forget most of the material a few weeks later? That’s because memorisation is not an effective way to categorise and recall information — skills that become increasingly important as you progress in your studies.

You’ll learn more and become more successful in school when you actually understand the topic at hand.

Note-taking is an excellent first step towards processing information. From your notes, summarise the material. Find connections with other topics, and draw your own conclusions.

When you realise that getting good grades is less about memorising the material and more about understanding the topic, you’ll find it much easier to perform well academically.

7. Create a consistent study routine

The students who do the best know they can’t wait for inspiration to study.

Instead, they consistently show up and do the work, even when they don’t feel like it.

You’ll become a more efficient student when you make your study routine a habit. Soon, you won’t have the mental debate over whether or not you should study. You’ll just do it.

And that’s when the magic happens — better grades and more time for the other activities you enjoy.

The first step to creating a study routine is to set up a schedule. Plan out your week in advance with set blocks of time for your studies. Faithfully stick to your plan.

It typically takes a few weeks to form a new habit, so don’t be discouraged if you find it difficult at the start to follow your routine. With time and dedication, your study schedule will become second nature.

8. Use smart test-taking strategies

There’s no sugar-coating it: If you’re asking how to get better grades, you’ll need to perform well on exams.

But what if you’re not good at taking tests?

Many students get test-taking anxiety or struggle with exam pressure. But you can still perform well on exams, even if you’re not a confident test taker. Here’s how:

Manage your time wisely

When you see the exam paper, note the total number of questions. Calculate how much time you can allocate to each question to finish within the testing period.

If you come to a question you’re unsure about, move on when you reach your self-imposed time limit. Then, you won’t miss answering the questions you do know how to do.

Avoid common mistakes

One of my top tips for how to get good grades is to avoid small errors. Always read questions twice to prevent misreading. If you’re shading your multiple-choice answers, check that you’re shading the answer that corresponds with the correct question.

When you’re nervous, it’s easy to make silly mistakes. Come equipped with the right tools and test-taking practices to stop anxiety in its tracks.

Stay focused for the entire exam

Staying focused is easier said than done. If you’re finding it difficult to concentrate on the task at hand, take a break!

Put your pencil down. Take a sip of water. Breathe deeply. It’s better to pause for a moment to regain clarity than speed through the rest of your exam.

Want to improve your grades by 20-30% right away? Check out my ultimate guide to acing tests and get 58 pages of my best exam-taking tips.

9. Don’t be afraid to ask for help

Your teachers and parents want to help you in your pursuit of academic success. If you need support, don’t be afraid to ask for it.

A study by Saint Louis University researchers found that students who ask for help are more likely to get straight A’s.

That’s not surprising.

But what if I told you the same study found that only 1 in 5 students take the time to ask their instructors for support?

Be one of the few who asks for help when they need it. You’ll likely discover that you no longer worry about how to do better in school.

10. Reward yourself for making progress

You’ve worked hard to get good grades. When you’ve made progress in terms of your habits and attitude, it’s time to celebrate!

Rewarding yourself now will help you continue to get good grades in the future.

The key is to connect the increased effort to a positive feeling or outcome. You’ll stay motivated to continue working hard — and it’ll make studying more fun too!

Remember, learning how to get good grades is just as important as finding school-life balance. Rewarding yourself when you make progress is an excellent way to do that.

The bottom line

You’re already capable of getting good grades.

All you need are the right strategies to help you become a more effective student.

I guarantee that the tips in this article will help, so try them out today!

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

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Do Your Children Dislike Studying? Here Are 9 Things You Can Do

Updated on January 6, 2026 By Daniel Wong 9 Comments

Note from Daniel: This is a guest post by Julia Robson.

All parents want their children to do well in school and in life.

Of course, succeeding in school doesn’t mean that you’ll succeed in life.

But in a society that still places an emphasis on formal educational qualifications, it’s only natural that you want your children to do their best in school.

Unfortunately, some students just don’t like to study.

Our task as parents isn’t to punish them for their lack of interest.

It’s to help them to enjoy the learning process as much as they can, while developing the necessary life skills along the way.

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Before we talk about what you can do if your children dislike studying, let’s first address this question:

Why do so many students dislike studying?

Getting to the root of the problem will enable you to find better solutions.

So before you start applying a remedy, examine your children’s behaviour and talk to them and their teachers to figure out what the real issue is.

Here are some common reasons why students dislike studying…

A. They find studying boring

Some students feel bored because of the repetitiveness of the learning process.

There are also students who feel bored because the material isn’t challenging enough. If they grasp the material faster than the rest of their class, they’ll naturally feel bored during the lessons.

They’ll then attach this feeling to the entire learning process.

