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How to help your students develop positive habits, small habits repeated regularly can help students cultivate character strengths like patience, gratitude, and kindness..

Most students likely connect the term “habits” to their study habits. In fact, for many students the term “study habits” probably gives the notion of habits a negative vibe.

But there is another type of habit that is important for the well-being and positive growth of students: habits that build their character strengths , such as patience, gratitude, and service to others. For example, the habit cue that helps students practice patience before spontaneously sending that angry tweet, or a daily habit of writing down what they are grateful for. I call these “positive habits.”

As a researcher and president of Character.org, I want to make the case that every child and teen, before graduating from elementary school, middle school, or high school, should be able to demonstrate and explain how they have formed and consistently practice a positive habit—especially one they intrinsically want to develop.

Positive habits help students achieve the “character goals” they have set for themselves, such as being a person of integrity or someone who strives to be kind and helpful to others. It is difficult for me to imagine any student becoming their best possible self without developing a wide range of positive habits.

As a starting point, here are five concepts to teach students about habits that will help them build productive skills and meaningful practices into their lives.

1. You are your habits

The research is clear: 40-50% of all our actions are done out of habit. Each of us has our morning habits, as well as our eating and bedtime habits. Simply put, our lives run on habits.

Our challenge as educators is to encourage students to understand that their habits shape who they are and the sort of person they want to become. For example, for many years one of my children handed in assignments that were filled with errors because he had not yet developed the positive habit of checking his homework before handing it in. Only later in life did he learn the wisdom of practicing the character strength of carefulness.

James Clear, author of Atomic Habits , hit the mark when he suggested that the best way to change who you are is to change what you do.

2. How we form habits

Most students learn about Newton’s three laws of motion in eighth grade. But I can’t seem to find any curriculum in the United States where eighth graders learn about the science of habit formation. But they should.

Every student should learn about the “ habit loop .” Whether it’s a good or bad habit, the mechanics of a habit are the same:

Cue > Craving > Response > Reward

Cues spark our habits, and our cravings are the motivating forces behind every habit. Finally, the response delivers the reward (the desired thought or action that gives us relief from the craving). In short, we are still captives to our “lizard brain.” We remain creatures who crave instant gratification.

This process is fairly straightforward for everyday habits: For example, when a student comes home from school (cue), they might experience a spike in dopamine as they start looking for a snack (craving), and then indulge (response) in the salty, crunchy reward of a bag of Fritos. Here’s what the habit loop might look like for a positive habit: Every day when a student comes home from school, she calls her grandmother to find out how she is feeling. Hearing the cheerfulness in her grandmother’s voice is the student’s positive reward. 

Researchers are also beginning to discover that habits persist even when we don’t value the reward as much as we once did (or even when the reward is no longer available). That’s good news for those of us who believe in the power of positive habits. After consistently practicing these habits, they become part of our identity.

3. Stable cues are the key to forming a positive habit

Here’s the one indispensable “habit principle” I’d want my students to learn and practice: Create cue X, for action Y . For example, imagine a student has decided they want to learn how to play the guitar (the action) right after they finish their homework (the cue). The key to creating this new habit or routine is for the student to repeat this activity every day —as soon as they finish studying.

Other stable cues might include waking up or going to bed, brushing teeth, or eating meals—any actions that happen regularly that students can attach a habit to.

Researchers are learning that stable habit cues are essential to organizing our mental space. Over time, repetition reorganizes our brain and becomes its own reward.

4. Four “habit hacks” that work

S. J. Scott recently wrote a book titled Habit Stacking . The idea is that we should link together a harder habit to an easier habit. For example, encouraging students to do their chores (a harder habit) while listening to music (an easier habit). 

Books About Habits

Atomic Habits : An amazing book by James Clear. Check out his awesome 3-2-1 newsletter .

Good Habits, Bad Habits : Professor Wendy Wood packs more research in her book than I thought possible. As Angela Duckworth writes, she truly is the world’s most foremost expert on habit formation.

The Power of Habit : Thank you Charles Duhigg for jumpstarting our contemporary study and practice of habits.

How to Change : Professor Katy Milkman co-directs the Behavior Change for Good Initiative at the University of Pennsylvania. I loved her chapter on how to overcome our “lazy” habits.

A second hack is leveraging the power of commitment . The reality is that all of us, at one time or another, have broken a promise we’ve made to ourselves. That’s why we may need to share our habit plan with someone who will hold us accountable, such as a friend, parent, or teacher. Making a commitment to someone we know and trust is often the fuel we need to develop a positive habit.

A third hack is discovering our habit tendency . Developed by author Gretchen Rubin, the core idea is that each of us needs to understand more acutely how well we respond to internal and external expectations. While some people absolutely need accountability for habits, other people must understand why the habit is important before they feel motivated to pursue it.

Finally, when it comes to habit formation, every student should learn about the power of positive affirmations . Refuting our negative self-talk with positive self-talk is a “habit hack” that simply works. For example, students can create the positive mental habit of repeating to themselves, “I got this…I can do this.”

5. Setting goals and sheer willpower aren’t enough

Emerging research is shattering our long-held myths that setting goals and exercising self-control are the twin peaks of habit formation. Intentions alone don’t change behaviors. Moreover, willpower is a muscle that depletes over time. No one can lead a life full of self-denial.

In addition to having long-term goals, students need to “plan” their habits. The research is clear: Preparation is the key . As the saying goes, “Failing to plan is planning to fail.” Habit planning is far more important than motivation and willpower.

Creating a new positive habit is form of human engineering that requires students to discover their optimal cue/action pattern ( if X, then Y ), as well as the intellectual humility to anticipate a weakness or flaw in their habit design. For example, some schools encourage students to develop their own daily habit of gratitude. Students would have to identify a cue/action pattern that works best for them (in the morning or before bedtime), as well as to think critically on what could prevent them from developing their gratitude habit.

Habits are about getting 1% better every day. Aristotle got it right when he wrote that “we are what we repeatedly do.”

Yet recent research tells us that educators overlook the role of habits in student self-regulation. That’s why it’s time for parents and educators, especially during these stress-filled times, to work together to help all students harness the energy and power of positive habits.

Let’s imagine a future where 12th graders are talking to eighth graders about habits, with the older students sharing one positive habit they now consistently practice. Or where every student, at the beginning of the school year, is encouraged to share with their teachers and peers one habit they would like to strengthen by winter break. These are just a few ideas to inspire and equip young people to intrinsically form their own habits of mind, heart, and action.

I’d love to learn your ideas and suggestions to help our students form a habit mindset. Please reach out to me at [email protected].

About the Author

Arthur Schwartz

Arthur Schwartz, Ed.D. , is president of Character.org. He studies moral courage during adolescence.

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27 Good Study Habits of Straight-A Students

Study habits refer to the consistent practice and approach to study, on a regular basis, to enhance academic performance.

The good thing about a habit is that once you do it on a regular basis, it becomes easy. So, your job is to get into this habit early. Once you’re into the habit, university becomes easy (well, easier ).

Good study habits that I recommend include getting into the routine of heading to the library (or a similar study space) to study without distractions, chunking your studies by subject, and using spaced repetition for things that require rote memorization .

I also recommend studying with friends – such as by testing one another – whenever possible.

The integration of efficient study habits enhances academic performance and motivation to study . By developing effective study strategies adjusted to your personal learning style, you improve concentration and retention of information – and concentration, more than time spent studying, is found to be a key factor for success (Nonis & Hudson, 2010).

Good Study Habits

1. Time Management Time management refers to being able to efficiently allocate your time so you don’t run out of time, and so you have enough time to allocate to all important tasks. As a basis, you could initiate a dedicated study schedule, specifying the time slots for each subject. For instance, you might want to allot your mornings for theory-heavy subjects like Anatomy, and save the afternoons for practice-oriented subjects like Clinical Skills. Don’t forget to also block time for regular study breaks and social events. This is crucial to prevent burnout and maintain longevity – university is a marathon, not a sprint.

Read Also: 7 Things to do in your First Week of University

2. Using Active Reading Strategies This is the process of engaging with the material by asking questions and drawing connections. Instead of passively reading your texts, you can participate more actively by summarizing the information in your own words, teaching it to someone else, quizzing yourself, or creating visual aids like diagrams and mind maps. As Issa et al. (2012) found, reading relevant information daily is an effective study habit for improving grades.

3. Setting Realistic Goals This strategy involves laying out achievable objectives for each study session or topic. Setting goals not only keeps you focused, but also helps gauge your progress. For example, instead of aiming to read an entire biology textbook in two days, you might target mastering one chapter per day. I recommend setting both short-term study goals and long-term study goals using the SMART Goals method .

4. Prioritization Successful students often prioritize tasks based on their deadlines and degree of importance. You might follow the Eisenhower Box method: divide your tasks into four categories, namely, important and urgent, important but not urgent, not important but urgent, and not important and not urgent. For instance, an upcoming exam translates into an important and urgent task, hence it would be first on your list.

5. Spaced Repetition This strategy involves studying information over incremental intervals instead of cramming it in one sitting. You might review your notes on the day you learn something, then again in a couple of days, then after a week, and so forth. There are even apps like the Anki flashcards app that have a built-in spaced repetition algorithm that can space how often ideas are presented to you.

6. Creating a Suitable Environment Each individual’s ideal study environment may differ based on personal preferences . Some people need complete silence, while others work better with some background noise. If you like silence, the quite section of a library is a good place to start – I recommend making it a habit to go to the library at your university as often as possible. Conversely, if you feel background noise helps you to concentrate, consider studying at a cafe. But the key is to ensure your environment is right for you. As Ogbodo (2010, p. 229) argues: “Where to study is as important as what to study and how to go about studying.”

7. Taking Breaks Integrating regular short breaks into your study pattern can boost your productivity and mental agility because it decreases distractions during focused study time. And this is important. As Walck-Shannon, Rowell and Frey (2021) found, “students reported being distracted about 20% of their study time, and distraction while studying negatively predicted exam performance.” So, let’s avoid that – by splitting our time between strong focus, then rest. Typically, the Pomodoro technique is a popular method for this, where you study for 25 minutes, then take a 5-minute break. After four such cycles, you take a longer break of 15-20 minutes. During your breaks, you can engage in some light activity such as stretching or walking to invigorate yourself.

8. Maintaining Physical Health Eating well, getting regular exercise, and ensuring enough sleep are often overlooked aspects of efficient studying. Research shows that a balanced diet, physical activity, and proper sleep improve cognitive functions , including memory and concentration. You may want to establish a regular sleep schedule, incorporate a balanced diet, and schedule regular exercise sessions each week into your routine.

9. Using Technology Wisely Technology offers a range of tools that can streamline your study process. For instance, you can use apps for time management (e.g., Rescue Time), note-taking (e.g., Evernote), or spaced repetition (e.g., Anki). While these apps can be beneficial, remember to keep checks on screens’ disruptive nature and the habit of digital distraction. As practice, try turning off your phone’s notifications when you study, or set ‘Do Not Disturb’ intervals.

10. Review and Revise Sessions Regular review of study materials aids in long-term retention of information. You can allocate specific time slots each week to revisit old notes, attempt self-test papers or engage in group discussions. For instance, you might dedicate your Sunday mornings to revising everything you’ve covered during the preceding week.

11. Active Writing Transcribing information demands active engagement, thereby reinforcing your understanding and memory of the subject. You might opt to rewrite complex concepts in your own words or diagrammatically represent intricate processes. For example, instead of merely reading about the human circulatory system, consider drawing it out with brief annotations.

12. Seeking Help When Needed Understanding when to seek help is an underrated study habit. If you find yourself struggling with a subject, don’t hesitate to approach your professors, peers, or study groups for clarification. You might also seek online resources such as academic forums or educational websites. Remember, it’s better to clarify doubts initially than to have misconceptions hamper your overall learning.

13. Mindfulness and Focus Mindfulness, or present-moment awareness, can help enhance your comprehension and retention during studying. You could practice mindfulness by removing distractions, concentrating on the task at hand, and making a conscious effort to absorb the material.

14. Integrating Study with Real-Life Scenarios Applying the theoretical knowledge learned during study sessions to real-life instances can facilitate a deeper understanding. You might relate basic principles of economics to household budgeting or chemistry to cooking. This practice can help convert abstract concepts into tangible examples.

15. Regular Self-Assessment Implementing regular exams or quizzes to assess your understanding and memory can be a direct way to monitor progress. You can either use ready-made quizzes available online or design a short assessment yourself. As you answer, mark out the areas you struggled with for further review. This method will help you know where you stand in your preparation and what areas need extra effort.

16. Employing Mnemonics This involves using techniques to retain and retrieve information. The method could be as simple as creating an acronym or conjuring up a relevant mental image. For example, in recalling the taxonomical rank in biology – Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species – you might use the well-known mnemonic phrase: “King Phillip Came Over For Good Soup.” Examples of additional mnemonic techniques include the method of loci and memory linking .

17. Incorporating Understandable Examples Since abstract concepts can be confusing, associating them with relateable analogies can help you grasp the idea. This technique depends heavily on your creativity and could be as simple as linking a literary theme to a popular movie plot. Ensuring your examples make sense to you is vital.

18. Varying Study Methods It is beneficial to avoid monotony and experiment with multiple learning techniques. This can include oscillating between solitary studying and group study sessions, or alternating between text-based learning and audio-visual aids. For instance, following a hefty reading session, you might want to watch a related documentary or podcast on the topic. Switching up strategies not only prevents burnout but also caters to different facets of your learning style.

19. Note-Taking Strategy Effective note-taking is a skill that helps in better understanding and remembrance of knowledge. You should decide a note-taking strategy which could be outlining, mind mapping, or the Cornell method, and stick to it. For example, you might use the Cornell Method, which divides the paper into notes, cues, and a summary section for enhancing retention and review.

20. Regularity and Consistency Consistency is the cornerstone of strong study habits. Establishing a regular routine that allocates specific periods for study each day leads to better academic performance. For instance, studying for two hours per day consistently is more effective than cramming for fourteen hours once a week.

21. Engage All Senses Engaging multiple senses aids in strengthening your memory of the subject matter. This could involve reading aloud, rewriting notes, creating visual aids, or even using software to convert text to speech. The goal is to consume the information through as many sensory channels as possible to maximize retention. For example, if you’re studying foreign vocabulary, you could listen to the pronunciation, read the definition, write the word several times, and visualize an image related to it.

22. Reflective Learning Reflective learning involves regularly taking a few moments to contemplate what you’ve learned. This process ensures you understand the main concepts and helps you evaluate how effectively the learning material has been understood. For instance, after reading a section on World History, take a moment to think about what questions have been answered and what new questions have arisen in your mind about the topic.

23. Preparing for the Next Class Reviewing the material that will be covered in the next class helps make the class more productive and understandable. By having prior knowledge of the topic, you can better participate in class discussions and raise insightful queries. For example, if tomorrow’s Physics class covers Electromagnetic Waves, you might want to read the corresponding chapter tonight.

24. Constructive Procrastination While complete avoidance of procrastination is the goal, sometimes it’s unavoidable. Constructive procrastination involves doing another task that also needs to be done when you feel like procrastinating. If you find yourself unable to study Civil Law, consider switching to another pending task, such as completing your Mathematics assignment. This way, you remain productive while giving in to the urge to procrastinate.

25. Visualization Techniques Visualization involves picturing the information in your mind, which can significantly improve memory and recall. For instance, when studying Anatomy, envisioning the body parts, systems, and processes can enhance your understanding. If you’d like to explore this strategy more, read my article on the visual peg-word system for memorization .

26. Listen to Music Without Lyrics Listening to music while studying is a controversial topic. Some people think it helps them to achieve a flow state, while most research suggests that “ media multitasking ” is a distraction whether we realize it or not (Xu, Wang, & Woods, 2019). Generally, I recommend that if you do like that background nose, try to listen to music without lyrics, like lo-fi playlists from YouTube, which act as background noise and could potentially prevent your mind from wandering.

27. Study with Friends Thalluri (2016) found that “study buddy support groups” significantly support studying. Friends can keep each other accountable and help motivate one another. And, according to social learning theory , working in groups helps us to reinforce knowledge. For example, if you’re talking about the course content with friends, you’ll hear their unique perspectives, which you can critically compare to your own, which augments, supports, positively alters, and strengthens your own perspectives.

Study habits act as the building blocks of your academic journey. Efficient study habits not only ensure better academic performance but also help in gaining lifelong skills like time management, goal-setting, and self-discipline. By adopting effective study habits, you modulate your academic journey to a more favorable and fruitful path.

If you want to dive deeper into getting good study habits, I’d recommend James Clear’s Atomic Habits book – it’s an amazing book for learning to get more productive and optimize your time as a student.

Issa, A.O., Aliyu, M.B., Akangbe, R.B., and Adedeji, A.F. (2012). Reading interest and habits of the federal polytechnic students. International Journal of Learning & Development, 2 (1): 470-486.

Nonis, S. A., & Hudson, G. I. (2010). Performance of college students: Impact of study time and study habits.  Journal of education for Business ,  85 (4), 229-238.

Ogbodo, R. O. (2010). Effective Study Habits in Educational Sector: Counselling Implications.  Edo Journal of Counselling ,  3 (2), 230-242.

Thalluri, J. (2016). Who benefits most from peer support group?–First year student success for Pathology students.  Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences ,  228 , 39-44.

Walck-Shannon, E. M., Rowell, S. F., & Frey, R. F. (2021). To what extent do study habits relate to performance?.  CBE—Life Sciences Education ,  20 (1). doi: https://doi.org/10.1187/cbe.20-05-0091

Xu, S., Wang, Z., & Woods, K. (2019). Multitasking and dual motivational systems: A dynamic longitudinal study.  Human Communication Research ,  45 (4), 371-394. doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/hcr/hqz009

Chris Drew (PhD)

Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]

• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 5 Top Tips for Succeeding at University
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11 Good Study Habits to Develop

Good study habits include finding a quiet location to study, taking breaks, settings goals, and taking practice tests. Here's the full list, and the psychological reasons why they work.

Studying can be hard. The good news is that anybody can develop good study habits to make studying more effective, efficient, and enjoyable.

