The Ultimate List of Study Tips for Students

1. Don't say "I must", but rather say "I will"

The words you use when talking to yourself are important. They shape your attitude.

Saying to yourself, “Today I have to work on this mission” will produce feelings of stress and frustration.

Instead, try saying to yourself, “Today I'm working on this mission.” Saying this will remind you that education is a privilege.

This simple change in attitude will give you more motivation and focus to get the job done.

2. Take full responsibility for your own learning.

When you take responsibility for your learning, you will become more proactive.

One way to make a change in this area is to ask yourself, "If I am not responsible for my learning, then who is?"

As you ask yourself this question, you will realize that no one else is responsible for your learning - neither your teachers nor your parents.

3. Do more than what others are willing to do

In academics - as in any other field of human endeavor - the students who excel are those who are willing to go the extra mile.

Instead of doing the bare minimum to meet the requirements, do more than what others are willing to do.

This may mean answering two or three more questions than your teacher assigned.

This may mean finding additional resources or re-reading your free essays one last time.

4. Don't focus too much on the notes

As a student it is easy to become obsessed with grades.

But remember that ratings are only a form of feedback; they are not an end in themselves.

Don't let a focus on the notes make you forget that it's the learning process that matters in the long run.

5. See challenges positively

Challenges

When you learn something new, you might feel overwhelmed.

That's why you need to develop what Dr. Carol Dweck calls a “growth mindset”.

This means that instead of telling yourself that something is "too hard", you tell yourself that this is an opportunity to "grow" your brain.

After all, the more challenges you overcome, the more you will learn.

6. Write down 3 to 5 reasons why you want to do well academically.

One of the keys to success as a student is to be clear about why you want to be successful.

As Jim Rohn said, "If you have enough reasons, you can do the most amazing things."

Write down 3 to 5 reasons why you want to perform well in school and read the list every day.
7. Volunteer and serve others regularly

It will remind you that education never happens in a vacuum. Education is always about learning from others or passing that knowledge on to others.

As you volunteer and serve others, you will begin to see that your life is not primarily about you. It's about using your skills and knowledge to make the world a better place.

In turn, this will give you the will to persevere in the midst of obstacles.

8. Regain your concentration by asking these two questions ...

The first question is: "What is important now?"

The second question is: "What is important next?"

Lack of focus is often the result of trying to do too many things at the same time.

When you find yourself unable to concentrate, these two questions will bring you back to the present.

9. Use systems and routines

Focus on developing systems and routines, instead of continually thinking about what you want to accomplish.

Successful students attribute their success not to lofty goals, but to their day-to-day systems and processes.

The problem with too much focus on goals is that it doesn't allow you to relate your goals to the effort required.

Success involves committing to discipline and routine, even when the going gets tough.