B. They don’t see the point in studying

Many students need to see the point of something before they’ll be willing to do it. To them, getting good grades isn’t a strong enough reason for them to study hard.

If this describes your children, devote time to bridging the gap between what they’re learning in the classroom and the real world outside the classroom.

C. They feel like they’re being forced to study

Many students dislike doing things they have to do, because they feel forced into doing those things.

To these students, having a sense of autonomy is extremely important.

D. They feel like they’ve fallen behind

Students at the bottom of the class are likely to feel discouraged.

This is especially so if they’re being teased by their classmates, or if their teachers don’t have the time to give them extra help.

Of course, there could be other reasons your children dislike studying besides the reasons listed above.

Before you start nagging or threatening them – I don’t recommend either approach – take some time to figure out the root cause of the problem.

You’ll then be able to apply the most suitable solution.

Here are 9 possible solutions:

1. Admit that studying can be frustrating

Be honest with yourself and your children, and admit that studying isn’t always fun.

But there’s a life lesson to be learned here. It’s impossible to enjoy everything that you do on a daily or weekly basis.

There will be things that have to get done, even if you dislike them.

Instead of believing it’s possible for learning to be fun 100% of the time, have an honest conversation with your children. Admit that some things may be boring and difficult to learn.

By teaching your children how to take on tasks that don’t appeal to them, you’ll be arming them with a valuable skill they’ll use throughout their life.

2. Learn together with your children

Depending on your child’s age, you can adopt a “learning together” approach in different ways.

Visiting museums, galleries, historical sites and other places can be a great way to help your children to connect what they’re learning about in school to the real world.

This approach may only be possible for certain subjects. So you can also watch relevant documentaries or movies with your children to make the learning process more interesting.

Try disentangling complex problems with them too.

You may not remember geometry or algebra as well as you’d like. But you can ask your children to explain the principles to you, and you can work on the solution together.

This doesn’t mean you should study with them every day.

Instead, establish a process where they can come to you when they get stuck or need to discuss a concept with you.

3. Use a variety of tools

Your children might find some of their school assignments to be boring or irrelevant.

Perhaps their school isn’t a good fit for their learning style?

Or maybe they would thrive if they were exposed to different kinds of learning methodologies?

While you can’t expect your children’s teachers to adopt a completely individualised approach, you can provide some additional stimuli.

Here are some resources that your children may enjoy:

You can also try audiobooks or other apps that would make the learning experience more engaging for your children.

4. Relate the material to real life

Some students just want to be able to understand why they’re supposed to learn something.

They don’t think that “you have to do this to get a better grade” is a valid reason for completing an assignment.

If this describes your children, you’ll need to empower them to understand the purpose behind the concepts they’re required to master.

Ideally, you’ll want to start providing relatable explanations at a very young age, so as to establish a principle for later.

For example:

Math is associated with money, online shopping, and personal finances. (By the way, here are my best tips on how to get better at math.)
Languages are connected to the stories your children enjoy and how humans make sense of the world
History tells us where we came from, so that we can determine where to go and how to avoid repeating mistakes from the past

And so on.

5. Don’t blame, scold or punish your children if they get a bad grade

When your children come home from school with a grade that’s lower than what you were expecting, your reaction shouldn’t be to blame or reprimand them.

Instead, have a calm conversation with your children.

Ask them how they feel about the situation, and find out what went wrong.

Have a problem-solving discussion about what your children can do going forward to learn more effectively.

I encourage you not to use your parental power to demand an explanation or demand that they get a better grade the next time around.

And definitely don’t blame the entire situation on them. If you do that, they’ll become defensive and the conversation will get nowhere.

You may need to set new rules and boundaries for your children, but it’s usually best to go through this process together with them.

6. Teach them how to fail

Failure is an unavoidable and integral part of life.

The sooner we learn to cope with it in all kinds of situations, the better.

If your children learn to cope with their failures early on, they’ll be more equipped when it matters most.

So refrain from coming to their rescue every time, even when you notice that they’re definitely not doing what they ought to prepare for a test.

If they know that you’ll always be there to remind them and keep them on track, they’ll start to rely on you too much.

This isn’t healthy, because their education is their responsibility, not yours.

The goal is to be there to support and encourage them, not to do the things they should be doing themselves.

And if they falter, don’t go down the “I told you so” route. There’s no point kicking them when they’re down.

Instead, use the approach described in Tip #5.

7. Focus on the positives

Given that you’re reading this article, there are probably a lot of negatives that you could focus on, such as:

Your children don’t enjoy learning
They’re not motivated
They’re not managing their time well
They’re not performing well in school
They don’t have a positive attitude
They don’t display resilience
They lack concentration

But this is precisely why you must refocus on the positives.