Want to develop good study habits? Start small—don’t expect to do everything in this list, at least not right away; pick one or two instead. It’s also important to set realistic and achievable goals for yourself. 

Good study habits to develop

Here are 11 tips to improve your study habits:

Find a good place to study.

Minimize distractions.

Take breaks.

Space out your studying.

Set study goals for each session.

Reward yourself.

Study with a group.

Take practice tests.

Use your own words.

Ask for help.

Take care of yourself.

Let's take a closer look at how you can implement each of these habits.

1. Find a good place to study.

Finding a good location to study is one of the most important elements of studying well. Look for a quiet place with minimal distractions—someplace where you’ll be able to focus, and won’t be interrupted by loud sounds or people who constantly want your attention.

A school or public library, a coffee shop, or a quiet corner of your house can all be good places to start. 

Should I stick to one place to study?

Not necessarily. Some studies show that occasionally changing where you study can help retain information. This is because studying the same material in different locations helps your brain create multiple associations with that material, making it easier for you to remember it [ 1 ]. It can be beneficial to find three or four places you like to study and switch locations when you’re feeling stuck or need a change of pace. That said, everybody is different. Find what works best for you.

2. Minimize distractions.

Picking a good location to study can be the first step in keeping yourself focused on your work. But there are many types of distractions that can reach you no matter where you choose to work. Here are some tips on minimizing these distractions:

Turn off your wifi: If you’re working on a computer and you don’t need your wifi, try turning it off. This can keep you from inadvertently wandering into the distracting parts of the internet.

Be mindful of your phone: It’s no secret that our smartphones can be hugely distracting. Turning off your notifications, keeping your phone out of sight in your bag, or giving it to a friend to keep you from checking it too often can help you stay focused. You might also try a focus app, like Forest or Focus To-Do , that can block distracting apps and set timers for study sessions.

Study with a friend: Sometimes studying with a friend or two, whether or not you’re working on the same material, can help keep you accountable and focused. Make sure you each are on the same page about studying and keeping one another distraction-free, at least until it’s time to take a break.

Should I listen to music while I study?

Listening to music while you study has some benefits; it can boost your mood and calm anxiety or stress. But studies show that reading comprehension tends to fall when the music is too loud, fast-paced, or contains lyrics [ 2 ]. Stick with calming, wordless songs while studying, and save the upbeat numbers for breaks.

3. Take breaks.

Taking intentional breaks has been linked to better retention, increased attention, and boosts in energy. Research shows that working for around 50 minutes, then giving yourself a 15- to 20-minute break, can lead to optimum productivity [ 3 ]. Here are a few ways you can give yourself a break:

Take a short walk

Listen to a mood-boosting song

Relax with a friend

Zone out and daydream

Have a snack

Take a shower

Clean your desk or room

Not all breaks are created equal. Checking your phone or social media as a study break has actually been linked to a decrease in performance [ 4 ]. 

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4. Space out your studying.

Cramming can still help you get a good grade on a test, but studies show that you’re much more likely to forget that information as soon as the test is over. Really holding onto the material you learned (and making exam seasons less stressful) requires consistent and well-spaced study sessions.

Instead of saving your studying for before a test, briefly review material you learned once a week. If you are studying for an exam, space out your studying up to several weeks (or even months, depending on the test) leading up to the exam day. This can help you retain the information long term. 

5. Set study goals for each session.

Set study goals for each session of studying you have. These can be time-based or content-based. For example, you might aim to study for two hours, or review three chapters of your textbook—or both.

Don’t be too harsh on yourself if you didn’t get through as much as you had planned; sometimes studying can take longer than expected. Keep taking well-spaced breaks, and schedule another study session.

6. Reward yourself.

Rewarding yourself with treats—“bribing” yourself—has been linked to better self-control, and can be helpful in forming good habits [ 5 ]. Telling yourself you’ll get a small reward if you finish the section you wanted to get through, or perhaps a larger reward if you have a productive day of studying, can be good motivation to get to your goal. 

Small rewards can be a candy bar, a hot drink from your favorite coffee shop, a quick game of your choice, or a short episode of a TV show. Bigger rewards for a long day of studying or getting done with an exam can include getting your favorite meal, spending some time relaxing with friends, or making time for your favorite activity. 

7. Study with a group.

There are several benefits to forming a study group. Group members can help one another work through difficult problems, provide encouragement, hold each other accountable to studying goals, provide different perspectives, and make studying more enjoyable. Even explaining difficult concepts to others can help with comprehension and retention. 

If you have a group study session, set a goal the group will work towards and take periodic breaks as you would studying by yourself.

8. Take practice tests.

Tests and practice tests have been long seen as useful tools to help students learn and retain information. Besides revealing gaps in knowledge and reducing exam anxiety, being tested makes us retrieve information from memory—a powerful, study-backed way of holding onto information we’ve learned [ 6 ].

Don’t have a practice exam? There are several ways you can “test” yourself and gain the same benefits. Try the following methods:

Create flashcards

Write your own questions

Search for practice questions online

Have a friend quiz you

9. Use your own words.

Expressing an idea in your own words increases your understanding of a subject and helps your brain hang on to information. After you read a section of text, summarize important points by paraphrasing. 

10. Ask for help.

You might find yourself stuck on a problem or unable to understand the explanation in a textbook. Somebody who is able to walk through the issue with you might provide the fresh explanation you need. Approach your teacher or professor, teaching assistant, friend, or study group member for new ways to understand what you’re stuck on. Feel like you can benefit from being coached through a subject? Consider looking for a tutor.

And don’t forget the myriad online tools that might be at your disposal, like the Khan Academy . A quick search through Google or YouTube can also surface helpful articles or videos on subjects you’re trying to grasp.

11. Take care of yourself.

At the end of the day, your brain is an organ in your body—take care of it by taking care of yourself. Get regular exercise, eat well, don’t overdrink, get good sleep, and take care of your mental wellbeing. 

Sleep: Studies have linked sleep deprivation to decreased cognitive function, including reduced attention spans and doing worse on tests [ 7 ]. Everybody’s sleep needs are different, but people typically need between seven and eight-and-a-half hours of sleep a night. Plus, getting more sleep can make you happier and benefit your social life.

Food: Try to incorporate more fruits, vegetables, plant sources of proteins, nuts, and unsaturated oils like olive oil into your diet, all of which have been linked to better cognitive performance [ 8 ]. 

Exercise: Exercise brings oxygen to the part of your brain responsible for thought, encourages the development of new nerve cells, and boosts brain cell connections [ 8 ]. This makes for brains that are more neuroplastic and efficient—plus it brings a host of other health benefits, like lower blood pressure, reduced mental stress, and weight control.

Mental wellness: Mental health is important because it helps us deal with stress, improves our relationships with others, allows us to live more meaningfully, and be more productive in our work. Exercising, eating well, and getting good sleep can each boost our mental health. But there are other ways of fortifying mental strength, such as connecting with others, practicing gratitude, meditating, and developing a sense of meaning in life [ 9 ].

Getting started

Forming good habits can be difficult, but starting with small, achievable steps can set you up to have consistent study habits for the rest of your life. Explore more personal development courses from leading universities and institutions on Coursera. Sign up for a free 7-day trial and start learning today.

Looking to get a degree? Knowing what’s out there is a good first step. Take a look at bachelor’s and master’s degrees on Coursera .

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Forbes. " New Studies Show What Sleep Loss Does To The Brain And Cognition , https://www.forbes.com/sites/alicegwalton/2019/11/29/new-studies-show-what-sleep-loss-does-to-the-brain-and-cognition/." Accessed July 27, 2022.

Harvard Health Publishing. " 12 ways to keep your brain young , https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/12-ways-to-keep-your-brain-young." Accessed July 27, 2022.

MedlinePlus. " How to Improve Mental Health , https://medlineplus.gov/howtoimprovementalhealth.html." Accessed July 27, 2022.

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8 Highly Effective Study Habits

Effective study habits can help you achieve better grades.

Maybe you’re one of the many college students working toward a specific career goal. Or, you might be undecided but earning credits to transfer later. You could even be an enterprising teen looking to work “smart” not just “hard.”

Either way, you likely want to make the best use of your time by optimizing your study habits.

There are a few simple strategies that can help. Learning how to study smarter can make the difference between passing and excelling in school.

Why study habits matter

If you’re test prepping a topic that’s one of your favorites, chances are the process is comfortable and effective.

But what about a less interesting course, or a day when you’re distracted? It’s human nature to experience low motivation and reduced focus, which can interfere with your learning objectives.

Effective study habits can have a positive impact. A consistent study routine can support you through issues like poor time management that can interfere with your progress.

8 general effective study habits to boost your grades

• Adopt the right study mindset
• Know the class expectations
• Choose an effective study location
• Have the right study materials
• Use helpful study strategies
• Network with peers
• Set a schedule you can follow
• Practice self-care

Positive study habits

If you’re looking for a way to increase your academic success, a good place to start is by improving your study habits.

Adopting the right study mindset

Your attitude toward studying may influence the outcome.

It’s not just about thinking positively. Research from 2017 shows that a growth mindset is linked to achievement more than a fixed mindset.

A growth mindset is a belief that you can change the outcome with perseverance and effort. A fixed mindset is a belief that things can’t be changed.

Positive thinking can get you through the more challenging study sessions. Try not to compare yourself to other people and avoid catastrophic or absolute thinking .

For example, instead of fretting that you don’t have enough time, you could remind yourself that some studying is better than nothing. Rather than fixating on a poor grade, you might ask yourself how you can do better next time.

Knowing the course expectations

There’s more to academic success than subject mastery and test prep. Course expectations are also important.

Your instructor’s policy for late assignments and class participation are two examples of the type of information that can help you.

Another example is being aware of the required format for written assignments. Following this type of instruction can ensure that you get the best possible grades for your efforts.

Choosing an effective study location

A suitable study location is one where you’re comfortable and able to focus. For some people, this might be a park under a shady tree. Others might prefer the hushed and studious environment of a library.

You might have a room at home where you can close a door for quiet. However, if you live in a busy household, it might be easier to plan a trip to the library rather than repeatedly trying to disconnect from everything happening around you.

Having the right study materials

Imagine you’re getting ready to study for an exam from an outline that the teacher has provided, but you can’t find the outline. Now your studying will no longer be a specific and focused activity. Instead, it would be a guessing game.

Having the right study materials can save you time, and could make your efforts more effective.

Using helpful study strategies

Sometimes simply reading your notes in your head doesn’t work as well as you’d like. If this is the case, you can try some other study techniques to produce better results:

• rewrite your notes
• outline your notes
• use memory tricks like mnemonic devices
• make flashcards
• restate concepts in your own words

Networking with peers

If you’d rather study with friends than alone, there’s research to suggest this approach is beneficial.

A 2016 Australian study revealed that students odds of failing a pathology course (based on midsemester quiz marks) reduced significantly (by their final exam) when they used a study buddy support (SBS) system.

Meanwhile, the students who studied alone didn’t experience as much improvement by their final exams.

It might be worthwhile to look for study groups or create one yourself. An added benefit could be a consistent study schedule if the group meets at the same time on the same days every week.

Setting a schedule you can follow

If you wait to study until you’re inspired, there’s a chance you’ll find yourself cramming the night before each test. Instead, a study schedule can help you plan regular study sessions.

This means you’ll have a chance to review previous material. You’ll also be able to study the same topic enough so that you know it well.

It’s a sound idea to have a realistic schedule. Scheduling study time for several hours every night may be ambitious, but it can also lead to burnout .

Time management can maximize the effectiveness of your schedule. For example, if an upcoming test will cover four units of class material and you have 12 study sessions before the test, you can use three study sessions for each unit.

Practicing self-care

Self-care can affect academic success. For example, it’s easier to pay attention when you’ve had enough sleep.

Proper hydration also affects how well your brain functions. A 2015 study of 52 children ages 9-12 found that kids who were better hydrated had increased cognitive performance in areas including attention and working memory.

A healthy diet helps studying too. To function at its best, your brain needs nutrition from foods like:

• leafy greens
• nuts and seeds
• olive oil or avocado oil

You can also try a supplement for cognitive function and memory , like Ginkgo Biloba . It’s a good idea to let your doctor know about any supplements you’re taking.

Certain study habits to avoid

Building helpful habits is only part of academic success. It’s also helpful to know which habits can interfere with your progress.

Procrastination

If you’ve ever looked for excuses to avoid schoolwork, you’re not alone. Most students have procrastinated at some point, choosing more enjoyable activities over assignments and studying.

However, procrastination often leads to rushed and sloppy work. It also means you won’t have enough time to properly prepare for tests. If you find yourself frequently procrastinating, something more could be afoot. Procrastination is linked to some mental health challenges and conditions:

• Procrastination: A Cause or Symptom of Depression?
• How to Stop Procrastinating If You Live with ADHD
• All About ADHD Paralysis

Cramming, or last-minute studying the night before an exam isn’t as effective for transferring learned material to long-term memory.

Instead, spaced retrieval practice is more effective. This refers to allowing some time to pass between each time you practice. Spaced retrieval is even more effective when it’s varied, which means switching topics during a study session.

Multitasking with entertainment

Imagine: The TV is on with your favorite show. Your best friend is livestreaming an event she’s attending. You might think you can multitask, 2019 research deep dives to debunk the media multitasking myth.

Not asking for help when you need it

Information can be cumulative, particularly in subjects like math. If there’s a concept you don’t understand and you sweep it under the rug, this could make it hard to learn new material that comes after.

Asking for clarification also helps the teacher. If enough students are stuck at a certain point, this is an indicator that the teaching materials may need tweaking.

Let’s recap

For many people, studying effectively is the difference between a pass and a good grade — between learning the material versus just memorizing it to regurgitate on a test.

Developing practical study habits makes learning easier. Setting a schedule, practicing self-care, and accessing peer support are some examples of actions you can take to help you reach your goals.

Last medically reviewed on June 20, 2022

6 sources collapsed

• Felder RM, et al. (2016). Why students fail tests. https://journals.flvc.org/cee/article/download/88038/84693
• Nguyen T, et al. (2022). Ginkgo biloba. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK541024/
• Park HW, et al. (2017). Growing growth mindset with a social robot peer. https://dl.acm.org/doi/abs/10.1145/2909824.3020213
•  Perry CS,et al. (2015). Hydration status moderates the effects of drinking water on children’s cognitive performance. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0195666315003724
• Thalluri J. (2016). Who benefits most from peer support group? First-year student success for pathology students. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877042816309326
• Xu S, et al. (2019). Multitasking and dual motivational systems: A dynamic longitudinal study. https://academic.oup.com/hcr/article/45/4/371/5586240?login=true#166824399

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Developing Good Study Habits for Academic Success: The Power of Habits

Developing good study habits is crucial for academic success, as well as for personal and professional growth. Good study habits not only help you retain information more effectively, but they also enhance critical thinking skills, boost memory, and improve overall productivity. Whether you’re a student in high school, college, or a working professional pursuing a new skill, the benefits of good study habits are undeniable.

By establishing good study habits, you can optimize your learning experience and achieve better results. This includes setting up a conducive study environment, utilizing active reading strategies, employing effective study techniques, managing your time well, and mastering test-taking strategies. These habits may take time and effort to develop, but the rewards are worth it.

In the following sections, we’ll explore the various aspects of good study habits and provide actionable tips and techniques to help you achieve success.

How to Develop Good Study Habits

Table of Contents

Have a close look at how to develop good study habits.

Setting Up Your Study Environment

The study environment plays a crucial role in your ability to focus and retain information. Here are some tips to create a conducive study environment:

Choosing a comfortable and quiet place to study

Find a location where you can sit comfortably for an extended period. This may be a desk in a quiet room, a local library, or a coffee shop with a relaxed ambiance.

Eliminating distractions

Distractions can make it difficult to concentrate and stay focused. Turn off your phone or set it to airplane mode to avoid notifications. Avoid studying in a busy area or near loud noises. Consider using noise-cancelling headphones to block out any distracting sounds.

Creating a study schedule and sticking to it

Establishing a consistent study schedule can help you stay organized and focused. Identify your most productive hours of the day and allocate specific blocks of time for studying. Use a planner or a scheduling app to help you stay on track.

Ensuring proper lighting

Adequate lighting can help reduce eye strain and improve focus. Make sure your study area is well-lit with natural or artificial light. Avoid studying in dimly lit areas that can cause eye fatigue.

Keeping the study area organized

A clean and organized study space can help you stay focused and reduce stress levels. Keep your study materials and supplies organized and tidy. Use storage containers or shelves to store books, notes, and other materials.

Choosing the right temperature

The temperature of your study environment can affect your focus and productivity. Choose a temperature that’s comfortable for you and helps you concentrate. Avoid extreme temperatures that can cause discomfort or distract you.

Adjusting your posture

Poor posture can cause physical discomfort and reduce your ability to focus. Ensure that your chair and desk are ergonomically designed and properly adjusted to support your back and reduce strain on your neck and shoulders.

By following these additional tips, you can create an ideal study environment that maximizes your concentration and learning potential.

Active Reading Strategies

Active reading is an essential skill that can help you retain information, identify key concepts, and analyze complex ideas. Here are some effective active reading strategies:

Previewing the material before reading

Before you start reading, take a few minutes to scan through the text. Look at the headings, subheadings, and any bolded or italicized text to get an idea of what the passage is about.

Highlighting key points

Highlighting can help you identify and remember important information. Use a highlighter to mark key concepts, definitions, and examples. Avoid highlighting too much, as it can reduce the effectiveness of the technique.

Taking effective notes

Taking notes while reading can help you retain information and organize your thoughts. Use abbreviations, bullet points, and other symbols to make note-taking more efficient. Consider using a separate notebook or binder to keep your notes organized.

Summarizing main ideas

Summarizing can help you remember key concepts and ensure that you understand the material. After reading a section, try to summarize the main points in your own words. This will help you remember the material better and identify any areas where you need further clarification.

Asking questions

Asking questions while you read can help you better understand the material and identify any areas of confusion. Try to ask questions about the main idea, key concepts, and any examples or illustrations in the text.

Making connections

Making connections between the material you’re reading and your own experiences or other readings can help you remember and understand the material better. Look for similarities or differences between the current text and other texts you’ve read, or connect the material to real-life situations.

Visualizing

Visualizing can help you create mental images of the material, making it easier to remember and understand. Try to create visual images in your mind of the concepts, ideas, or examples in the text.

Engaging with the text

Engaging with the text can help you stay focused and interested in the material. Ask yourself questions, make predictions, and reflect on your own experiences as you read. This can help you stay engaged with the material and increase your overall understanding.

By utilizing these active reading strategies, you can enhance your comprehension and retention of the material. These strategies also encourage critical thinking and help you engage more deeply with the text.

Effective Study Techniques

Effective study techniques are important for retaining information and achieving academic success. Here are some additional techniques that can help improve your study habits:

Creating outlines

Creating an outline of the material you need to study can help you organize your thoughts and break down complex information into manageable sections. Use headings and subheadings to categorize information and create a clear structure for your study material.

Using visual aids

Visual aids such as diagrams, charts, and graphs can help you understand complex information more easily. Use these aids to supplement your notes and highlight key concepts or relationships.

Testing yourself

Testing yourself is an effective way to reinforce your learning and identify areas where you need to focus your study efforts. Use flashcards, quizzes, or practice exams to test your knowledge and help you recall information more easily.

Taking breaks

Taking regular breaks can help you stay focused and prevent burnout. Take short breaks every hour or so, and use the time to rest, exercise, or do something you enjoy.

Using technology

Technology can be a useful tool for studying, with a variety of apps and online resources available to help you learn more efficiently. Use online flashcards or study apps to help you stay organized and reinforce your learning.

Teaching others

Teaching others is a great way to reinforce your own learning and identify areas where you need to improve your understanding. Try explaining the material to a friend or family member, or join a study group where you can take turns teaching each other.

Setting goals

Setting clear goals for your study session can help you stay motivated and focused. Set specific, achievable goals for each study session, such as reading a certain number of pages or mastering a particular concept.

Practicing self-care

Practicing self-care is essential for maintaining good study habits. Make sure you’re getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet, and taking care of your mental health. This can help you stay focused and alert while you study.

Varying your study techniques

Varying your study techniques can help prevent boredom and improve your retention of information. Try using different techniques for different types of material, or switch up your study environment to keep things fresh.

Seeking help when needed

Don’t be afraid to seek help when you’re struggling with a particular concept or assignment. Talk to your teacher, a tutor, or a study partner for assistance, or seek out online resources or instructional videos to supplement your learning.

By incorporating these additional techniques into your study habits, you can improve your efficiency, motivation, and overall academic performance. Remember to tailor your study habits to your individual needs and preferences, and be willing to experiment with different techniques until you find the ones that work best for you.

Time Management Strategies

Effective time management is crucial for achieving your goals and avoiding stress and burnout. Here are some additional time management strategies that can help you make the most of your time:

Setting realistic goals

Setting realistic goals can help you stay motivated and avoid feeling overwhelmed. Break down large tasks into smaller, more manageable steps, and set realistic deadlines for each step.

Using a planner or calendar

Using a planner or calendar can help you keep track of deadlines, appointments, and other important tasks. Use your planner to schedule study sessions, meetings, and other activities, and make sure to block out time for self-care and relaxation.

Minimizing distractions

Minimizing distractions can help you stay focused and productive. Turn off notifications on your phone, close unnecessary tabs on your computer, and find a quiet, distraction-free environment to work in.

Delegating tasks

Delegating tasks can help you free up time for more important activities. If you have a group project or other collaborative assignment, delegate tasks to other group members based on their strengths and interests.

Using the Pomodoro technique

The Pomodoro technique is a time management strategy that involves working for a set amount of time (usually 25 minutes) and then taking a short break (usually 5 minutes). Repeat this cycle several times, and then take a longer break (usually 15-30 minutes). This can help you stay focused and productive while avoiding burnout.

Practicing self-care is essential for maintaining good time management habits. Make sure you’re getting enough sleep, exercise, and social interaction, and take time to do activities you enjoy.

Using time-blocking

Time-blocking involves scheduling specific blocks of time for certain tasks or activities. This can help you stay focused and avoid getting sidetracked by other tasks or distractions. For example, you might schedule a block of time for studying, a block of time for exercising, and a block of time for running errands.

Eliminating time-wasting activities

Identify any activities that are not essential or that are not helping you reach your goals, and eliminate them from your routine. For example, if you spend a lot of time scrolling through social media, consider limiting your social media use or deleting the apps from your phone altogether.

Breaking up large task

Breaking up large tasks into smaller, more manageable steps can help you avoid feeling overwhelmed and make it easier to stay motivated. Try breaking up a large project into smaller milestones, and celebrate your progress along the way.

Prioritizing self-reflection

Taking time to reflect on your goals and priorities can help you stay focused and motivated. Schedule regular check-ins with yourself to evaluate your progress, identify areas for improvement, and adjust your goals or strategies as needed.

Remember that effective time management is a skill that takes time and practice to develop. Be patient with yourself as you experiment with different strategies, and don’t be afraid to seek out additional resources or support if you need it. With a little effort and dedication, you can develop the time management skills you need to achieve your goals and thrive in all areas of your life.

Test-Taking Strategies

Test-taking can be a stressful experience, but with the right strategies, you can improve your performance and reduce your stress levels. Here are some additional test-taking strategies to help you succeed:

Reviewing your notes

One of the best ways to prepare for tests is to review your notes regularly. This can help you retain the material and identify areas where you need more practice.

Using practice tests

Practice tests can help you familiarize yourself with the format and content of the test, as well as identify areas where you need more practice.

Understanding the instructions

Make sure you understand the instructions for the test and each question before you begin. This can help you avoid making mistakes and wasting time.

Managing your time

Use your time wisely during the test. Start with the questions you know and move on to the more challenging questions later. If you get stuck on a question, move on and come back to it later.

Answering questions strategically

Use strategic guessing to maximize your chances of getting the right answer on multiple-choice questions. Eliminate obviously wrong answers, and make an educated guess based on the remaining options.

Managing test anxiety

Test anxiety can interfere with your performance, so it’s important to manage your stress levels. Practice deep breathing or other relaxation techniques, and use positive self-talk to boost your confidence.

Checking your work

Take the time to review your answers before submitting your test. Double-check your calculations, spelling, and grammar to avoid careless mistakes.

Understanding the scoring system

Understanding how the test is scored can help you focus your efforts on the questions that are worth the most points, and avoid wasting time on questions that are less important.

Practicing time management

Practice answering questions quickly and efficiently to manage your time effectively during the test. Use a timer to simulate test conditions and practice pacing yourself.

Reading the question carefully

Make sure you read each question carefully and understand what it is asking before you begin answering. Pay attention to key words, phrases , and instructions that can guide your answer.

By incorporating these additional test-taking strategies into your routine, you can reduce your stress levels, improve your performance, and achieve better results on your tests. Remember to stay calm, focused, and confident, and trust in your preparation and abilities.

In conclusion, good study habits are essential for academic success and personal growth. By setting up a comfortable study environment, using active reading strategies, practicing effective study techniques, managing your time wisely, and using strategic test-taking strategies, you can improve your learning outcomes and reduce stress levels.

It’s important to remember that developing good study habits takes time and practice, but the benefits are well worth the effort. By committing to these habits, you can increase your confidence, improve your grades, and achieve your academic goals.

So, let’s continue to practice good study habits, stay focused, and work towards our academic success. With dedication and persistence, we can all achieve our goals and reach our full potential.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are good study habits.

Good study habits are practices and techniques that promote effective learning and help students achieve their academic goals. These habits include setting up a comfortable study environment, using active reading strategies, practicing effective study techniques, managing time wisely, and using strategic test-taking strategies.

Why are good study habits important?

Good study habits are important because they help students learn more effectively, improve their grades, reduce stress levels, and increase their confidence. By practicing good study habits, students can also develop important life skills such as time management, organization, and critical thinking.

How can I develop good study habits?

Developing good study habits takes time and practice. Start by setting up a comfortable and distraction-free study environment, creating a study schedule, and breaking down material into manageable chunks. Use active reading strategies such as highlighting and note-taking, and practice effective study techniques such as using mnemonic devices and practicing active recall. Finally, use time management strategies to stay organized and manage your time effectively.

How can I stick to my study schedule?

Sticking to a study schedule requires discipline and commitment. One way to stay on track is to make your schedule realistic and achievable, and to break down tasks into smaller, more manageable chunks. Use a planner or calendar to keep track of your schedule, and try to study at the same time each day to establish a routine.

How can I manage test anxiety?

Test anxiety can be managed by using relaxation techniques such as deep breathing and visualization, staying organized and prepared, getting enough rest, and taking care of your physical and emotional health. Practice positive self-talk and focus on your strengths and abilities, rather than your fears and doubts. And remember, it’s okay to ask for help or support from a teacher, counselor, or friend.

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Chapter 4: Effective Study Habits

Work smarter, not harder: effective studying techniques, developing smart study skills.

At the beginning of the semester, your workload is relatively light. This is the perfect time to brush up on your study skills and establish good habits. When the demands on your time and energy become more intense, you will have a system in place for handling them.  The goal of this section is to help you develop your own method for studying and learning efficiently.

As you work through this section, remember that every student is different. The strategies presented here are techniques that work well for many people; however, you may need to adapt them to develop a system that works well for you personally. If your friend swears by her smartphone, but you hate having to carry extra electronic gadgets around, then using a smartphone will not be the best organizational strategy for you.

Take a moment to consider what techniques have been effective (or ineffective) for you in the past. Which habits from your high school years or your work life could help you succeed now? Which habits might get in your way? What changes might you need to make?

Understanding Your Learning Preferences

To succeed in your post-secondary education—or any situation where you must master new concepts and skills—it helps to know what makes you tick. For decades, educational researchers and organizational psychologists have examined how people take in and assimilate new information, how some people learn differently than others, and what conditions make students and workers most productive. Here are just a few questions to think about:

• What times of day are you most productive?  If your energy peaks early, you might benefit from blocking out early morning time for studying or writing. If you are a night owl, set aside a few evenings a week for schoolwork.
• How much clutter can you handle in your workspace?  Some people work fine at a messy desk and know exactly where to find what they need in their stack of papers; however, most people benefit from maintaining a neat, organized space.
• How well do you juggle potential distractions in your environment?  If you can study at home without being tempted to turn on the television, check your email, fix yourself a snack, and so on, you may make home your workspace. However, if you need a less distracting environment to stay focused, you may be able to find one on campus or in your community.
• Does a little background noise help or hinder your productivity? Some people work better when listening to background music or the low hum of conversation in a coffee shop. Others need total silence.
• When you work with a partner or group, do you stay on task?  A study partner or group can sometimes be invaluable. However, working this way takes extra planning and effort, so be sure to use the time productively. If you find that group study sessions turn into social occasions, you may study better on your own.
• How do you manage stress? Accept that at certain points in the semester, you will feel stressed out. In your day-to-day routine, make time for activities that help you reduce stress, such as exercising, spending time with friends, or just scheduling downtime to relax

Video source: https://youtu.be/Bxv9lf5HjZM

Understanding your Learning Style

For the purposes of this chapter, learning style  refers to the way you prefer to take in new information, by seeing, by listening, or through some other channel. (For more information, see the section on learning styles.)

Most people have one channel that works best for them when it comes to taking in new information. Knowing yours can help you develop strategies for studying, time management, and note taking that work especially well for you.

To begin identifying your learning style, think about how you would go about the process of assembling a piece of furniture. Which of these options sounds most like you?

• You would carefully look over the diagrams in the assembly manual first so you could picture each step in the process.
• You would silently read the directions through, step by step, and then look at the diagrams afterward.
• You would read the directions aloud under your breath. Having someone explain the steps to you would also help.
• You would start putting the pieces together and figure out the process through trial and error, consulting the directions as you worked.

Now read the following explanations of each option in the list above. Again, think about whether each description sounds like you.

• If you chose 1, you may be a visual learner . You understand ideas best when they are presented in a visual format, such as a flow chart, a diagram, or text with clear headings and many photos or illustrations.
• If you chose 2, you may be a verbal learner . You understand ideas best through reading and writing about them and taking detailed notes.
• If you chose 3, you may be an auditory learner . You understand ideas best through listening. You learn well from spoken lectures or books on tape.
• If you chose 4, you may be a kinesthetic learner . You learn best through doing and prefer hands-on activities. In long lectures, fidgeting may help you focus.

Learning Style Strategies

Time Management

Getting Started: Short- and Long-Term Planning

At the beginning of the semester, establishing a daily/weekly routine for when you will study and write can be extremely beneficial. A general guideline is that for every hour spent in class, you should expect to spend another two to three hours on reading, writing, and studying for tests. Therefore, if you are taking a biology course that meets three times a week for an hour at a time, you can expect to spend six to nine hours per week on it outside of class. You will need to budget time for each class just like an employer schedules shifts at work, and you must make that study time a priority.

That may sound like a lot when taking several classes, but if you plan your time carefully, it is manageable. A typical full-time schedule of 15 credit hours translates into 30 to 45 hours per week spent on schoolwork outside of class. All in all, a full-time student would spend about as much time on school each week as an employee spends on work. Balancing school and a job can be more challenging, but still doable.

In addition to setting aside regular work periods, you will need to plan ahead to handle more intense demands, such as studying for exams and writing major papers. At the beginning of the semester, go through your course syllabi and mark all major due dates and exam dates on a calendar. Use a format that you check regularly, such as your smartphone or the calendar feature in your email. (In  Section 1.3 Becoming a Successful Writer , you will learn strategies for planning major writing assignments so you can complete them on time.)

PRO TIP:  The two- to three-hour rule may sound intimidating. However, keep in mind that this is only a rule of thumb. Realistically, some courses will be more challenging than others, and the demands will ebb and flow throughout the semester. You may have trouble-free weeks and stressful weeks. When you schedule your classes, try to balance introductory-level classes with more advanced classes so that your work load stays manageable.

Self-Practice Exercise

Now that you have learned some time management basics, it is time to apply those skills. For this exercise, you will develop a weekly schedule and a semester calendar.

• Working  with  your  class   schedule,   map   out   a   week-‐long  schedule  of  study  time.  Try  to  apply  the  two   to   three-hour   rule.   Be   sure   to   include   any   other   nonnegotiable   responsibilities,   such   as   a   job   or   child   care   duties.
• Use  your  course   syllabi   to   record   exam   dates   and   due   dates   for   major   assignments   in   a   calendar   (paper   or  electronic).   Use   a   star,   highlighting,   or   other   special   marking   to   set   off   any   days   or   weeks   that   look   especially  demanding.

Staying Consistent: Time Management Dos and Do Not’s

Setting up a schedule is easy. Sticking with it, however, may be challenging. A schedule that looked great on paper may prove to be unrealistic. Sometimes, despite students’ best intentions, they end up procrastinating or pulling all-nighters to finish a paper or study for an exam.

Keep in mind, however, that your weekly schedule and semester calendar are time management tools. Like any tool, their effectiveness depends on the user: you. If you leave a tool sitting in the box unused (e.g., you set up your schedule and then forget about it), it will not help you complete the task. And if, for some reason, a particular tool or strategy is not getting the job done, you need to figure out why and maybe try using something else.

With that in mind, read the list of time management dos and don’ts. Keep this list handy as a reference you can use throughout the semester to troubleshoot if you feel like your schoolwork is getting off track.

• Do set aside time to review your schedule and calendar regularly and update or adjust them as needed.
• Do be realistic when you schedule study time. Do not plan to write your paper on Friday night when everyone else is out socializing. When Friday comes, you might end up abandoning your plans and hanging out with your friends instead.
• Do be honest with yourself about where your time goes. Do not fritter away your study time on distractions like email and social networking sites.
• Do accept that occasionally your work may get a little off track. No one is perfect.
• Do accept that sometimes you may not have time for all the fun things you would like to do.
• Do recognize times when you feel overextended. Sometimes you may just need to get through an especially demanding week. However, if you feel exhausted and overworked all the time, you may need to scale back on some of your commitments.
• Do make a plan for handling high-stress periods, such as final exam week. Try to reduce your other commitments during those periods—for instance, by scheduling time off from your job. Build in some time for relaxing activities, too.
• Do be kind to yourself – many students balance school and other important responsibilities (work, family, friends, etc.).  There will be times where you will have to prioritize where your time goes, and that’s okay.

Try Not To:

• Procrastinate on challenging assignments. Instead, break them into smaller, manageable tasks that can be accomplished one at a time.  An assignment calculator can be a useful tool for helping to get yourself organized.
• Fall into the trap of “all or nothing” thinking. (e.g. “There is no way I can fit in a three-hour study session today, so I will just wait until the weekend.”) Extended periods of free time are hard to come by, so find ways to use small blocks of time productively. For instance, if you have a free half hour between classes, use it to preview a chapter or brainstorm ideas for an essay.

One of the best things you can do for yourself as a student is realize that we  all procrastinate at some point.  Knowing your procrastination style can help you to recognize and change bad habits.  Look at the chart below and see if you can identify your procrastination style (you might use more than one!):

The  key  to  managing  your  time  effectively  is  consistency.  Completing  the  following  tasks  will  help  you  stay  on  track  throughout  the  semester.

• Establish  regular  times  to  “check  in”  with  yourself  to  identify  and  prioritize  tasks  and  plan  how  to  accomplish  them.  Many  people  find  it  is  best  to  set  aside  a  few  minutes  for  this  each  day  and  to  take  some  time  to  plan  at  the  beginning  of  each  week.
• For  the  next  two  weeks,  focus  on  consistently  using  whatever  time  management  system  you  have  set  up.  Check  in  with  yourself  daily  and  weekly,  stick  to  your  schedule,  and  take  note  of  anything  that  interferes.  At  the  end  of  the  two  weeks,  review  your  schedule  and  determine  whether  you  need  to  adjust  it.

studying & Note-Taking Methods

Summarizing  is one of the most effective means of studying and making sure that you’ve learned the concept/skill.  Can you go through the steps mentally?  Can you describe or explain it to someone else in your own words?   This is the process of summarizing and synthesizing information.