The more nagging and lecturing you do, the more likely it is that a power struggle will ensue. As a result, they’ll be unlikely to adopt a positive learning attitude.

If they aren’t performing well in school, focus on the concepts they’ve been mastering.

Focus on the areas in life in which they’ve been making progress, instead of harping too much on their shortcomings.

8. Talk to your children’s teachers

If you notice that your efforts aren’t making much headway, it might be time to talk to your children’s teachers again.

While you know your children well in a home setting, it’s hard to tell what they’re like in school.

Their teachers may be able to provide some insights and tell you what they’ve been observing about your children.

Go into the meeting with an open mind, and be ready to hear some unpleasant comments about your children.

Maybe they’ve been exhibiting behaviours in school that you’ve never seen at home?

In consultation with the teachers, develop an action plan to help your children going forward.

9. Don’t focus too much on school and grades

You don’t want to be a helicopter parent who’s obsessed with your children’s grades, how they’re doing in school, how much time they’re spending studying, and what they’ve been learning.

While doing well in school is important, there’s more to life than school.

Perhaps your children have other talents and inclinations?

Perhaps they have dreams and ambitions that don’t involve them going to university?

If you find your children getting annoyed because they feel as if you focus too much on school and grades, then give them some space.

If not, the relationship will be damaged. This will make it even less likely that your children will become self-motivated.

Conclusion

If your children dislike studying, try implementing the tips we’ve discussed in this article.

But before you do that, get to the root of the problem. If you don’t, all your efforts will be wasted.

And always remember that you’re there to support your children. As they get older, you’ll be more of a coach and consultant to them – you’re not meant to run their life as a micromanager.

If you keep this in mind, I’m confident that they’ll make excellent progress over time!

Julia Robson is a mother of two girls, and the doggie mum of two Labradors. She is a writer, a runner, and a passionate advocate for a child’s right to be themselves. She blogs on Medium while trying to find the time to set up her own blog.

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How to Be a Disciplined Student: 25 Proven Strategies That Work

Updated on January 6, 2026 By Daniel Wong 27 Comments

Do you find it hard to be disciplined when it comes to studying?

There are so many things competing for your attention.

It’s so much easier to text a friend or watch a video than it is to study. But while doing those things, you’re probably feeling guilty.

You think to yourself, “If only I had more self-control…”

In this article, I have 25 strategies to share to help you be a more disciplined student.

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1. Change your environment.

When you try to study, you may think it’s all about willpower and self-discipline.

Those things are important, but are you aware that your environment matters even more than self-control?

Some environments make it difficult to study. For example, if there’s someone in the next room playing music or talking loudly, it will be hard for you to get to work.

Even studying in your bedroom can be hard if you’re surrounded by distractions.

In contrast, have you noticed how easy it is to study when you go to a library?

In a library, there’s an atmosphere of quiet concentration – everyone is focused on their work. That’s the kind of atmosphere that will help you to be a productive student.

Of course, you don’t necessarily have to go to the library.

You could go to a different room in your house that you use exclusively for studying. If there’s a place like that in your house, it will remind you of your purpose – you’re there to study.

As such, you’ll get a lot more done.

2. Do one small thing every day that you dislike doing.

Of course, willpower is still an important part of being a disciplined student. After all, studying requires effort and focus.

These are things that don’t come naturally to most of us. You may even find yourself resisting the idea of studying.

This is where willpower comes in.

You can build up your willpower through habits. One way to do this is to perform a small task every day that you dislike doing.

For example, you could try…

Cleaning your room
Making your bed
Taking the stairs instead of the elevator
Taking a cold or lukewarm shower
Reading a book for a few minutes instead of watching videos

When you do one small thing every day that you would prefer not to do, you’ll become more disciplined.

It’s like working out: your willpower “muscle” will get stronger every day.

3. Find an accountability partner.

An accountability partner is someone who holds you to your commitments.

If you commit to studying for 90 minutes each day, your accountability partner will check in to see if you’ve followed through on this.

You’ll do the same for him or her. In other words, you’ll help each other to stay on track when it comes to your academics.

You could find an accountability partner from amongst your friends or your classmates.

There are also websites and apps that will pair you with an accountability partner, such as:

4. Be specific about the tasks that you plan to complete each day.

When you set study goals for each day or each week, make the goals as specific as possible.

This is crucial for two reasons.

Firstly, when you set goals, you’re programming your mind to accomplish a particular task.

Your brain needs details. Without details, your brain cannot form an image of what it is that you’re planning to accomplish. The more details you provide, the more likely it is that you’ll take action.

Secondly, you need specific goals because you need to be able to measure whether you achieved that goal.

For example, “study some chemistry” is a vague goal. You may have read through a few pages of your chemistry textbook, but how much meaningful work did you actually do?