When summarizing material from a source, you zero in on the main points and restate them concisely in your own words. This technique is appropriate when only the major ideas are relevant to your paper or when you need to simplify complex information into a few key points for your readers. To create a summary, consider the following points:

• Review the source material as you summarize it.
• Identify the main idea and restate it as concisely as you can—preferably in one sentence. Depending on your purpose, you may also add another sentence or two condensing any important details or examples.
• Check your summary to make sure it is accurate and complete.
• Make a careful record of where you found the information because you will need to include the reference and citation if you choose to use the information in an essay. It is much easier to do this when you are creating the summary and taking notes than having to go back and hunt for the information later. Guessing where you think you got it from is not good enough.

Summaries and Abstracts

When you read many academic journal articles, you will notice there is an abstract before the article starts: this is a summary of the article’s contents. Be careful when you are summarizing an article to not depend too much on the abstract as it is already a condensed version of the content. The author of the abstract identified the main points from his or her perspective; these may not match your own purpose or your own idea of what is important. What may also happen if you try to summarize the abstract is you will probably end up replacing some words with synonyms and not changing the overall ideas into your own words because the ideas are already summarized, and it is difficult to make them more generalized. You have to read the entire source or section of the source and determine for yourself what the key and supporting ideas are.

PRO TIP: A summary or abstract of a reading passage is one-tenth to one-quarter the length of the original passage, written in your own words. The criteria for a summary are that it:

• Is similar to an outline but in complete sentences and can stand as an independent piece of writing
• Includes only the main points and key details
• Is valuable because it is the surest way to measure your understanding
• Helps you remember because you must attend carefully to what you read, organize your thoughts, and write them out to make it meaningful to you (This is absolutely necessary when you cannot mark a book because it belongs to someone else.)
• Challenges you to be concise in your writing while providing balanced coverage of the main points.
• Challenges you to paraphrase or use your own words and avoid using too many quotations.
• Is important to remain objective because you are giving the author’s views not your own.

Article:  Assessing the Efficacy of Low – Carbohydrate Diets

Adrienne Howell, Ph.D. (2010)

Over the past few years, a number of clinical studies have explored whether high-protein, low-carbohydrate diets are more effective for weight loss than other frequently recommended diet plans, such as diets that drastically curtail fat intake (Pritikin) or that emphasize consuming lean meats, grains, vegetables, and a moderate amount of unsaturated fats (the Mediterranean diet). A 2009 study found that obese teenagers who followed a low-carbohydrate diet lost an average of 15.6 kilograms over a six-month period, whereas teenagers following a low-fat diet or a Mediterranean diet lost an average of 11.1 kilograms and 9.3 kilograms respectively. Two 2010 studies that measured weight loss for obese adults following these same three diet plans found similar results. Over three months, subjects on the low-carbohydrate diet plan lost anywhere from four to six kilograms more than subjects who followed other diet plans.

In three recent studies, researchers compared outcomes for obese subjects who followed either a low-carbohydrate diet, a low-fat diet, or a Mediterranean diet and found that subjects following a low-carbohydrate diet lost more weight in the same time (Howell, 2010).

What Is aNNOTATION?

Most students already know how to annotate.  When you make notes in the margins and highlight your textbooks, you are annotating that source.

When you take notes in the margins of your readings, highlight key ideas, underline passages, etc, you are  annotating a source.  Annotations are a valuable research tool because they allow you to capture your first ideas and impressions of a text, as well as enable you to find key information again quickly without having to re-read the entire text.

When annotating, you should be looking for several things:

• Key ideas, terms, and concepts
• Words or concepts that you don’t understand yet
• Points that are being made with which you (dis)agree
• Pieces of evidence that would be useful for your own paper
• Inconsistent information with what you have read elsewhere
• Parts of the text you may wish to return to later in the research process

PRO TIP: LEARN TO USE YOUR HIGHLIGHTER PROPERLY!

Many students – if not most – do not use highlighters effectively.   Highlighting is a  visual cue that is intended to help you recall or find information quickly.  If you are the person who highlights 3/4 of the page or chapter, you are not using the tool effectively.

When studying, you should have multiple colours of highlighter with you and designate certain colours for certain things.  For example:

DEFINITIONS MAIN IDEAS UNCLEAR CONCEPTS KEY EVIDENCE OR POINTS

This strategy has a few benefits:

• It forces you to slow down to switch colours, giving you more time to process what you’re reading
• It makes you read actively in order to determine how the information should be classified (for example: is this a definition or a  main idea ?)
• It creates a study system for you that is consistent and easier to follow

Video source: https://youtu.be/eVajQPuRmk8

• Read  the  following  passage  and  use  a  note-‐taking  method  to  identify  the  main  points.
• Compose  a  sentence  summarizing  the  paragraph’s  main  points.

Several  factors  about  the  environment  influence  our  behaviour.  First,  temperature  can  influence  us  greatly.  We  seem  to  feel  best when  the  temperature  is  in  the  high  teens  to  low  20s.  If  it  is  too  hot  or  cold,  we  have  trouble  concentrating.  Lighting  also  influences how  we  function.  A  dark  lecture  hall  may  interfere  with  the  lecture,  or  a  bright  nightclub  might  spoil  romantic  conversation.  Finally, our  behaviour  is  affected  by  colour.  Some  colours  make  us  feel  a  peaceful  while  others  are  exciting.  If  you  wanted  a  quiet  room  in which  to  study,  for  example,  you  would  not  paint  it  bright  orange  or  red.

Collaboration:  Please  share  with  a  classmate  and  compare  your  answers.  

Here  are  possible  answers:  

Key  points:  

Environmental  factors  influence  behaviour:

• Temperature:  extremes  make  focus  difficult
• Lighting:  inappropriate  lighting  is  disorientating
• Colour:  colour  affects  relaxation

Summary  sentence:   Three  environmental  influences  that  impact  human  behaviour  include  temperature,  as  extreme  fluctuations  make it  difficult  to  focus;  lighting,  which  can  affect  our  ability  to  engage  with  different  environments;  and  colour,  which  affects  our  mood.

Passage  taken  from:  Ueland,  B.  (2006).  Becoming  a  Master  Student.  Boston,  MA  :  Houghton  Mifflin  College  Div.,  p.  121.

• Read  the  passage.   
• Highlight  or  underline  necessary  information  (hint:  there  are  five  important  ideas).   
• Write  your  summary.    

Most people drink orange juice and eat oranges because they are said to be rich in vitamin C. There are also other foods that are rich in vitamin C. It is found in citrus fruits and vegetables such as broccoli, spinach, cabbage, cauliflower, and carrots.

Vitamin C is important to our health. Do you really know how essential this nutrient is to our health and well-being? Our body needs to heal itself. Vitamin C can repair and prevent damage to the cells in our body and heal wounds. It also keeps our teeth and gums healthy. That is not all. It protects our body from infections such as colds and flu and also helps us to get better faster when we have these infections. That is why a lot of people drink orange juice and take vitamin C tablets every day. This wonderful vitamin is also good for our heart. It protects the linings of the arteries, which are the blood vessels that carry oxygenated blood. In other words, it offers protection against heart disease.

If we do not get enough vitamin C, which means we are not eating enough food that contains this vitamin, it can lead to serious diseases. Lack of vitamin C can lead to scurvy, which causes swollen gums, cheeks, fingers, hands, toes, and feet. In serious conditions, it can lead to bleeding from wounds, loss of teeth, and opening up of wounds. Therefore, make sure you have enough vitamin C in your diet.

Exercise  taken  from:   http://www.scribd.com/doc/98238709/Form-‐Three-‐Summary-‐Writing-‐Exercise

Annotating, note making, or note taking is a matter of personal preference in terms of style. The most important thing is to do something . Again we stress that reading is like a dialogue with an author. The author wrote this material. Pretend you are actually talking to the author.

• Do not let an idea pass without noting it.
• Do not let an ambiguity go by without questioning it.
• Do not let a term slip away if context does not help you understand it; look it up!
• Engage and you will both understand and remember.

PRO TIP: Put small checks in pencil where you would normally underline. When you finish a section, look back and see what you really need to mark. (If you check over 50 percent of the page, you probably are marking to go back and learn later versus thinking about what is really important to learn now!)

Use consistent symbols to visually help you identify what is happening on the page:

• Circle central themes or write at the beginning of the section if it is not directly stated.
• [Bracket] main points.
• Underline key words or phrases for significant details.
• Put numbers 1, 2, 3 for items listed.
• Put square brackets or highlights for key terms when the definition follows.
• Use stars (*), question marks (?), or diagrams in the margins to show relevance.
• Use key word outlines in the margins for highlighting.
• Write questions in the margin that test your memory of what is written right there.
• Use blank spaces indicating the number of ideas to be remembered, forcing you to test yourself versus just rereading.

General Note-Taking Guidelines

• Before class, quickly review your notes from the previous class and the assigned reading. Fixing key terms and concepts in your mind will help you stay focused and pick out the important points during the lecture.
• Come prepared with paper, pens, highlighters, textbooks, and any important handouts.
• Come to class with a positive attitude and a readiness to learn. During class, make a point of concentrating. Ask questions if you need to. Be an active participant.
• During class, capture important ideas as concisely as you can. Use words or phrases instead of full sentences, and abbreviate when possible.
• Visually organize your notes into main topics, subtopics, and supporting points, and show the relationships between ideas. Leave space if necessary so you can add more details under important topics or subtopics.
• If your professor gives you permission to do so, you could consider taking pictures of the notes on the board with a mobile device or audio recording the lecture.
• Ideas that the instructor repeats frequently or points out as key ideas
• Ideas the instructor lists on a whiteboard or transparency
• Details, facts, explanations, and lists that develop main points
• Review your notes regularly throughout the semester, not just before exams.

Organizing Ideas in Your Notes

A good note-taking system needs to help you differentiate among major points, related subtopics, and supporting details. It visually represents the connections between ideas. Finally, to be effective, your note-taking system must allow you to record and organize information fairly quickly. Although some students like to create detailed, formal outlines or concept maps when they read, these may not be good strategies for class notes because spoken lectures may not allow time for to create them.

Instead, focus on recording content simply and quickly to create organized, legible notes. Try one of the following techniques.

Modified Outline Format

A modified outline format uses indented spacing to show the hierarchy of ideas without including roman numerals, lettering, and so forth. Just use a dash or bullet to signify each new point unless your instructor specifically presents a numbered list of items.

The first example shows Crystal’s notes from a developmental psychology class about an important theorist in this field. Notice how the line for the main topic is all the way to the left. Subtopics are indented, and supporting details are indented one level further. Crystal also used abbreviations for terms like development  and  example .

If you are a visual learner, you may prefer to use a more graphic format for notes, such as a mind map. The next example shows how Crystal’s lecture notes could be set up differently. Although the format is different, the content and organization are the same.

If the content of a lecture falls into a predictable, well organized pattern, you might choose to use a chart or table to record your notes. This system works best when you already know, either before class or at the beginning of class, which categories you should include. The next figure shows how this system might be used.

The Cornell Note-Taking System

In addition to the general techniques already described, you might find it useful to practise a specific strategy known as the Cornell note-taking system. This popular format makes it easy not only to organize information clearly but also to note key terms and summarize content.

To use the Cornell system, begin by setting up the page with these components:

• The course name and lecture date at the top of the page
• A narrow column (about two inches) at the left side of the page
• A wide column (about five to six inches) on the right side of the page
• A space of a few lines marked off at the bottom of the page

During the lecture, you record notes in the wide column. You can do so using the traditional modified outline format or a more visual format if you prefer.

Then, as soon as possible after the lecture, review your notes and identify key terms. Jot these down in the narrow left-hand column. You can use this column as a study aid by covering the notes on the right-hand side, reviewing the key terms, and trying to recall as much as you can about them so that you can mentally restate the main points of the lecture. Uncover the notes on the right to check your understanding. Finally, use the space at the bottom of the page to summarize each page of notes in a few sentences.

Over  the  next  few  weeks,  establish  a  note-‐taking  system  that  works  for  you.

• If  you  are  not  already  doing  so,  try  using  one  of  the  aforementioned  techniques.  (Remember  that  the  Cornell  system  can  be  combined  with  other  note-‐taking  formats.)
• It  can  take  some  trial  and  error  to  find  a  note-‐taking  system  that  works  for  you.  If  you  find  that  you  are  struggling  to  keep  up  with  lectures,  consider  whether  you  need  to  switch  to  a  different  format  or  be  more  careful  about  distinguishing  key  concepts  from  unimportant  details.
• If  you  find  that  you  are  having  trouble  taking  notes  effectively,  set  up  an  appointment  with  your  school’s  academic  resource  centre.

Using Online Study Tools

1. guided study session videos.

One excellent tool to help with accountability is guided study session videos.  Much like guided meditation, these videos can help you stay on track and give you some accountability.  It’s like a study partner that can’t distract you!

Video source: https://youtu.be/reRYtjr1BNo

2. The Pomodoro Technique

Much like a Guided Study Session, the Pomodoro Study Session plays ambient noise and displays a timer.  Every 25 minutes, you take a break from whatever you’re doing.  During this time you can stretch, check your phone, etc.  Here’s a neat  Harry Potter themed one!

Video source: https://youtu.be/SkmH9CsMqOo

3. Browser Lockdown Tools

Are you the person who is always getting distracted while studying?  You might consider a  website blocker (list of some available here) that will prohibit you from accessing certain sites for a certain length of time.  You tell it your guilty procrastination sites (Reddit? Instagram? Discord?) and how long you want them locked.

And maybe leave your phone/tablet in another room… 😏

4. Find a Notetaking Program/System

There are a variety of free notetaking systems and programs available.  Many students prefer the ease of a program like  Google Docs , but there are others such as  Evernote , and OneNote .

5. Looking into Assistive Technology

Assistive technology has been used by students with disabilities for a long time; however, these tools are equally valuable for all students!  Not all of them are free, but they can be a game changer for some people:

Digital Highlighters:  these cool gadgets allow you to scan hardcopy texts with a pen and it will transfer the text into a digital format on your computer/tablet.  Some popular options are Scanmarker and IrisPen

Text-to-Speech Pens/Reader Pens: Similar to digital highlighters, these pens also have the ability to read the text that you scan out loud.  Some of them also feature dictionaries built into the pen.  They are often a tool of choice for students who are learning English as an additional language and for those with dyslexia, AD(H)D, etc.  The most popular option is the C-Pen

Digital Notebooks and Smart Pens:  Digital notebooks are an excellent hybrid of physical note taking with technological storage.  One of the more popular options is the Rocektbook , which is reusable and allows you to write notes and scan them to a notetaking program using a phone app.  Smart Pens, like the LiveScribe Pen allow you to record audio, take pictures, and transfer handwritten notes to a note taking program.

Text-to-Speech Readers: this type of technology has become more popular in recent years.  These programs read digital texts aloud to you, and many are available online for free, but you may wish to start with one like NaturalReader to see if it’s helpful.

Speech-to-Text Programs:   the opposite of a text-to-speech reader and exactly what it sounds like, Speech-to-Text programs allow you to dictate to the computer using a microphone and what you say will be converted into text.  This website has a list of popular free programs, broken down by OS.

Using Available ACADEMIC Support Resources

One reason students sometimes find post-secondary courses overwhelming is that they do not know about, or are reluctant to use, the resources available to them. There is help available; your student fees help pay for resources that can help in many ways, such as a health centre or tutoring service. If you need help, consider asking for help from any of the following:

• Your instructor:  If you are making an honest effort but still struggling with a particular course, set a time to meet with your instructor and discuss what you can do to improve. He or she may be able to shed light on a confusing concept or give you strategies to catch up.
• Your academic advisor or program coordinator: Many institutions assign students an academic advisor or program coordinator who can help you choose courses and ensure that you fulfill degree and major requirements.
• The academic resource centre:  These centres offer a variety of services, which may range from general coaching in study skills to tutoring for specific courses. Find out what is offered at your school and use the services that you need.
• The writing centre ( Sheridan Tutoring Services ): These centres employ tutors to help you manage your writing assignments. They will not write or edit your paper for you, but they can help you through the stages of the writing process. (In some schools, the writing centre is part of the academic resource centre.)
• The career resource centre:  Visit the career resource centre for guidance in choosing a career path, developing a resumé, and finding and applying for jobs.
• Sheridan Counselling services : Sheridan offers counselling services on campus for free. Use these services if you need help coping with a difficult personal situation or managing depression, anxiety, or other problems.

Students sometimes neglect to use available resources due to limited time, unwillingness to admit there is a problem, or embarrassment about needing to ask for help. Unfortunately, ignoring a problem usually makes it harder to cope with later on. Waiting until the end of the semester may also mean fewer resources are available, since many other students are also seeking last minute help.

Writing for Academic and Professional Contexts: An Introduction Copyright © 2023 by Sheridan College is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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How to Build Good Study Habits: 5 Areas to Focus On

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Growing up, I learned the importance of good study habits early.

I was responsible for writing down my homework assignments each day, checking I had all the right books the night before school, and making flashcards to study spelling or vocab words. If I didn’t stay diligent in these study habits, then I was bound to hear about it from my mom.

Establishing good study habits at an early age paid off. In high school and college, I was able to focus on learning the material instead of learning how to study. I never got bad grades because I forgot to turn in homework, and if I ever did poorly on a test I had no one to blame but myself.

However, I recognize that not everyone has the benefit of learning good study habits early in life. For many people, college is the first time you even have to think about how to study and manage a schedule all on your own.

To bridge the gap, I’ve put together the following guide to good study habits. First, we’ll look at what good study habits are and why they matter. Then, we’ll give some practical examples of good study habits in action (and how they can solve some common academic issues).

What Is a Good Study Habit?

Before we go any further, we need to define what a good study habit is. To start, we should define “habit”.

A habit is an action (or series of actions) that you perform automatically in response to a particular cue. For instance, the sound of your alarm going off might cue the habit of getting out of bed and walking into the kitchen to make coffee (or, for some of us, hitting the snooze button).

But what makes a habit “good”? Generally, we define a good habit as one that helps you achieve your goals and live in line with your values . A bad habit, meanwhile, is detrimental to your goals and values in the long-term (even if it relieves pain or provides pleasure in the short-term).

A good study habit, then, is a habit that helps you achieve your academic objectives while still supporting your broader goals and values.

3 Reasons Good Study Habits Matter

Good study habits matter for three main reasons: focus, grades, and mental health.

Starting with focus, having the right study habits in place frees up your mind to concentrate on the material you’re learning.

Instead of having to think about how to create flashcards, for example, you can focus on using flashcards to learn a new language .

If your study techniques aren’t automatic, meanwhile, they can distract you from the larger work you’re trying to do.

While good study habits won’t automatically raise your GPA , they’ll certainly improve your chances.

As an example, you’re likely to perform better on an exam if you’re in the habit of studying for it over several days (or weeks) instead of the night before.

Mental Health

Most important of all, however, is the benefit good study habits have for your mental health.

No matter how much “raw intelligence” you might have, poor study habits will make college stressful and anxious.

If you aren’t in the habit of starting research papers well in advance, for instance, then you’ll be in for some sleepless, caffeine-fueled nights. But if you habitually start your research papers early, then you can avoid the unnecessary stress that comes from procrastination.

5 Types of Good Study Habits (and How to Build Them)

Originally, this section was going to contain a long list of good study habits. But since we already have an extensive list of study tips , many of which are specific study habits, I decided to do something different.

Instead of listing yet more study tips, I’m going to examine some common college academic struggles that good study habits can help eliminate or avoid. This way, you can get some practical tips for building good study habits and putting them into action.

This section focuses on how to build good study habits, specifically. For a more general overview of how to build good habits, read this .

Study Habits for Doing Better on Exams

Are your exam grades lower than you’d like? If so, your study habits could be the culprit.

When it comes to studying for exams effectively, here are some habits to keep in mind:

Go to Review Sessions

Usually, your professor and/or TA will hold a review session before each exam. This review will only be helpful, however, if you attend it. Therefore, make a habit of going to any scheduled exam review sessions, especially in classes you find difficult.

How to build the habit: This is one of the easier habits on this list to build. All you have to do is put the review session on your calendar and then be sure you go to it. To make this easier, pay attention in class for any announcements of review sessions.

Make and Study Flashcards

If you’re studying for an exam that requires you to memorize lots of information, then flashcards are your friend. In particular, building a habit of daily flashcard review leading up to an exam can help your performance greatly.

How to build the habit: First, be sure you understand the best ways to make and study flashcards .

From there, we recommend using a flashcard app that reminds you to study the cards each day (and focuses your efforts on the cards you struggle with). This is a case where notifications on your phone can be a study aid instead of a distraction.

Study Habits for Writing Better Papers

No matter your major, you’ll have to write a paper at some point in college. And having the right study habits will make the process much easier and less stressful. Here are some study habits that will help you write better papers:

Don’t Procrastinate on Writing

I won’t deny it: I pulled my share of all-nighters in college. And usually, I was staying up late to finish a paper I’d procrastinated on.

While you can certainly write a paper in one night, it’s unlikely to be your best work. Instead, make it a habit to work on your paper a little bit each day in the week before the due date.

How to build the habit: If you’re struggling with procrastination, then read into the science behind why we do it .

From there, consider the stress and pain that will come from writing a paper in one night. Use that as motivation to work on your paper a little bit at a time.

Once you’ve done this for one paper and seen how much better it makes your life, you’ll be more inclined to do it with future papers.

Visit the Writing Center

While procrastination is a common issue with writing papers, you may also struggle with the writing itself. Depending on where you went to high school, in fact, you might never have learned how to write the kind of papers college requires.

If this is the case, get in the habit of visiting your college’s writing center when you’re working on a paper. The staff there would be more than happy to help you improve your writing.

How to build the habit: Going to the writing center is a fairly easy habit to build if you schedule your writing center appointments in advance.

This should be possible at most colleges, and it’s often required during high-demand times such as finals season. Making an appointment in advance adds some external accountability, so you’re more likely to show up.

For more paper writing tips, read this .

Study Habits for Completing Homework Faster

Homework is important for practicing and solidifying the concepts your professor discusses in lectures, but that doesn’t mean you should spend all your time outside of class doing it.

Here are some study habits to help you complete your homework faster, without sacrificing quality:

Schedule Your Homework Time

If you can fit all of your homework into a defined block each day, it will be much easier to get started on it. Plus, knowing that you only have to spend a defined amount of time working will reduce the dread that generally accompanies homework.

How to build the habit: First, find a time each day that’s free of obligations. Evenings will work well for some, while mornings are better for others; it depends on your schedule.

Then, put that block of time on your calendar with the title “Homework Time.” If you like, you can also break that block down into smaller chunks for each of the courses you’re taking.

Next, decide on a study space where you’ll do your homework: dorm room, library, student center, etc. Note that location on your calendar as well.

Finally, treat this block of study time like any other class, meeting, or appointment. If someone tries to schedule something during that time, tell them you already have an obligation.

Focus Completely On Your Work

You’ll get your homework done much faster if you only focus on the assignment at hand. But if you’re checking social media and your phone as your work, the process will take longer overall.

To avoid this issue, make a habit of distraction-free homework. When you’re working on homework, let nothing else fragment your attention.

How to build the habit: First, turn off your phone and put it away. If you can’t do that, then at least take some steps to make it less distracting .

Next, try to work without an internet connection whenever possible. If that isn’t practical, then use an app like Freedom to block distracting sites and apps.

If that still isn’t enough, then you can also try the Pomodoro technique .

Study Habits for Being Less Stressed

As I mentioned earlier, one of the main advantages of good study habits is reduced levels of stress.

Some study habits, in particular, are great at making the studying process less stressful. Here are a couple to try:

Use the Fudge Ratio

Due to something called the planning fallacy , humans are terrible at estimating how long things will take. The fudge ratio is a solution to this problem. It helps you create more accurate time estimates for tasks, using a simple formula that we’ll explain below.

Applying the fudge ratio to your studies will help you be less stressed since you’ll be in the habit of planning more time than you need to do assignments. If you get done early, then you’ll get a great sense of accomplishment. But if something takes the full time you “fudged,” then you won’t be caught off guard.

How to build the habit: To work the fudge ratio into your planning, you’ll need to keep track of how long you think tasks take vs. how long they truly take. Record these numbers somewhere you can review them regularly. For an accurate measure of how long tasks actually take, you can use time-tracking software .

Once you’ve done this for a bit, you can then compare your estimated times to your actual completion times. This will allow you to calculate a literal ratio that you can use to make future time estimates.

To calculate the fudge ratio for a task, use this formula:

Estimated completion time / Actual completion time = Fudge ratio

For instance, if you think it will take you 30 minutes to finish your Intro to Sociology reading but it actually takes you 45, then your fudge ratio for these reading assignments is 45/30 = 1.5. Now, you know that whenever you’re estimating how long reading will take for this class, you should multiply your estimate by 1.5.

Doing this for each class and assignment can be time-consuming. But with time, using the fudge ratio will help you get into the habit of making better time estimates overall. Eventually, you won’t need to do the tracking and math described here.

Not all classes are created equal. Sure, each instructor thinks their class is the most important on your schedule, but we all know that isn’t true. Some classes require more time and effort than others, and how you study should reflect that.

Specifically, you’ll be much less stressed if you prioritize studying the subjects that take the most work.

How to build the habit: During the first couple weeks of the semester, pay attention to how much work each class on your schedule will require. From there, you can decide where to prioritize your attention.

Then, spend most of your study time on the most difficult classes. Of course, you’ll still need to spend some time on your easier classes, but not nearly as much. Doing this will give you more free time and reduce your general stress levels.

Study Habits for the Forgetful

For our final area of habits, we turn to the pernicious problem of forgetting. Whether you’re having trouble remembering homework assignments or even showing up for class, these habits will help.

Keep a List of Your Assignments

If you’re having trouble remembering your assignments, then build the habit of keeping them on a list. This is a classic piece of advice. But if you put it into practice, it can change your life.

How to build the habit: First, decide where you’ll write down your assignments. We’re a big fan of to-do list apps for this purpose. But you could also go analog and use a paper planner. Just make sure it’s something you can easily carry with you to class.

Then, write down assignments as the professor gives them. In many cases, of course, the professor will expect you to refer to the syllabus for homework assignments. So be sure to review your syllabus each week (and bring a copy to class so you can note any changes).

Finally, review your list of assignments at the start of each homework session. As you complete an assignment, cross or check it off the list. With this habit in place, you’ll be much less likely to forget assignments.

Put Your Classes on Your Calendar

Unlike in high school, where your schedule is regimented and closely supervised, college offers more independence. While this can be exciting, it also means greater responsibility. And one of the first responsibilities you’ll face as a college student is showing up for class at the right time.

While simple in theory, it can be challenging to remember the time and location of all of your classes. Especially during the first couple weeks of class. To ensure you don’t forget when and where your classes are, put them on your calendar.

How to build the habit: Leading up to the first week of school, go online and consult the syllabus for each of your classes.

Note the class times and locations, and put that information on your calendar in recurring events. Make sure your calendar is set up to send you event notifications on your phone, and you should be able to remember each class no problem.

With time, of course, you’re likely to memorize you schedule and won’t need to consult the calendar. But having your classes on your calendar will still be helpful for planning, ensuring you don’t schedule a meeting or other event during a class.

If you’ve never set up a digital calendar, check out this guide to using your calendar efficiently in college .

Good Study Habits Aren’t Built in a Day

I hope this article has shown you the importance of good study habits, as well as how to start making them a part of your academic life.

As with any new habit, forming good study habits takes time and focus. For greater odds of success, work on forming one or two of these habits at a time. When they’re a solid part of your routine, you can add new ones.

Habit formation is such a vast topic, there was no way we could cover all the details in one article. For a deep dive into building habits that last, check out our habit-building course:

Building habits isn’t just about discipline; there are real-world steps you can take to set yourself up for success! In this course, you'll learn how to set realistic goals, handle failure without giving up, and get going on the habits you want in your life.

Image Credits: person studying

10 Study Habits of Highly Effective Students

The key to becoming an effective student is learning to study smarter, not harder. As you advance in your education, this becomes even more important.

An hour or two of studying a day is usually sufficient to make it through high school with satisfactory grades. But when college arrives, without smart study habits, you can feel like there aren’t enough hours in a day to cover your coursework.

While some students breeze through school with minimal effort, the vast majority of students succeed because they deliberately develop and apply effective study habits.

The following are the top 10 study habits of highly effective students:

If you want to become a successful student, don’t get discouraged or give up. Work to develop each of these habits, and you’ll see your grades rise, your knowledge increase, and your ability to learn and assimilate information improve.

1. Don’t attempt to cram all your studying into one session

Are you ever up late at night spending more energy trying to keep your eyelids open than you are studying? If so, it’s time to change your approach.

Research shows that spacing out study sessions over longer periods improves long-term memory . In other words, if you have 4 hours to spend on a subject, it’s better to study it for one hour each for four days than to cram all 4 hours into one.

Likewise, cramming everything right before an exam may probably help you with grades, but it is horrible for your long-term memory retention. Without realizing it, you may be undercutting your learning in the long term.

Successful students typically space their work out over shorter periods and rarely try to cram all their study into just one or two sessions. If you want to become a successful student, you need to learn to be consistent in your studies and have regular, yet shorter, study periods.

2. Plan when you’re going to study

Successful students schedule specific study times throughout the week and stick to them, while those who do not perform as well typically study sporadically and whimsically.

A study schedule can help you plan, break your study load into manageable amounts, and ensure you don’t rush on assignments when following deadlines.

In short, a study plan helps you manage and achieve your learning goals better.

Even if you’re all caught up with your studies, creating a weekly routine, where you set aside some time every few days a week to review your courses, will ensure you develop habits that will enable you to succeed in your long-term education.

3. Study at the same time; be consistent

Not only is it important to plan when you’re going to study, but it’s also essential that you create a consistent, daily study routine.

The power of consistency is well understood in academics. It helps you rely a lot less on intensity – which means fewer late nights or all-nighters and fewer moments of overwhelm and panic, which is a positive for your mental health.

When you study at the same time every day, you develop a habit. You rely less on willpower. Motivation increases, and you’ll be mentally and emotionally prepared for each session. This will improve productivity.

Your schedule may require adjustments from time to time due to unexpected events, and that’s okay, but it is important to get back to your routine as soon as the event has passed.

Here are some strategies to stick to your routine:

• Prepare a timetable – even if your track record of sticking to timetables is poor, make one. Make it realistic and display it in your place of study. Timetables aid in better time management, which research has shown to have a direct positive impact on academic results .
• Exercise and meditate – To be consistent in your studies, your health, as well as your mind, must support you. Physical exercise helps you maintain good health and a fresh mind, while meditation helps reduce stress and anxiety .
• Reward yourself – If you follow your timetable, you deserve a reward. Go outside and enjoy some free time with your friends and family. And when you do it, don’t think about your studies. Rewarding yourself will motivate you to be consistent .
• Take breaks –  Contrary to popular belief, taking breaks , if they are of the right kind, can increase productivity rather than decrease it. Avoid activities such as scrolling through social media or surfing the internet. Instead, take a short walk, have a healthy snack, or speak with your roommate.

4. Each study time should have a specific goal

Simply studying without direction is not effective. You need to know exactly what you need to accomplish during each study session.

If you observe, most adults around you – from those working in great companies to your favorite athletes and entrepreneurs will have written goals and objectives. Goals dictate their day-to-day activities and how they manage their time.

There is enough research evidence to show a positive correlation between goals and student outcomes . Hence, before you start studying, set a study session goal that supports your overall academic objectives. Here are some best practices:

• Set optimally challenging goals – your goals must be such that you must push yourself to achieve them, but at the same time, they must not be so hard that they demotivate you.
• Make your goals specific, measurable, and time-bound – a good example is “Memorize 30 Spanish vocabulary words in 60 minutes to ace the Spanish test.” It’s a good goal because it tells you what exactly to do, how to measure it, and by what time you must complete it. A not-so-good example is “Study Spanish to ace the Spanish test” – this does not tell you what to focus on, the results can’t be properly measured, and you don’t know when to complete this task.
• Set mastery goals – your goals must focus on deeply understanding concepts and skills. This will help you in your long-term learning journey that extends far beyond your exams and grades. 
• Define goals positively – How you frame your goal can make a difference. If you word your goal such that it sounds more like a threat rather than a challenge, it may adversely impact your achievement. For example, “I will complete at least 7 out of 10 tasks correctly” is a better goal than “I will not make more than 3 mistakes when attempting 10 tasks”

To understand why goals work, look at the below diagram:

Setting goals clarifies what needs to be done. You know where to focus your attention and effort while avoiding distractions. This clarity encourages you to put in more effort and seek out or develop new strategies for success.

You apply what you know innovatively and learn new methods. Reaching your goal boosts your confidence in your abilities, enhances your motivation, and sets you up for further success.

5. Never procrastinate your planned study session

It’s very easy and common to put off your study session for several reasons – the subject may not be interesting, you may have other things to do, or it may be because the assignment is very hard.

Successful students DO NOT procrastinate when studying.

It is a tough habit to break, particularly when the Internet allows you to escape frustrations with the click of a mouse.

Procrastinating can have negative effects – your study will be much less effective, and you may not accomplish everything you need, which could lead to rushing at the last minute – the number one cause of errors.

It can also affect your mental health by increasing stress and anxiety:

Procrastination can increase stress levels and affect a student’s mental health and well-being.

Procrastination results from the emotional part of your brain taking over the logical side. Your logical brain surrenders when you choose Facebook over work or decide to binge on another Netflix series.

Here is what you can do to give your logical brain the upper hand:

• Reverse the trigger: Consider which of the seven triggers your study activity sets off. Then, try to think differently about the task – make the idea of completing it more attractive. For example, if studying history through plain reading can be boring, you can make it interesting by drawing a timeline with important events and characters.
• Work within your resistance level: Let’s say you have a complicated math problem to solve. To find your resistance level, consider the effort you commit to that task along a scale. For example, could you focus on it for an hour? No, what about 30 minutes? Shorten the amount of time until you find a period with which you’re no longer resistant to the task, and then do it.
• Do something, anything, to get started : tasks that induce procrastination are rarely as bad as we think. It’s easier to keep going once you have overcome the initial hump of starting it in the first place. Starting a task means you’ll continue to process it, making you more likely to resume the work later.
• List the costs of procrastination: remind yourself about what it would cost you to postpone something.
• Disconnect – Put your phone in another room or shut off the Wi-Fi. Cut down the distractions that can stop you from focusing on the task.

6. Start with the most difficult subject first

Your most difficult assignment or subject will require the most effort and mental energy; hence, you should start with it first.

Research has shown that when you are tired, your brain tries to save mental energy to help you make decisions quickly . It tags effort as bad (because it’s hard work), and you are likely to “go with your gut” instead of carefully considering all the available information.

When your focus is not at its best, studying hard subjects can be, well, hard!

But if you complete the most challenging part of your study in a fresh state of mind, completing the more accessible ones later becomes easier. This can significantly improve the effectiveness of your study sessions and your academic performance.

7. Always review your notes before starting an assignment

Research shows that 10 minutes of review for every lecture hour, done within 24 hours of class, dramatically improves recall. Hence, regularly reviewing class notes is one of the most powerful study strategies.

Obviously, before you can review your notes, you must first have notes to review. While there is no single right approach to note-taking, the following are some of the popular ones:

Cornell method

Split up your paper into three sections (see image). The first aspect requires you to write out notes during class as you hear them. Once class is over, you reread your “Notes” section and add any questions or essential ideas within the “Cues” section.

Once you have filled in these two sections, it is time to write a summary of the lesson that you can refer to study. You will have a stack of neatly organized notes from each lecture by exam time. Learn more about the The Cornell System for taking notes .

Mapping method

Allows a visual representation of your notes in a way that shows the relationships between ideas. Start by jotting down the lecture’s main idea and add subheadings throughout the class. By the end, you should have a main topic with many subheadings and additional notes beneath them.

Sentence method

It is a relatively simple method that requires a main topic followed by notes in sentence or point form. The heading creates some organization while at the same time allowing for freedom.

While these three are time-tested pen-and-paper methods, you can also use electronic devices for note-taking. Apps like Evernote, Microsoft OneNote, or Google Keep can help you stay organized with your note-taking.