On the other hand, “read Chapters 3 and 4 of the chemistry textbook and create summary notes” is a specific goal.

It’s a goal that’s easy to measure, and at the end of your study session, you’ll know whether you met your target or not.

5. Don’t say negative things about yourself.

Negative self-talk reinforces negative behaviour.

For example, many of my 1-to-1 coaching clients say things like “I’m so lazy”, “I’m a procrastinator”, or “I’m just unmotivated”.

If you say these kinds of things to yourself again and again, you’ll come to believe them. This makes it even more difficult to change your behaviour.

Studies have shown that when your teacher believes you’re capable of great things, you’ll be a much more successful student than if your teacher doesn’t expect much from you.

It’s the same with our own beliefs.

Negative thought patterns lead to low expectations for ourselves. We then act in a way that’s aligned with these low expectations.

So do your best not to say negative things about yourself.

Even if you think negative things about yourself, start by holding your tongue and refusing to say them out loud to others.

6. Realise that there’s never a perfect time to get to work.

One thing that stops students from studying is the belief that it isn’t the perfect time to start.

This leads to procrastination because you keep waiting for the ideal moment to begin your study session.

The truth is, there’s no perfect time to get started. Waiting for that moment to arrive means that you probably won’t get to work until it’s too late.

What should you do instead? Read the next tip to find out.

7. Follow a routine and schedule.

Another way to become a disciplined student is to create a routine.

For example, your routine could be that you do your schoolwork every weekday from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Or, if you’re an early riser, your routine might be to do your schoolwork from 5:30 a.m. to 7 a.m. every weekday.

If those routines sound too restrictive to keep to every weekday, then start by following the routine only on Mondays, for instance.

Routines are about making use of the power of habit. Just as bad habits are hard to break, good habits are also hard to break.

When you have a well-established study routine, you won’t need to rely so much on motivation.

Instead of having an internal dialogue about how you should be studying, you’ll simply start your study session because it’s part of your daily routine.

8. Start small and be consistent.

If you’ve had trouble being a disciplined student, it’s best to start with small changes.

For example, you could make a commitment to study for just 15 minutes each day. Doing that every day for just one week will give you more confidence in your ability to be disciplined.

From there, you can step it up to 20 or 30 minutes a day, and so on.

Begin with small changes, notice the feeling of progress, then use that feeling to take it to the next level.

You could even make a smaller commitment. If you feel a lot of resistance to studying, just make a commitment to read the notes for one minute.

The danger of setting big goals at the beginning is that there’s a strong likelihood that you won’t meet them.

You’ll then feel discouraged and your sense of having failed will feed into a self-belief that says, “I can’t do this.”

So start small and build on the progress you make. That’s the way to become a more disciplined student.

9. Develop a cue for you to start each study session.

Productivity experts have identified a loop that exists in virtually every habit:

Stage 1: Cue
Stage 2: Routine
Stage 3: Reward

Let me explain.

The cue signals to your brain that it’s time to begin the routine. And the routine ends in some kind of reward.

In the gym, the reward might be the feeling of satisfaction after a workout. For a study session, the reward might be the feeling of mastering a topic or skill.

The most important part of this sequence is the cue.

The cue is what triggers the habit loop. A cue can be anything you do that you intentionally associate with starting a study session.

For instance, it could be putting on your headphones, making yourself a cup of tea, or putting a sign on your door that lets others know that you’re studying.

When it comes to starting work, I have a cue that consists of 4 parts:

First, I put on my earphones.
Second, I play relaxing instrumental music on my computer.
Third, I write down the specific task I’ll be working on during the work session.
Fourth, I start a timer.

Experiment with finding a cue that will become part of your study “habit loop”.

With enough repetitions, that cue will trigger your study routine and you won’t have to rely on willpower to get to work.

10. Take regular breaks.

If you find it hard to stay on task for long periods of time while studying, try “short-burst” learning.

This approach to learning recognises that our brains are not wired to focus on the same task for extended stretches.

In short-burst learning, you study for 20 to 30 minutes and then take a 5- to 10-minute break. Stop working when the 20 to 30 minutes are up, even if you feel you could keep going.

Repeat this process several times before taking a longer break, e.g. a break for dinner or to exercise.

Many students find that, by using this strategy, they’re able to do higher-quality work. They’re also able to get a greater quantity of work done too.

11. At the end of each study session, give yourself a reward.

As mentioned earlier, habit loops always end in a reward. So it’s important to reward yourself at the end of each study session.

The reward could be something simple, e.g. listening to your favourite music for 5 minutes, doing some stretches, taking a short walk, or eating a healthy snack.