Before you start each study session and a particular assignment, review your notes thoroughly to ensure you know how to complete the assignment correctly. This will help you remember important subject matter learned during the day and ensure your studying is targeted and effective.

Learn how to improve your note taking .

8. Make sure you’re not distracted while you’re studying

The negative outcomes of distracted learning have been well documented . It can prolong learning tasks due to the need for reacquaintance with material, induce mental fatigue from constant task-switching, and reduce long-term memory retention.

But everyone gets distracted by something. Maybe it’s the TV, or maybe it’s your family or the very many electronic gadgets that surround you. When you’re distracted, you lose your train of thought and cannot focus, leading to ineffective studying.

Some students cannot study when it’s too quiet. Research has shown that some people study better with a bit of background noise .

You must experiment and identify what surroundings suit you best. Whether it is a quiet cubicle in the recesses of the library or a common area with a bit of background noise, find a place where you won’t be disturbed or distracted.

9. Use study groups effectively

Study groups can help you externalize your thoughts, address procrastination, stimulate study sessions, and maintain accountability. They can be an effective part of your comprehensive study plan.

Working in groups enables you to get help from others when struggling, complete assignments more quickly, and teach others, which is a great way to internalize the subject.

Here are some best practices for forming effective study groups:

• Limit the group size – in larger groups, it becomes increasingly difficult to keep everyone involved. Typically, 3-5 students can ensure a good functional dynamic.
• Have a structure – define the goals for every session and stick to them. 
• Come prepared – it is much easier as a group to help each other if each member comes to the session with a list of questions or topics to discuss.
• Empower each other – Don’t hesitate to help your fellow classmates. Tutor-tutee relationships are mutually beneficial. Help someone else, and they will help you!
• Quiz each other – Quizzing each other on facts and concepts is a valuable way to prepare for an exam. This could also mean designing practice tests together.
• Work independently but together – if you work hard on your own before meeting as a group, your group time will be more rewarding. Groups are your place to experiment, seek help, and share your learning. However, you must develop an independent grasp of concepts to do well in a course.
• Form friendships – connections can leave you feeling more motivated than ever, making studying enjoyable.

It is also helpful to designate one of the members to facilitate the group. This person will be responsible for scheduling, tracking group progress, and helping the group stay focused. A good way to do this is by designating a “leader of the week” on a rotation basis.

Study groups are not just about meeting right before an exam. To achieve great results, you must meet regularly throughout the semester. Online tools such as Zoom, Teams, and Slack are great ways to connect when you cannot meet in person.

10. Review your notes, schoolwork, and other class materials over the weekend

Successful students review what they’ve learned during the week over the weekend. Research shows that academic success is positively correlated with weekend study time .

But remember, the weekend is just 48 hours, and time flies quickly. So, reflect on your goals and prepare ahead. Here are some tips:

• Use Friday after school to plan your weekend.
• Keep a journal – record how you spend your time and where you can improve.
• Look at it as a time to practice for “real life” – you are totally in charge of your time.
• Balance your sleep and energy.
• Budget time for sports and other activities – keep twice the time you think you’ll need.
• Get ahead of others – wake up early (most don’t). Mornings are a good time to study.

A well-spent weekend can prepare you to continue learning new concepts that build upon previous coursework and knowledge acquired the previous week.

In summary, you can learn the “10 study habits of highly effective students” and consciously apply them to improve the effectiveness of your study. We’re confident that if you develop these habits, you’ll see a significant improvement in your academics.

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Daniel Wong

22 Study Habits That Guarantee Good Grades

Updated on June 6, 2023 By Daniel Wong 18 Comments

Were you hoping to get an A for your last test or exam, but your study habits got in the way?

Maybe you got a B, or maybe you did worse than that.

It’s annoying, isn’t it…

You put in all those hours of studying. You even gave up time with your friends.

So what if I could show you a way to work smarter and not harder, so you get good grades and have time for the things you enjoy and find meaningful?

Even better, what if I could guarantee it?

Well, I can.

All you have to do is adopt these 22 study habits.

(Throughout my career as a student I got straight A’s, so I can promise you that these study habits work.)

Want to get the grades you’ve always wanted while also leading a balanced life?

Then let’s get started.

Enter your email below to download a PDF summary of this article. The PDF contains all the habits found here, plus 5 exclusive bonus habits that you’ll only find in the PDF.

The best study habits.

Add these effective study habits to your routine to start getting good grades with a lot less stress.

Habit #1: Create a weekly schedule

When you schedule time for a particular task like studying, you’re saying to yourself, “I’m going to focus on studying at this time, on this date, and it’s going to take this number of hours.”

Once it’s down in writing, it becomes a reality and you’re more likely to stick to it.

This might sound weird, but it’s true.

Do this in your calendar, in a spreadsheet, or download a template – whatever works best for you.

First, think about your fixed commitments like school, sports practice, family time, religious activities and so on.

Now, decide which times around these fixed commitments are the best for you to do your work and revision each week.

Don’t worry about exactly what work you’ll be doing, or what assignments are due. Just focus on blocking out the times.

Your weekly study schedule might look something like this (the blue slots are the times you’ve blocked out to do work):

Give yourself a study-free day (or at least half a day) once a week.

Everyone needs a break, so you’re more likely to come back to the work refreshed if you give yourself permission to take some time off.

Habit #2: Create a pre-studying checklist

Have you ever heard your mother say you should never go to the supermarket without a shopping list?

You’ll wander up and down the aisles, wasting time. You’ll make poor choices about what to buy and end up with all the wrong things for dinner.

By using a shopping list, your mind will be focused. You’ll only put items in your shopping trolley that you need, checking them off as you go.

It’s no different from a checklist used by a pilot before he takes off, or a mechanic as he services a car.

Checklists are essential as you learn how to develop good study habits. They ensure that you cover all the necessary steps to achieve an outcome.

Here are some of the things that might be on your pre-studying checklist:

• Set up workspace
• Make sure your phone is in another room or turned off
• Let family members know not to disturb you until the end of the study session
• Gather together all the notes and reference books needed
• Get a glass of water

Keep your checklist handy, and tick everything off at the start of every study session.

Habit #3: Create a study plan

The purpose of a study plan is similar to that of a checklist. It keeps you on track.

When you go camping, you might have a checklist that covers all the equipment you need to pack into the car.

But you also need a road map to show you how to get to the campsite. It allows you to plan your route, and keeps you focused on your destination.

So, at the start of each study session, create a study plan.

For example, today you might need to complete a math assignment and write up the summary notes of chapter 4 of your history textbook.

Write down the key tasks, together with a list of steps you’ll need to take along the way.

To complete your math assignment, you might write:

• Read notes from math class
• Read chapter in the textbook on algebraic calculations
• Do questions 1 to 3

Your study plan will help you concentrate on what you need to get done today, without being distracted by the things that can wait until tomorrow.

Habit #4: Study offline as much as possible

When you study, you want to be focused, which means limiting all those annoying interruptions that happen when you’re online.

Switch off your Internet connection and give your brain the peace and quiet it needs to concentrate.

And while you’re at it, try not to use a laptop to take notes.

This may sound like strange advice, but research has shown that taking notes by hand is a much smarter way of learning.

When you write notes by hand, your brain absorbs the meaning of what you’re writing. But when you use a laptop, you’re not processing what you’re learning as deeply.

Habit #5: Take three deep breaths before each study session

What’s the one thing that comes to you so naturally, you don’t even think about it?

We each take about 20,000 breaths a day, so you’d think we’d be pretty good at it. But did you know that there are better ways to breathe than others ?

And guess who breathes the best? Babies.

As babies, we all take deep, relaxing breaths. These breaths push the oxygen around our bodies and into our brains, helping us to concentrate better.

But as we get older, we take shorter, faster breaths. As a result, we have trouble staying alert.

There are plenty of ways to breathe more deeply, but here’s one method you can try before you start each study session:

• Close your eyes and breathe in through your nose for four seconds
• Exhale through your mouth for four seconds
• Repeat three times

Tip: Try this just before you go to bed as well. It will help you sleep better.

Habit #6: Learn how to motivate yourself

Do you find that sometimes it’s almost impossible to start studying? In fact, your body feels like a heavy stone as you drag yourself towards your workspace.

Don’t worry. Everyone feels like that from time to time.

You just need to know how to motivate yourself to study , and to do that we’re going to create another list.

This time, write down all the reasons why you want to study hard, such as:

• I want to do my best
• I want to become more disciplined
• I want to prepare well for the future
• I want to develop perseverance
• I want to learn as much as I can

Put your list somewhere you can see it. The next time you feel like watching TV instead of studying, go through your list.

You’ll be fired up and ready to get back to your studies in no time!

Habit #7: Take notes during class

Taking notes in class is an important study tip to implement .

Think about the number of classes you go to every day at school and the mountain of information that gets thrown at you.

You’d never be able to remember everything you learned without taking notes.

Taking notes also helps you to absorb and retain information much better than just listening.

And lastly, think of your class notes as the backbone of your focused study time . They sum up what you’ve learned, and they make your study time more efficient.

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

Habit #8: Review what you learned in school that day

Reviewing new information you learned in class is one of the most effective study habits you can develop.

Before the end of each day, read the notes you took or re-read the chapter that your teacher taught in class.

It won’t take long to do, and it will help you retain what you learned. It will also make the process of moving the information from short-term to long-term memory smoother.

Habit #9: Read your notes before you start doing your homework

This is similar to the last study habit we talked about.

The first thing you should do in your study session is to re-read the notes you took in class before you start the homework assignment for that topic.

Don’t forget to include this task in your study plan (see Habit #3).

It will refresh your memory, so you’ll be well prepared to tackle the assignment and you’ll finish your homework faster .

Habit #10: Get at least eight hours of sleep every night

We all know that a good night’s sleep makes us more alert and energised the next day.

But did you know that it also improves your memory and makes you a better student ?

You probably think there’s no way a top student could get enough sleep, but you’re wrong. In fact, getting eight hours of sleep before an exam is more effective than staying up late, trying to cram all the information in.

The best way to make sure you get eight hours of good quality sleep is to go to bed at the same time each night. (Set an alarm to remind you, if necessary.)

Read a chapter of a book, but don’t read it on your phone or tablet. This is because the light from such screens makes it difficult for the brain to wind down and inhibits melatonin production.

In addition, turn off phones and other electronic devices that may disturb you during the night.

Habit #11: Create an environment that helps you study

Trying to work in a noisy room, or one with poor lighting, is going to make your study time less effective.

To develop good study habits, take a few minutes to ensure your workspace is conducive to studying.

Here are a few things to think about:

• Do you have the necessary supplies and stationery within reach?
• Is the lighting adequate?
• Make sure your desk is tidy and uncluttered (do this before and after each study session)
• Is the room at the right temperature?
• Is your work chair comfortable?
• Is the room quiet? (Use earplugs if necessary)
• Is your phone switched off?
• Delete any apps on your phone that you might be tempted to open when you should be studying
• Are there any other distractions in the room that might disturb you, like a magazine or the TV? Switch them off or remove them altogether.

Habit #12: Time your study sessions and breaks

Do you find it hard to concentrate for more than 45 minutes at a time? That’s perfectly normal.

In fact, I’d recommend that you take a 5-minute break from studying every 30 to 40 minutes.

Don’t fall into the study habit of stretching out your break so it ends up being longer than your study time, though.

When you start a study session, set a timer for 30 to 40 minutes and then take a break. Likewise, set the timer for the end of the break so you know when to get back to work.

Habit #13: When you take a study break, step away from your desk

To develop good study habits, don’t forget to take breaks and use them wisely.

Step away from your desk and do something completely different to give your brain a break, as well as your body. Go for a short walk around the block or get a snack from the kitchen.

I encourage you not to watch a video, turn on the TV or check your social media news feed.

This is because these activities won’t give your brain a proper break.

Habit #14: Make use of the breaks you have during the school day

Do you have a long break in the middle of the school day or after lunch?

Is there something useful you could be doing with this time?

Maybe you could review the notes you took that morning or start preparing your study plan for later in the day.

Another great use of your free time is to seek out a fellow student and talk about what you’ve just learned. This is especially so if you need some clarification, or if you have doubts about something.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions. It’s an excellent way to learn faster and better.

Habit #15: Stay on top of your homework

This may sound like an obvious habit to cultivate as a student , but I’m often surprised by the number of students who let their homework pile up.

If it gets out of hand, just the thought of doing your homework can become overwhelming and stressful.

Before you know it, you’ll find yourself working so hard to catch up, you’ll have no time to study for important tests and exams, which are stressful enough on their own .

One of the most effective study habits to practise is to start your homework on the day it’s assigned.

At the very least, take a look at the questions while the information you learned is still fresh in your mind.

That way, if you have to come back to it later, you’ll have a rough framework as a starting point, making it much easier to complete.

Habit #16: Ask your teachers for help at least once a week

Your teachers are there to help you succeed . Don’t be afraid to reach out to them.

Asking for help is a crucial study habit to cultivate.

Include asking for help in your weekly schedule (see Habit #1) and keep a list of any questions you think of during the week.

Bring the list of questions with you, and don’t let them pile up.

If you let the questions pile up, you may start to feel overwhelmed, and you may become reluctant to seek help.

Habit #17: Use a planner to keep track of assignments and deadlines

If you’re not organised when it comes to things related to school , you’ll waste precious time doing last-minute work you forgot about.

Or you may stay up late to finish an assignment you should have started a week earlier.

Use a planner to keep track of important dates, tasks and deadlines. You can either use a physical diary or an online one like Google Calendar.

The important thing is to keep your planner up to date, so you don’t have to rely on your memory or wait for your teachers to remind you.

Planning and studying effectively will improve your test-taking skills and performance.

Don’t just include the date of a test, for example, when you use your planner. Include a reminder to start revising for the test well in advance.

And review your planner at least once a week. Every Monday, go through all the upcoming deadlines, and prioritise the tasks and projects you’ll need to keep on top of for the week.

Habit #18: Test yourself periodically

Don’t wait for regular tests and exams to come around before you start studying. Set mini-tests for yourself every few weeks.

You may have reviewed your class notes once, but it doesn’t mean the information has been absorbed or effectively memorised for a future exam.

Here’s how to test yourself…

When you review your class notes, highlight some of the key things you’ve learned.

For example, in history it might be the date of an important event. Write down some test questions on a separate sheet of paper as you go, such as “When did the war start?” or “What caused the civil war?”

The next day, pull out the test questions and see how many answers you can remember.

It takes some effort to succeed at a test you give yourself, but that effort will be rewarded when it comes to exam time.

Habit #19: Check your work before you consider it done

When you finish an assignment, don’t consider it done until you’ve double-checked your work for careless mistakes.

Here’s what you should be looking out for:

• Spelling mistakes
• Grammar mistakes
• Poor presentation
• Have I responded to the question?
• Have I left out key facts?
• Have I got the equations correct?

Habit #20: Keep a “worry” list

It’s common for students to worry about not doing well, but it’s a distracting pastime.

When you worry about something, it can hinder your ability to focus on learning and improving.

That’s why you need to keep a “worry” list.

Strange as it may sound, research has shown that writing down a list of your fears about school can actually improve your grades.

When you write down a list of your worries, it’s as though you’re unloading your anxieties and freeing up your brain to concentrate on learning.

So whenever a worry pops into your mind, write it down and move on.

Habit #21: Use online resources (if your teacher isn’t available)

Your teacher should be the first person you go to with a question or concern about the class material – unless you can easily find the answer on the Internet.

But if your teachers aren’t available when you need something clarified (which often happens in the middle of study time), there are some great online resources you can use.

Here are some of them:

• Khan Academy
• BBC Bitesize
• Mathispower4u

Habit #22: If you struggle with procrastination, use the Pomodoro Technique

Procrastination or a lack of focus is a big problem during study time.

We’ve already talked about the need to take regular breaks (see Habit #13), but there’s another method you might find useful.

It’s called the Pomodoro Technique.

The idea is that you’ll stay on top of your work if you break your study periods up into focused but manageable bursts of 25 minutes.

This is instead of trying to concentrate for two hours or more at a go, which takes a lot of energy and willpower.

The objective is to train your brain to focus on a task that needs to be completed and postpone all distractions until later.

Here’s how it works:

• Set a timer for 25 minutes
• Concentrate 100% on studying until the timer rings
• Take a five-minute break – and remember to step away from your desk
• Repeat until the end of your study session

Here are some apps you can try:

• Focus Booster – This is available for desktop and mobile devices. You can download the starter version for free.
• Marinara Timer – This one is free and doesn’t need downloading. Just open it up and start the timer.

Check out this article for even more apps you can use.

Start practising your new study habits

Well done! You’ve read about the 22 study habits that are guaranteed to improve your grades.

(On top of that, here are 8 bad study habits you’ll want to avoid.)

Reading about these habits is a great start. But nothing’s going to change if you just click away from this article.

If you’re wondering how to get good grades , you need to take action – every day, every week, and every month. Start tomorrow with just one new study habit. Make it part of your daily routine.

After a week, pick another one and put it into practice.

Before you know it, you’re going to turn those disappointing B’s and C’s into straight A’s. I guarantee it!

Like this article? Please share it with your friends.

July 31, 2019 at 7:50 pm

Thanks for the study habits, I will definitely use them in my daily life.

July 31, 2019 at 8:08 pm

You’re welcome, Greta.

August 1, 2019 at 3:03 pm

Thanks, Daniel, for making the points simple, clear and doable!

August 1, 2019 at 3:46 pm

You’re welcome!

August 2, 2019 at 8:53 am

thank you so much for the tips sir. my A/L are literally in next two days. it will be very helpful if you can send me some tips about how to work during the exam time and now…….TBH I just want to take at least 3Bs…..thank you again for everything.

August 2, 2019 at 10:56 am

You’re welcome. All the best for your exams! I’ve actually created this guide ( https://www.daniel-wong.com/taking-tests-exams/ ), which should help you do much better for your exams.

August 2, 2019 at 12:33 pm

Thank you so much…

August 3, 2019 at 6:14 am

Ur an amazing tutor Daniel!

August 3, 2019 at 8:14 am

I don’t really consider myself a tutor, but I’m glad that you found the article useful!

August 18, 2019 at 3:02 am

Thank you so much. You have been a great help! especially all your free pdfs have helped me be a lot more organized. Thanks a lot!

September 23, 2019 at 4:16 am

Great tips. Thank you Daniel for sharing

February 1, 2020 at 2:54 pm

You are great! I also remained an a grader for long but lost track with your tips I will be back

April 5, 2020 at 6:53 pm

Hi. Hope you doing well. Great tips. Are these tips good for the university too? or they are just for school time? BTW I read your website every day! You are amazing. God bless you

November 14, 2020 at 4:02 am

Some of them sound as if they are for university, so I would say both.

August 8, 2020 at 11:43 pm

Simply the best and so practical and nicely presented i like a lot. Keep it up!

Really good job doing for the students and even for professionals this is going to help a lot.

January 6, 2021 at 11:06 pm

Great article

January 7, 2021 at 9:31 pm

The most important habits I am trying to adopt this semester are #1 Create a weekly schedule. #3 Create a study plan. #4 Study offline as much as possible.

September 26, 2021 at 12:53 am

THIS IS GOING TO HELP ME THANKS.

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Top 7 Good Student Habits For Academic Triumph

Jane Ng • 08 Aug 2023 • 5 min read

Are you looking for good student habits ? –  Becoming a successful student is not just about innate talent; it’s about adopting the right habits and strategies that make learning efficient and enjoyable. If you find yourself struggling with your studies or looking for ways to enhance your performance, you’ve come to the right place!

In this blog post, we’ll share 7 essential good student habits (+tips to conduct) that can transform your approach to study to help you achieve outstanding results. Let’s begin the journey!

Table of Contents

• #1 – Effective Note-taking
• #2 – Avoid Procrastination
• #3 – Limiting Distractions
• #4 – Review Material Regularly
• #5 – Time Management 
• #6 – Collaborate with Peers
• #7 – Balance Study and Relaxation

Final Thoughts

#1 – Effective Note-taking – Good Student Habits

By applying effective note-taking techniques, you’ll be able to create a clear and organized set of notes that effectively capture the essence of the lecture. Reviewing such notes regularly will reinforce your understanding of the material and aid in exam preparation. 

Here are detailed tips:

Use Bullet Points: 

• Instead of writing long paragraphs, use bullet points to jot down key ideas, main concepts, and supporting details. 

Highlight Key Concepts:

• Use highlighters or different colored pens to emphasize important terms, dates, or formulas. 
• Highlighting helps critical information stand out, making it easier to review later.

#2 – Avoid Procrastination – Good Student Habits

Procrastination – the arch-nemesis of every student. Avoiding procrastination is all about taking charge of your time and outsmarting those sneaky temptations that lure you away from your tasks. Here’s a simple strategy to stay on top of your assignments:

• Start Assignments Early:   No need to finish it all in one go – just make a start! Starting early lets you spread the workload over several days, saving you from the stress-induced time crunch of last-minute submissions.
• Set Mini-Deadlines:  Break your assignment into smaller, manageable chunks, and assign deadlines for each part. 

#3 – Limiting Distractions – Good Student Habits

Let’s be real – with all the buzz and beeps from our digital devices, staying focused on our studies can feel like a high-stakes challenge. So, as a good student, you need to: 

• Turn Off Social Media Notifications:  It’s hard to resist the allure of the “ping” and the “ding,” but this simple act can work wonders for your focus.
• Use Website Blockers:  By setting up these virtual barriers, you create a focused environment where the internet serves as a tool for learning, not a gateway to distraction. 

#4 – Review Material Regularly – Good Student Habits

Reviewing material regularly is a “secret weapon” for retaining information and cementing your understanding of the subjects you love. It helps you to solidify the information in your memory and identify any areas where you need more practice or understanding.

• Set Aside Time Each Week:  Don’t let that newfound knowledge slip through your fingers like sand. Instead, make it a habit to set aside a special moment each week for review to sharpen your memory. 
• Reinforcing Your Understanding:  The more you review, the more confident you become in your knowledge, which means tackling future challenges with ease.

#5 – Time Management – Good Student Habits

Time management helps you make the most of your precious hours. By organizing your tasks and setting priorities, you can accomplish more in less time, leaving room for other activities or relaxation.

• Create a Weekly Study Schedule:  Consider all your subjects, assignments, and other commitments. Be the architect of your study plan, arranging time blocks that suit your rhythm and preferences. 
• Allocate Specific Time Slots:  Allocating specific time slots for each subject or task brings structure and focus to your study sessions.
• Stick to It to Avoid Last-Minute Cramming:  Avoid the stress-induced race against time by following your schedule faithfully. With steady progress and consistent effort, you’ll stand tall, confident, and prepared when exam day arrives. 

#6 – Collaborate with Peers – Good Student Habits

When you collaborate with peers, you gain access to a diverse range of perspectives and ideas. Each person brings unique insights and approaches to problem-solving, broadening your understanding of a subject.

Here are steps on how study groups can turn learning into a delightful adventure:

• Form Study Groups:  Gather your classmates or friends, and create a study circle where minds unite and ideas flow freely.
• Discuss Ideas:  Different perspectives ignite a fire of understanding, and together, you uncover layers of insight you might have missed along with live  word cloud ,  brainstorming tools .
• Share Knowledge:  Share your expertise, and in return, receive the wealth of others’ knowledge. By pooling your collective wisdom, you build a wealth of information that enriches every member of the group.
• Quiz Each Other for Exams:  Challenge each other with questions, testing your knowledge and memory. Use  live quizzes  to sharpen your skills, identify areas that need reinforcement, and boost your confidence for the grand showdown.

#7 – Balance Study and Relaxation – Good Student Habits

Finding the perfect balance between focused learning and much-needed downtime is the secret to maintaining peak performance. 

• Take Short Breaks During Study Sessions:  After focusing intently for a set period, pause, and let your mind wander for a few minutes. Stretch, grab a snack, or simply close your eyes and breathe. These mini-getaways recharge your mental batteries, allowing you to return to your studies with renewed energy and focus.
• Engage in Hobbies to Destress:  Whether it’s painting, playing a musical instrument, or taking a stroll in nature, hobbies offer a precious respite from the hustle and bustle of academic life. They are the soothing balm that calms your mind and nourishes your soul, leaving you refreshed and ready to conquer new academic challenges.
• Create a Study-Rest Routine:  Design a study-rest routine that works for you. Set specific study periods with planned breaks, and schedule dedicated time for your hobbies or other leisure activities. This structured approach ensures you have the best of both worlds – the satisfaction of progress in your studies and the joy of unwinding in your free time.

Cultivating good student habits is the cornerstone of academic success and personal growth. By adopting practices these habits, you can unlock your full potential and excel in your studies. These habits not only enhance academic performance but also instill valuable life skills such as discipline, organization, and critical thinking.

Furthermore,  AhaSlides  is an innovative tool that empowers you to engage your learning in exciting ways. With  interactive features  and  templates , AhaSlides enhances classroom participation and makes studying a dynamic and enjoyable experience.

What is the best habit for a student? 

The best habit for a student really depends on the individual student and their learning style. However, some habits that are generally considered to be beneficial for students include: Effective note-taking, avoiding procrastination, limiting distractions, regular review of material, and practicing time management.

What are 5 habits for good studying? 

Here are 5 habits for good studying: Take regular breaks during study sessions to stay focused, create a study schedule and stick to it, actively engage with the material through note-taking and discussions, review previous lessons regularly to reinforce understanding, use interactive tools like quizzes to enhance learning.

Ref:  OSWAL

A writer who wants to create practical and valuable content for the audience

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12 Habits Of Successful Students: Turn Small Actions Into Big Wins

Maybe they aren’t cut out for the advanced classes they’re enrolled in.

Maybe their friends are a bad influence and are impacting their grades.

Maybe we need to drop everything and double down on study time.

But many times the story isn’t quite so dramatic.

When we work with kids, we often find that it’s not that they hate learning, don’t want to try because it’s not “cool,” or have some fundamental deficiency in a particular subject. Instead, most of the time, it’s a few small things have gone wrong, and have started to accumulate over time. Things like:

• Missing a key concept in geometry class, which then causes them to not fully grasp the next concept, and they start to fall further and further behind.
• Not using their agenda book to keep track of assignments because they simply forget to bring it to class, or grab it from their backpacks when they get home.
• Doing poorly on exams because they don’t think to plan ahead and incorporate a little bit of studying each day rather than cramming it all in at the last minute.

In this post, we cover 12 habits of successful students, and how you can use these small, manageable actions to create some big wins for you and your child.

These aren’t the grandiose commitments you’ll see attached to most people’s New Year’s resolutions this year, that in their wild ambition are almost always doomed to failure. But instead are reasonable tweaks you can make to the routines and strategies your family already has in place to start to turn things around.

If there’s a specific section you’d like to tackle first, here’s a quick reference table of contents that will take you there:

Habit 1: The basics of time management and planning ahead Habit 2: Don’t just get organized, they stay organized Habit 3: Distribute your practice Habit 4: Taking notes in class Habit 5: Study using active recall Habit 6: Approach your mistakes correctly Habit 7: Make friends you can study with Habit 8: Rock solid morning and evening routines Habit 9: Parents: Give them the tools but don’t do it for them Habit 10: Know how to ask for help, but try to find the answer first Habit 11: Parents: Don’t focus on motivation, focus on behavior Habit 12: School isn’t everything

Otherwise let’s jump in!

1. Successful students have a basic handle on time management and planning ahead

Time management is a struggle for a lot of students, especially as assignments become more complex.

But they don’t have to be planning experts to be successful. If we break it down into the simplest time management habits of successful students, there are a few things almost all of them do:

They use a planner.

The simple act of writing down their assignments is the cornerstone of staying on top of their schoolwork , having a better sense of when things need to be done, and making the best use of their time after school. Often just the act of getting something down on paper or putting an assignment into a digital calendar is enough to set off a chain of events that leads to homework getting done on time, and projects getting started earlier than the day before they’re due.

They set small goals.

They use a planner or learning management system (like Schoology or Canvas) to write out what they’re going to do, but not in big general terms like “study for math test.” Rather, they break it down into smaller goals like: “spend 15 minutes working on fractions worksheet.” This makes it easier to get started, and easier to see progress.

They learn to pay attention to a watch or clock.

This is one of those “duh” type habits, but it’s one that a lot of kids don’t develop. Without learning a sense of time from paying attention to how time actually passes, many students have a hard time estimating how long things will take, as well as how much time they’re spending on unproductive activities. Encourage them to check the clock or wear a watch on a regular basis .

2. They don’t just get organized, they stay organized

At this point, it’s no secret, we’re BIG on organization here at Educational Connections, because it’s one of the most effective tools you can use with your student to help them improve their performance in school. Oftentimes academic or behavioral issues are merely symptoms of disorganization and lack of routine.

Here are some of the top organizational habits of successful students:

• Set up a homework routine at a consistent time each day
• Get everything ready in the backpack the night before
• Color code and label folders and binders
• Schedule a weekly family “Clean Sweep” to get ready for the week ahead of time

Now it’s all well and good to put new habits in place, but the difficult part is getting them to stick. How many times have you reminded your son or daughter to write down their homework, only to find missed assignments a week later?

So not only do successful students work on their organization habits, they also work together with their families to monitor and revisit them to make sure they’re working . Here are some ways you might do that:

Discuss their responsibilities with them at dinnertime.

Make sure you’re not nagging, but just check in: “Hey, I know you said you liked the way we set up your homework folders for your classes. How’s that going? Is it helping you organize your assignments?”

Set aside time on Sundays to check-in.

You can even pair this with your Clean Sweep so that you’re uncovering all of the “mess” that may have accumulated as a result of failed organizational habits.

Lead by example.

Get your closet organized. Set your things for work out the night before. Spend time planning out your week, visibly, so your child can observe you in action. This is the most powerful way you can demonstrate the importance of organization habits for your kids.

3. They distribute their practice (a.k.a. they don’t cram)

If you’re lucky, maybe your son or daughter takes to studying like a diligent professional – planning ahead, setting aside time each day, and cruising into their quizzes and tests without so much as a hiccup to their usual bedtime.

Well, I can confidently say: most of us aren’t lucky.

Instead, most of us have kids who, although maybe they aren’t chronic “Crammers,” definitely have their moments where they wait until the last minute to study for their tests.

Why cramming doesn’t work

Because they don’t tend to have a strong sense of urgency until they are right up against a deadline, if they have a test on Thursday, they start getting ready on Wednesday night. This type of cramming can pay off in the immediate term, but when they need to learn information on a deeper level, it backfires.

Cramming only puts information into short-term memory , whereas learning it over many nights and sleeping on it (by the way, sleep is a fantastic study tool) stores it into long-term memory.

This is because of a concept called Distributed Practice.

Why distributed practice is so effective

Distributed practice (also known as “spaced repetition”), is just a fancy way of saying: study a little bit each day rather than cramming it all in the night before the test .

Studies show that when students use a concept called Distributed Practice, they are far more likely to do better on tests. For example, if your child has a test on Friday, he could study for an hour on Thursday night, but he would actually get a better grade if he took the same amount of time and distributed it over multiple days — 20 minutes Tuesday, 20 on Wednesday, and 20 on Thursday. The reason he’ll get a better grade is not because he’s reviewed the material multiple times; it’s that he’s slept on it.

When you learn information and then sleep on it, you’re consolidating that information into long-term memory . However, when you cram for a test, that information is learned at a superficial level, really for regurgitation the next day. It’s going into short-term memory. Long-term memory is more beneficial because when you have a test later on, say a month later, you’re much more likely to be able to retrieve it.

Okay, so how do we get our child to study in this way?

First, they have to want to change. In order for a different way of studying to work, he or she must recognize the problem and be willing to make modifications. If it’s not seen as an issue, all the parental suggestions in the world won’t work.

So have a chat with them . As difficult and exhausting as it is to stay up with a kid cramming for a math test last minute, you can bet that they don’t like it either, even if they claim they work better under pressure (a “tell” that they’re justifying their behavior).

I’ve found that kids who tend to cram are willing to plan ahead if they don’t feel like they have to do any more work than necessary and if they see the changes result in better grades (and they almost always do). The good news is that they often don’t have to put in more time, they just need to use it more efficiently.

Crammers also respond well to the suggestion of using “weird windows“. Sometimes, students think they need lengthy, dedicated time in which to study. And if they don’t have the perfect time and if they’re not in the ideal mood, they won’t do it. In actuality, they can use any chunk of time to get studying done. An example of a ”weird window” is the 15 minutes he or she’s waiting at a doctor’s office or that 20 minutes right before lacrosse practice starts. Those are weird windows, and you can chunk time for studying by getting a lot done in short periods of time.

4. They know how to take notes in class

There are definitely some students who get into class, pull out their notebooks and a pencil, and start transcribing everything the teacher says like an efficient note-taking robot.

There are other kids who will plop down at their desk and sit… comfortably listening (or not) to what the teacher has to say, until he or she notices said kid is doing nothing, and tells them to get out a piece of paper and write down what they’re saying.

The proper balance is somewhere in the middle, and there are any number of different note-taking methods successful students use . Here are a few you can introduce your child to if they don’t already have a good note-taking habit:

The Outline Method

Exactly as it sounds, the outline method is probably the most straightforward. Chances are if the teacher is organized they’ll present the material in an outline format already. Here the student’s job is to recognize when the teacher has moved onto a new topic, and keep their notes relatively organized underneath each topic (although it’s not an exact science).

The Free-Form Method

Let your child express their inner creativity by taking notes as they see fit. Drawing diagrams, linking notes together with a mind map… the danger here is if they take too many liberties and miss key information. But if your child is a bit more “outside the box” this may be something to explore.

The Cornell Method

The Cornell Method is a more advanced method probably best reserved for high school students. You record your notes during class in the right-hand column, and then formulate questions and terms on the left-hand side as soon after class as you can. You can then use these notes as a study guide, covering the right-hand side and trying to remember what each question or term means.

When it’s all said and done though, even just a rudimentary copying of what the teacher has on the board is a start, and you can build from there.

5. They study using active recall

Whether through an app like Quizlet or through old-fashioned physical note cards, students who practice recalling key information from memory almost always do better on quizzes and tests .

The official name for this practice is Active Recall , and the method is pretty straightforward.

Step 1: Write down the term, concept, or problem to solve.

Step 2: Write down or recite the definition, explanation, or answer without looking at any notes or information.

Step 3: Check your answer against your notes, and correct your mistakes.

In direct contrast to passively reading the textbook, or leafing through notes, this technique has been shown be the research to dramatically improve exam performance, and is one of the lesser known habits of successful students that people talk about.

6. They approach their mistakes correctly

Speaking of mistakes, the most successful students don’t dwell (and don’t avoid either) . Many times I’ve seen students who get down on themselves due to a missed question on an exam. Unfortunately, by viewing their mistakes in this way, they almost always ensure they won’t learn from them and improve the next time around.

So it’s important to help foster a growth mindset : the idea that your child’s skills and abilities aren’t fixed (e.g. they’re not “smart”) but can be improved over time with practice and effort (e.g. they’re hard workers and can become “smarter”).

With this type of self-talk (and encouragement from mom and dad), kids are much more likely to dig into their mistakes and work hard to correct them so that they learn what to do correctly the next time.

7. They make friends they can study with

Some kids are extroverts and have a vast network of friends they can reach out to at a moment’s notice. For others, making friends in class can feel like climbing Mt. Everest.

Regardless of your child’s natural temperament, having at least a few other classmates your son or daughter can reach out to in each class is critical .

Even with just one or two friends in class to text, your child can quickly clarify assignments, ask questions if they’re not sure about something from class, or set up a meeting time to study for an upcoming test. All of these will serve as a buffer against forgetting to write something down, missing a class due to absence, or just simply having some material go over their heads.

Even better, if they schedule a regular time to meet up over FaceTime, it can be a great accountability tool to make sure they’re staying on top of assignments and exams.