Rewards are a key part of building successful study habits. They’re also a key part of eliminating ineffective study habits.

One reason why rewards are so vital is that they allow you to divide your work into manageable “chunks”.

Each chunk of work is followed by a reward, so you’re less likely to feel overwhelmed by all the work you want to complete.

12. Think about what has and hasn’t been working for you.

Another way to become more disciplined as a student is to be aware of when you are at your most productive.

Answer the following questions:

Which types of environments help you study most efficiently?
What kinds of background noise (if any) help you stay focused?
What time of day do you find it easiest to concentrate?
Do you learn better when studying one subject intensively each day, or do you prefer to study a few different subjects each day?
Do you absorb information better when reading through the material one time first, and then going back over it to take notes? Or does it work better for you to take notes during your first reading?
Is it more productive for you to take notes on a computer, or do you prefer to take handwritten notes in a notebook?

When you discover what your personal preferences are, you can use them to your advantage to develop greater self-discipline.

13. Before you start work, remove every possible distraction.

It might seem obvious, but you can’t expect to study effectively if you are surrounded by distractions.

For example, if you’re working on a computer, deactivate all email and browser notifications.

In addition, here are a couple of apps designed to create a distraction-free work environment:

Freedom (Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Chrome): Blocks distractions across all your devices simultaneously.
RescueTime (Windows, Mac, iOS, Android): Time management app that includes a distraction-blocker.

Listening to music can help you focus, but if the music has lyrics, it may become a distraction.

I recommend that you listen to instrumental music with no lyrics while doing your schoolwork.

Clutter can also be a distraction. Clear your desk or work area of any mess, such as food wrappers, old notes, scrap paper, etc.

Most importantly, turn your phone off or put it on airplane mode for the duration of your study session. It’d be even better if you put your phone in another room.

You definitely shouldn’t be receiving calls or text messages while studying.

14. If you anticipate an obstacle, create an alternative plan.

There may be occasional events or activities in your life that prevent you from following your usual study schedule.

For example, you may have relatives visiting from out of town or medical appointments to attend. If these events are unavoidable, be sure to plan around them.

When you break your study routine, it can be hard to re-establish it.

So be proactive and make alternative study arrangements ahead of time. That way, you can keep up with your schoolwork despite these interruptions.

Be specific about what you’ll change in your schedule. Write down any upcoming events in your calendar and block out alternative time slots for when you’ll complete your schoolwork.

15. Exercise regularly.

Aerobic exercise will help you to stay focused during your study sessions.

Research shows that exercise results in neurogenesis – the creation of new brain cells.

Exercise also helps to improve the connections between existing brain cells, so that your brain works more efficiently.

Studies have shown that after aerobic exercise, problem-solving, memory and attention all improve.

So aim to exercise every day for at least 20 to 30 minutes. This will enable you to build self-control, increase your sense of well-being, and learn faster.

16. If you feel guilty about your past failures, forgive yourself.

Sometimes regret or shame about the past can prevent you from forming new habits or turning over a new leaf.

That’s why you must free yourself from negative feelings about the past.

Whatever may be haunting you from the past, forgive yourself for it. Understand that you did the best you could at that time.

One way to forgive yourself and move on is to recognise that mistakes are part of learning. Without mistakes, there can’t be long-lasting learning.

Instead of dwelling on the mistake, identify what you learned from it and how it helped you to grow.

When you feel overwhelmed by self-critical thoughts about the past, write them down on a piece of paper. Then, on the other side of the paper, write a compassionate response to each point of self-criticism.

Remember that forgiveness is a powerful healing force, whether you apply it to yourself or others.

17. Write down exactly why you want to be a more disciplined student.

To be a disciplined student, you must have a clear purpose for why you want to study hard.

When you’re clear about your purpose, you’ll find it much easier to make commitments and keep to them.

I recommend that you take a piece of paper and list all the reasons you want to become a disciplined student.

When making your list, try not to focus on the end result, such as “so that I can become a doctor” or “so that I can be a straight-a student”.

There’s nothing wrong with having such goals, but try to focus on how you want to develop as a person. By doing so, you’ll develop deeper motivation and determination.

Here are some examples of things you might put on your list:

I want to challenge myself.
I want to develop more self-control.
I want to expand my mind.
I want to cultivate a spirit of professionalism as a student.
I want to pursue excellence.
I want to make a contribution to society.
I want to build resilience.

The goal is to develop a genuine love for learning, rather than continually thinking about the outcomes you want to achieve.

18. Remember that nobody is disciplined 100% of the time.

We’ve talked a lot about how to be more focused, disciplined and organised. But it’s important to not be obsessed with perfection.

Remember that no one is disciplined all the time.

You might give in to distractions once in a while, or you might find yourself daydreaming on occasion.

This is nothing to be ashamed of because even the most disciplined student sometimes loses concentration.

The key is to consistently get back on track, one study session at a time and one day at a time.

19. Time your work sessions and breaks.

By timing your work sessions and breaks, you’ll become more intentional about how you’re spending your time.

You’ll also take the emphasis off of the work and place it on the effort you’re putting in.

You’re reminding yourself that the act of working for, say, the next 30 minutes is what’s important. Because if you complete enough focused 30-minute study sessions over the course of a day, you’ll finish all the necessary work.

Sometimes, you’ll feel as if you achieved a lot during a work session. Other times, you’ll feel as if you didn’t get that much done.

But that’s not what matters in the long run. If you develop the habit of working at set times for set periods, you’ll become more and more disciplined.

By timing your breaks as well, you won’t take breaks that are far longer than you intended.

20. Join a study group consisting of self-motivated students.

A study group can offer some of the same benefits as having an accountability partner.

When you study in a group, the other students in the group will keep you on task and remind you of your commitments.

Surrounding yourself with self-motivated students will have a positive impact on you. This is because we are shaped by the people we spend time with.

Here are some other benefits of joining a study group:

You can compare class notes. You may have missed certain details while taking notes, but you can make up for this by comparing notes with members of your study group.
You can discuss the material. A study group gives you the opportunity to discuss the course material and think deeply about the concepts you are learning.
It makes studying more fun. Studying can be an isolating experience when it involves long periods of working on your own. But having a study group makes it a social activity that’s more enjoyable.

21. Use technology to help you stay on track.

When you’re studying several different subjects, there may be a lot of tasks, resources, etc. that you need to keep track of.

The good news is that there are many online task management tools to help you stay organised.

Here are some online tools you can try out:

Trello: Helps you organise various projects and tasks easily.
Google Keep: Note-taking app that makes it simple for you to create lists and reminders.
Any.do: Productivity tool that you can use to organise your tasks and lists.
Habitica: Productivity app that uses gamification to help motivate you to achieve your goals.
BlockSite: App that enables you to become more focused by removing online distractions.
Forest: App that turns study sessions into a game, which will encourage you to concentrate for longer.
Tide: App that allows you to set up personalised study sessions, with a wide range of background sounds to choose from.

22. Every day, write down the tasks you’ve completed.

At the end of each day, spend a few moments reviewing what you’ve done that day. Make a note of all the tasks you completed, however small.

If you prefer, you can keep a running list of the tasks you’ve completed as you go along. (This is the method that I use.)

By writing down what you’ve accomplished, you’re reminding yourself that you’re making progress. This positive feeling will spur you on to develop even more self-discipline.

23. One day a week, don’t do any studying at all.

“All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.”

This is an old adage that contains a piece of timeless wisdom.

When you study hard for extended periods of time, you’re drawing energy and mental resources from a well. This well needs to be replenished periodically.

This is why an essential part of being a disciplined student is having downtime.

You could spend this downtime with your family, doing volunteer work, engaging in religious activities, or going for a walk in nature.

If you set aside one day a week where you don’t do any schoolwork or studying at all, you’ll find that the other days of the week will be more productive.

You’ll also look forward to the one day a week where you get to fully recharge.

24. Simplify your life and make as few decisions every day as possible.

Studies have shown that making decisions is tiring. Making too many decisions each day can lead to “decision fatigue”.

This is why, for example, some highly productive people – like former US President Barack Obama and Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg – limit their clothing choices to one or two basic outfits.

This reduces the number of choices they have to make each day.

A good strategy is to pre-decide things that would otherwise require daily decision-making.

For example, you can pre-decide what you will wear each day by having two alternating outfits. You can also pre-decide what you will eat for lunch each day by creating a fixed menu for each day of the week.

You can even pre-decide your workouts for the week. For instance, I work out the following body parts according to this weekly schedule:

Monday: Glutes + chest
Wednesday: Legs + arms
Saturday: Back + shoulders

By following this routine, I don’t waste time and energy thinking about which body part I should work out each time I exercise.

As you pre-decide as many things as possible, you’ll simplify your life. This will leave you with more energy and willpower to focus on becoming more disciplined.

25. Be a technology minimalist.

We live in a cluttered world, which explains why minimalism is a movement that’s gaining momentum.

Some minimalists go as far as to reduce their possessions to a list of just 100 items.

You don’t need to be that extreme, but I recommend that you at least start by removing the digital clutter in your life.

For example, you can:

Decide to use only one social media app (or none at all)
Delete all apps on your phone that you haven’t used in the past month
Stop checking email on your phone completely
Remove as many of your computer desktop icons and folders as possible
Unsubscribe from email newsletters that you don’t read

Clutter makes it difficult to think clearly, which impedes your progress toward becoming a more self-disciplined student.

Conclusion

I’m confident that the tips in this article will help you to become more disciplined.

Of course, you don’t need to implement all the tips at once.

Just take three or four of these tips and put them into practice. When you see some positive results, come back to the article and implement a few more tips.

Remember to set small goals at the start. As you make progress, you’ll have the confidence to take on bigger goals.

I encourage you to get started today – it’s a journey of personal growth as a student that you won’t regret taking!

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Growth Mindset for Students: 10 Phrases Every Student Should Use

Updated on January 6, 2026 By Daniel Wong 25 Comments

Does a growth mindset for students matter?

It definitely does.

The words and phrases you use as you talk to yourself shape the way you feel.

Your self-talk can make you feel discouraged, or it can lift you up.

As a student, it’s important to pay attention to the words you use as you talk to yourself and others about your frustrations and challenges.

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Fixed mindset versus growth mindset

The view you adopt for yourself profoundly affects the way you lead your life. – Professor Carol Dweck, mindset researcher

Your thoughts are powerful.

So, what are you telling yourself? What stories about yourself are running on repeat?

Much of our understanding of the power of mindset comes from Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck.

In her research, Dweck discovered that our mindset can determine whether we become the person we want to be, and whether we achieve the goals we most desire.

Dweck outlined two mindsets:

Fixed mindset

Students with a fixed mindset believe their abilities and intelligence are fixed traits; you either have a specific talent or trait, or you don’t.

When you believe your qualities are carved in stone, you feel an urgency to continually prove that you’re worthy of success.

Students with a fixed mindset might say things like “I just can’t do sports” or “I just don’t get math”.

They’re likely to see a bad grade as a failure rather than as an opportunity to learn from their mistakes.

Growth mindset

Students who have a growth mindset believe they can develop their talents and improve over time.

Maybe they’re not a “natural” at everything, but these students know that if they work hard enough, they can and will get better.

When students have a growth mindset, they also have a passion for learning. They know that it’s not the outcome but the journey of becoming a better student and person that matters.

When you cultivate a growth mindset, you build confidence. You don’t fear criticism or rejection, and you learn from your mistakes to continually maximise your potential.

You know that your effort is what’s important. Everything else — your intelligence, abilities, talents, and relationships — you can work to develop.

10 phrases that students with a growth mindset use

So, you’re ready to adopt a growth mindset.

What should you say to yourself to embrace this mindset?

Here are 10 phrases you can use to become a more successful and resilient student.

Give these phrases a try, then observe how your thoughts and behaviour begin to change.

1. “I get to” (don’t say “I have to”)

Instead of saying “I have to”, say “I get to”.

The words “I have to” create a feeling of annoyance. The task at hand will become a burden that you can’t escape from.

But if you say “I get to”, you’ll create a feeling of opportunity and gratitude. The task will seem like a privilege instead of a chore.

For example, don’t say to your parents that you have to take part in the school play. Instead, try saying: “I get to participate in the play and see if acting is something I enjoy.”

Notice the difference? Now, it’s not a burden; it’s an opportunity.

Here’s another example.

Instead of thinking to yourself, “I have to go to school”, try saying to yourself, “I get to go to school”.

You’ll instantly feel happier! You’ll also feel more motivated to go to school and to study.

You’ll also remember that millions of children and teenagers around the world want to go to school, but don’t have the opportunity to.

2. “I’ll figure it out” (don’t say “I can’t do it”)

There are very few things in life that you simply cannot do. You may need some help, or you may need more information.

Almost always, there’s a solution.

But when you say “I can’t do it”, it stops you from finding the solution.

So say “I’ll figure it out” instead, and you’ll see how this growth mindset for students makes you more successful and resilient!

3. “I learned something” (don’t say “I made a mistake”)

Mistakes are valuable lessons in disguise.

The more open you are to making mistakes, the faster you’ll learn.

But to do that, you have to start seeing mistakes as opportunities to learn.

Here’s a real-life example of someone with this attitude.

Thomas Edison famously made 10,000 failed attempts at inventing the light bulb before he succeeded.

When a reporter asked him how it felt to fail 10,000 times, Edison replied, “I didn’t fail 10,000 times. I didn’t even fail one time. I succeeded in proving that those 10,000 ways will not work.”

Mistakes are a vital part of the learning process. So, when you make a mistake, say to yourself: “I learned something.”

4. “I’m working on this” (don’t say “I’m bad at this”)

When you say “I’m bad at this”, you send a message to your brain that this is just the way you are. You’re telling yourself that it’s a permanent trait that you can’t change.

But this isn’t true.

The more you practise anything, the better you’ll get.

Look at anyone who’s good at a particular skill. For example, a ballerina, a guitarist, or an award-winning writer.

Those people are outstanding at what they do because they’ve put in thousands of hours of practice — they understand the importance of developing a growth mindset.

When you tell yourself “I’m working on it”, you’re reminding yourself that learning is a process that takes effort.

You’re also reminding yourself that if you keep at it, you’re sure to make progress.

5. “This will take some time” (don’t say “I’m not smart enough”)

As a student, you’ll come across something you don’t understand every day.

It might be a math equation, or it might be a word you don’t know the meaning of.

When you don’t understand something, it’s natural to think: “This is too hard — I’m not smart enough.”

Instead, try saying to yourself: “This is complicated — it will take some time to understand it.”

Let’s face it … some subjects are complicated and require you to study smarter.

But that doesn’t mean you’ll never master a certain topic. It just means that you need more time.

Keep persevering and the pieces of the puzzle will fall into place. Over time, you’ll become a better and more resilient student.

6. “I don’t” (don’t say “I can’t”)

A big part of being a successful student is learning to say no to temptations.

The first thing is to accept that temptations will arise.

The temptation to watch videos instead of studying. Or the temptation to stay up late, when you know you should go to bed.

What’s important is how you deal with such temptations.

Research has shown that the way we talk to ourselves plays a big role in how we deal with temptations.

For example, you might say to yourself: “I can’t watch TV because I haven’t finished my homework.”

This kind of self-talk tends to increase the level of temptation because it focuses your attention on something you can’t do (watch TV).

Instead, try saying to yourself: “I don’t watch TV until I’ve finished my homework.”

Do you notice the difference?

Instead of feeling restricted, the second statement makes you feel powerful and in control. The temptation has suddenly shrunk in size.

Why?

Because now you have the power, not the temptation. So start developing the habit of saying “I don’t” instead of “I can’t”!

7. “I will” (don’t say “I should”)

Instead of saying that you should do something, try saying that you will do it. This is a hallmark of a growth mindset for students.

One problem with saying “I should” is that it can easily turn into wishful thinking. You aren’t making a commitment to take positive action.

That’s why it’s better to replace “should” statements with “will” statements.

Instead of saying “I should exercise more often”, try saying “I will exercise more often”.
Instead of saying “I should manage my time better”, try saying “I will manage my time better”.
Instead of saying “I should pay attention in class”, try saying “I will pay attention in class”.

“Will” statements empower you to make a change. On the other hand, “should” statements trap you in a state of inaction.

8. “How can I keep improving?” (don’t say “I’m already good at this”)

When you think about your performance in different subjects or activities, you might be tempted to say, “I’m already good at this.”

But it’s better to say to yourself, “How can I keep improving?”

Let’s say you’re one of the best writers in your class. If you tell yourself that you’re already a good writer, so you don’t need to practise more, then you won’t maximise your potential.

But if you focus on improving, then you’ll become an even better writer.

The process is what counts, and there’s always room for improvement.

It’s by understanding this principle that world-class performers become the best in their field.

9. “I’ll find out” (don’t say “I don’t know”)

When you don’t know the answer to something, instead of saying “I don’t know”, try saying “I’ll find out”.

With the Internet, there’s never been another time in human history when it’s been so easy to gain access to knowledge. (Take this article on the importance of a growth mindset for students as an example!)

If you adopt this “I’ll find out” mindset, you’ll enlarge the horizons of your knowledge.

But if you say “I don’t know”, you’ll close the door to expanding your mind.

10. “This is a challenging opportunity” (don’t say “This is a problem”)

In your life as a student, you’ll face problems that seem insurmountable.

Imagine that you’ve prepared a speech to give to your class. At the last minute, you realise that you’ve lost your notes.

You’ll be delivering the speech in three minutes.

What will you do?

Instead of seeing the situation as a problem, look at it as a challenging opportunity.

Because you don’t have your notes, you’ll speak more spontaneously. You’ll also make more eye contact with your audience.

Your teacher might even congratulate you on giving a fantastic speech! And it’s all because you turned a problem into a challenging opportunity.

Language is powerful

Here’s a table that sums up the key points of this article on the value of a growth mindset for students:

Student life is full of challenges.

The words you use when you talk about these challenges affect the way you deal with them.

Language is powerful because it shapes the way we think. In our self-talk, we all have a tendency to use words that limit our ability to deal with challenges.

The next time you face a challenge, change the words you use to talk about it. Use the positive phrases listed in this article and observe the difference it makes.

You’ll gain a sense of power and develop a success mindset, one phrase at a time. You’ll become a better student who’s more resilient too.

I encourage you to get started today!

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

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