8. Successful students have morning and evening routines

The routines that frame the beginning and end of each day often determine the success or failure of that following school day for your child. And there are a few reasons for this:

A solid morning routine reduces stress

First, having a solid morning routine established not only for your son or daughter, but for the whole family, ensures that when they get up in the morning, they know exactly what they need to do to get ready for school. There’s no (well… let’s say less) negotiating, and less likelihood that they forget something critical like a homework assignment, an instrument, or their lunch.

And often, the tone that gets set at the beginning of the day determines the success of the remainder of the day: so a smooth, low-stress start to the school day gives your child the best chance at successful learning for the six or so hours they’re at school.

A solid evening routine ensures organization and rest

Second, having a clear and timely evening routine further facilitates organization, proper sleep, and preparedness for the following day. It’s tempting to let TV, the computer, or last-minute assignments throw a wrench into your plans – but unless your son or daughter find themselves in a critical circumstance, the bedtime routine should rarely be deviated from.

Both in combination, provide a consistent sleep schedule

Third, both consistent evening and morning routines facilitate a consistent sleep schedule. It cannot be overstated the magnitude of the negative impact lack of sleep, or even and inconsistent sleep schedule can have on a student’s ability to learn, ability to regulate their emotions, and the overall quality of their interactions with you, teachers, and other students each day. Having a set bedtime and wake-up time each morning dramatically increases the probability that they’ll get the rest they need, when they need it.

9. Their parents give them the tools they need, but don’t “do it for them”

I know, it’s tough to see your child struggle. Especially when you can see exactly what they’re doing wrong and you know you could just step in for a split second and help them correct the problem.

Unfortunately, while it’s absolutely critical to be loving and supportive of your child, helping them with their homework or studying when they could do it on their own does them a big disservice .

The more a student can expand their abilities and level of competence independently, the better – because not only does it set the stage for success in higher level classes in high school and college when mom and dad aren’t around (or don’t understand what they’re learning!), but for success in life when it’s time for them to experience the difficulties of navigating in the real world.

But that doesn’t mean we have to sit and observe from the sidelines. In fact, the language you use as a parent to guide and encourage your child can actually make or break their success as a student .

We already talked about the importance of fostering a “growth mindset” above, but what you can also do is use questions to facilitate thinking and planning ahead. We call these Powerful Questions .

For example, you could ask questions like:

• What are your priorities today?
• What’s the one thing you might do to study for your science test?
• Going forward, what’s the one thing you might do differently?

The benefit of framing your conversations with your child about school in this way is that you spark thinking instead of telling them what to do. You give them the tools to figure out what to do, without actually doing it for them. This is the balance the parents of the most successful students strike. Additionally, critical thinking is a crucial component of learning. These tasks and learning ideas are taught in many schools all around the world. You can get in touch with any skilled critical thinking essay writing provider for this.

10. They know how to ask for help, but try to find the answer themselves first

On the flip side, one of the most consistent habits of successful students we observe is their comfort and ability to ask for help when they need it .

These students are much less concerned with what their teachers and classmates will think when they ask a question about something they don’t understand, and a lot of this comes from the growth vs. fixed mindset distinction we discussed earlier. They know that in order to learn they’re going to have to ask questions when they don’t understand something because they aren’t expected to know everything right off the bat.

That all being said, these students also know that they need to put in the effort to try to find the answer themselves first . Whether that’s looking back through their class notes, reviewing the textbook for explanations and examples, or using Google to try to find what they need. If they’ve done their best to try to figure it out, but still are stumped, they don’t hesitate to ask the teacher, mom and dad, or a friend for help.

Note: Age is a factor here. Elementary-age students aren’t going to have the self-direction to find the answer themselves as readily as middle or high school students, so they’re going to require a bit more help. However, as a parent, you should encourage them to do as much as they can independently as early as they can to foster those independent learning skills.

11. Their parents aren’t focused on motivation, they’re focused on behavior

Motivation comes and goes in waves, and if your son or daughter depends on these waves to get their work done, it’s going to be difficult for them to make consistent progress.

As a parent then, it’s your job to help your child understand that even if they’re feeling down or tired, they can still do their work , even if they have to go back and fix it later. Having something down on paper is better than nothing, and often once they start to make a little bit of progress on an assignment, that motivation all a sudden reappears to help them continue to work through it.

• To do this, prioritize behaviors over motivation. We all know the cliche of “going through the motions,” but for developing habits, this is actually preferred. Change your language to fit this concept: you don’t have to feel good to get your work done, you just have to try. And in fact, when parents stop focusing on motivation (e.g. “You need to care more about school!” ), students are often left with the space they need to find their own self-motivation to learn and succeed.

12. They know school isn’t everything

And their parents aren’t only focused on their academic success.

It can be easy to focus in on the marks that show up on a graded exam or on report cards because that’s an easy measurement to look at and keep track of. But there are plenty of other ways that our kids can develop and succeed, and acknowledging those wins outside of school actually goes a long way towards helping them be successful in school.

Contrary to what you would think, the most successful students don’t tie their whole identity to their school performance . It’s just one facet of what makes them who they are, and this relieves the pressure to succeed in one area that can often be devastating when they encounter challenges and failure.

Think about it this way: if your son feels that his value as a person is highly tied up in how well he does at the end of the quarter in his biology class… then if he has a bad day and does poorly on an exam, it can have severe consequences psychologically. In that way, putting such a high importance on doing well academically is actually preventing him from continuing to learn, because taking an inevitable “loss” isn’t as easy to overcome and learn from.

If instead he also knows that he’s valued for his sportsmanship on the basketball court, his success in building his own gaming computer, and his ability to make his brothers and sisters laugh at the dinner table, that failed bio exam is less of a blow, and more easy to brush off and try again.

Habits of Successful Students You Can Implement Today

Now like we said at the outset of this post: small behavioral changes are what lead to big long-term results. So trying to help your child uproot their academic habits all at once is a recipe for failure.

To get the most out of the changes you could make this year, read through the list above, and choose 1-3 changes you can implement this week.

How are you going to introduce those changes to your child or your family?

What will you do to ensure you succeed?

And what will you use as your criteria for success to know if they’re fruitful or not?

Choose the habits you want to work on, answer those questions, and then give it a try.

At Educational Connections, we are always learning new tips and strategies to help families like you. We hope you found this article useful and click here to stay up to date with more tips for your child’s academic journey!

Whatever your child’s learning goals may be, we have experts available to help through virtual one-to-one subject tutoring, test prep, and executive function coaching.

Ages & Stages

Developing good homework habits.

Some children get right down to work without much encouragement. Others need help making the transition from playing to a homework frame of mind. Sometimes providing a ten-minute warning is all it takes to help a child get ready mentally as well as to move to the place she intends to work.

There is no universally right time to do homework. In some families, children do best if they tackle their homework shortly after returning home from school in the mid afternoon; other youngsters may do best if they devote the after-school hours to unwinding and playing, leaving their homework until the evening, when they may feel a renewed sense of vigor. Let your child have some say in the decision making. Homework can often become a source of conflict between parent and child—"Johnny, why can't you just do your homework with­out arguing about it?"—but if you agree on a regular time and place, you can eliminate two of the most frequent causes of homework-related dissension.

Some parents have found that their children respond poorly to a dictated study time (such as four o'clock every afternoon). Instead, youngsters are given guidelines ("No video games until your homework is done"). Find out what works best for both your child and the family as a whole. Once this is de­termined, stick with it.

Some youngsters prefer that a parent sit with them as they do their home­work. You may find this an acceptable request, particularly if you have your own reading or paperwork to complete. However, do not actually do the homework for your child. She may need some assistance getting focused and started and organizing her approach to the assignment. Occasionally, you may need to ex­plain a math problem; in those cases, let your child try a couple of problems first before offering to help. But if she routinely requires your active participation to get her everyday homework done, then talk to her teacher. Your child may need stronger direction in the classroom so that she is able to complete the assign­ments on her own or with less parental involvement. One area where children may need parental help is in organizing how much work will have to be done daily to finish a long assignment, such as a term paper or a science project.

If your child or her teacher asks you to review her homework, you may want to look it over before she takes it to school the next morning. Usually it is best if homework remains the exclusive domain of the child and the teacher. However, your input may vary depending on the teacher's philosophy and the purpose of homework. If the teacher is using homework to check your child's understand­ing of the material—thus giving the teacher an idea of what needs to be empha­sized in subsequent classroom teaching sessions—your suggestions for changes and improvements on your child's paper could prove misleading. On the other hand, if the teacher assigns homework to give your child practice in a particular subject area and to reinforce what has already been taught in class, then your participation can be valuable. Some teachers use homework to help children develop self-discipline and organizational and study skills. Be sure to praise your youngster for her efforts and success in doing her homework well.

In general, support your child in her homework, but do not act as a taskmas­ter. Provide her with a quiet place, supplies, encouragement, and occasional help—but it is her job to do the work. Homework is your youngster's respon­sibility, not yours.

As the weeks pass, keep in touch with your child's teacher regarding home­work assignments. If your youngster is having ongoing problems—difficulty understanding what the assignments are and how to complete them—or if she breezes through them as though they were no challenge at all, let the teacher know. The teacher may adjust the assignments so they are more in sync with your youngster's capabilities.

Whether or not your child has homework on a particular night, consider reading aloud with her after school or at night. This type of shared experience can help interest your child in reading, as well as give you some personal time with her. Also, on days when your child does not have any assigned home­work, this shared reading time will reinforce the habit of a work time each evening.

To further nurture your child's love of reading, set a good example by spend­ing time reading on your own, and by taking your youngster to the library and/or bookstore to select books she would like to read. Some families turn off the TV each night for at least thirty minutes, and everyone spends the time reading. As children get older, one to two hours may be a more desirable length of time each day to set aside for reading and other constructive activities.

As important as it is for your child to develop good study habits, play is also important for healthy social, emotional, and physical growth and develop­ment. While encouraging your child to complete her assignments or do some additional reading, keep in mind that she has already had a lengthy and per haps tiring day of learning at school and needs some free time. Help her find the play activities that best fit her temperament and personality—whether it is organized school sports or music lessons, free-play situations (riding her bike, playing with friends), or a combination of these.

Supporting good study habits

Earning a perfect (or near perfect) GPA is an attainable goal for sure — your student just needs a plan. It can’t hurt to be proactive and talk with your student as the new semester begins. The next time you have some time with your student, ask them about school, “Ready for school?” or “How’s school going?” If they’re struggling, share some of the tips below and help them get started.

It also helps to be prepared when your student comes to you with questions or opens up about grades, stress or upcoming assignments. 

Here are our best student tips for earning a 4.00.

Keep assignments organized 

A monthly or daily calendar, whether digital or paper, is a good way to keep track of assignments. There are endless options available. A few favorite recommendations: 

Use the calendar and notepad on their smartphone.

Use a handy pocket planner and organizer that includes a calendar with note section.

Evernote , a save everything app

Don’t forget to add in earlier reminders along with the assignment due date.

Don’t procrastinate

Even though we all know it’s not good to put things off until the last minute, it happens. One of the most important things to realize is that putting things off puts your student at a disadvantage. While your student doesn’t need to complete each assignment immediately, they should review it and start planning earlier by documenting what it’s going to take to get it done. This will help your student estimate the difficulty and give them time to seek out resources or help without running out of time. It’s pressure-free and they might even have time to polish up their work! 

Take notes in class

Your student should pick the note-taking method that best compliments their learning style. If they’re not sure, they can try them all before settling on “the one”. Don’t forget your laptop or trusty pen(cil) and paper. And of course, get to class on time!

Designate a study area

Studying in a workspace that allows you to avoid distractions, like a quiet area with a table, is often the most productive option. That way, your student can spread out and focus quickly. Students should find and create their go to place to do homework assignments, study for tests and quizzes, plan projects, put together presentations, and write papers.

Prioritize study time

Not all subjects are not created equal. When it comes to studying, focus more time on the harder subjects. If math is harder for you than English, they should spend more time studying more for math than English. Instead of cramming for tests, break study time into daily chunks. They’ll remember the material more easily, reduce stress and do better in the long run.

Class schedule balance

Students should avoid taking too many hard classes in the same semester, or four piece-of-cake classes. Balance allows students to focus more of their time on a couple hard classes and less of their time on the easier classes. See #5 above.

Take advantage of free tutoring

It’s how your student can stay ahead. Tutors help reinforce the things your student knows and can help them understand their academic struggles. And if you spend a little time at tutoring making sure you’re totally getting the concepts, you’re more likely to bounce back quicker if you fall off track in the class.

Go to professors’ office hours

Students should get to know their instructors. Every professor has open office hours  for at least an hour a week. They know that students who seek them out are taking their class seriously. Encourage your student to take the opportunity to talk with them about any course material they have questions about.

Eat well, sleep and exercise

A healthy body = a healthy mind. We all realize that the healthier we eat and the more we exercise, the better we feel. The better your student feels, the more ready they are to absorb information and perform well in their classes. 

Keep the goal in mind

There’s no way around it — going for a 4.00 means sacrifices will have to be made. Though your student won’t have to give up their social life entirely, they might have to occasionally skip some fun activities with friends. They should just keep reminding themselves of their goal. They shouldn’t freak out if they get a B. They can get some Bs and still earn a 4.00. They can make up for them by getting some A-pluses. If they ace the classes that come easier and do pretty well in the tougher classes, they can still stay in 4.00 territory.

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Insideout Mastery

Create a Life You Love

121 Good Habits to Have for Well-Being, Success, and Happiness

August 1, 2023 by Mick

Good habits are the best tool to drive massive action and become a better version of yourself every day.

Stacking good habits generates momentum, forming the foundation for well-being, personal growth, and success. And they work on auto-pilot, eliminating the need for sheer willpower and motivation.

But what are some good habits to have in life?

This article provides inspiration.

So, let’s dive in!

What are good habits?

• Importance of positive habits

Good habits vs bad habits

How to develop good habits.

• 121 Good habits to have

Beyond good habits

Good habits are the consistent positive behaviors that contribute to your well-being, growth, and success. The best habits are personal and align with your goals, values, and aspirations.

Examples of good personal habits include:

• Writing habits if you want to become a writer
• Learning habits if you want to pursue continuous growth
• Cooking habits if you want to eat healthier but delicious meals
• Exercise habits if you want to achieve optimal energy levels

Once you develop a good habit, it becomes an automatic action that propels you forward without giving it much thought or willpower.

Habits save mental energy.

Rather than negotiating with yourself on whether you should or shouldn’t do something today, you just do it.

For example, going to the gym has become a non-negotiable activity for me. Even when I’m hungover, I’ll at least go out for a run.

That’s the power of better habits.

The importance of positive habits

Motivation and willpower fluctuate throughout the day and week. And relying on them isn’t a good long-term strategy for success.

Exercise is a great example. 

New Year’s resolution statistics show that countless people want to work out more. People feel fired up at the beginning of each year. Yet, a staggering 64% quit their resolution by February.

While motivation and willpower provide an initial boost, it fails as a long-term fuel source to drive action. Transforming motivation into a new habit is essential for lasting self-discipline .

Having a stack of good habits fosters continuous self-improvement , goal success , and well-being – without much effort.

There are obvious good habits like exercise. And there are obvious bad habits like smoking and excessive drinking.

But the best habits depend on the following:

• Support your personal growth, well-being, and success .
• Align with your life goals , values , and desired outcomes.
• Contribute to your physical and mental health.
• Lead to balanced, positive long-term results.

This idea also gives us clues to the characteristics of a bad habit:

• Increase overwhelm, anxiety, and stress.
• Don’t help you achieve your goals and ambitions.
• Have detrimental effects on your health and wellness.
• And disturb the balance of development in the key areas of your life: personal growth, well-being, success, and fulfillment.

Some harmful habits are difficult to identify – especially when they’re generally seen as good habits.

Let’s clarify that.

Is reading one self-help book per day a good habit? I would say so. But reading one book per day also costs a lot of time. And if you want to become a better writer, then reading takes from your writing time.

After all, everyone only has 24 hours in a day.

And we often get caught up in “busy work” – or “busy habits” in this case – and no longer think about the most effective usage of our time.

The idea is simple: Your best habits align with your highest priorities.

Watch out for becoming too busy with “good habits” that do not or no longer serve your goals, improve well-being, or foster fulfillment. 

We already covered how to build habits through a simple step-by-step process. Here’s a summary of those steps:

• Identify your goals
• Start small
• Create a plan
• Set reminders
• Practice daily
• Monitor progress
• Celebrate milestones
• Reflect and adjust
• Build on success

Read this habits guide for a thorough breakdown.

121 Good habits to have every day

The most important habit you can develop aligns with personal goals , ambitions, and dreams. 

What good habit would make the biggest impact on the quality of your life?

That’s the best new habit to develop.

If you want to become a writer, writing should be your priority.

If you want to lose weight, eating healthy and exercising are musts.

The best habit is personal and helps you achieve your goals.

Alternatively, start your day with an easy habit. Then, use the momentum gained to create more challenging or keystone habits.

For example, making coffee and reading inspires me to get out of bed. So I started with those habits. Once I read a few pages, I went straight into my keystone habit: writing.

Struggling to identify your keystone habit?

The list of good habits below is always a good place to start. They benefit everyone and provide a strong foundation.

10 Good daily habits to have for success, fulfillment, and well-being

Do you want to live your best life? Here’s a short list of my favorite daily habits to have in life:

• Set daily goals : Focus on actions within your control to boost motivation and make progress towards your dream.
• Read life-changing books : Gain insights from the greatest minds in any field or check out my book recommendations .
• Exercise: A workout routine improves energy, boosts self-esteem, and increases overall health.
• Seek clarity: Clarify your values, goals, learnings, daily tasks, vision, mission, and more to keep them top of mind.
• Reflect often : Look back at your past to learn from your mistakes and review the obstacles, and progress on your goals.
• Wake up early: Accomplish meaningful tasks and habits early in the morning, setting you up for an amazing day.
• Focus on character growth: Compete with your past self and aim to become better, smarter, and stronger.
• Practice thinking: Engage in deliberate and critical thinking to enhance problem-solving abilities and ignite your creative genius.
• Focus on what you can control : Take responsibility and focus on what you can control to foster a positive and proactive mindset.
• Smile: Cultivate the simple daily habit of smiling to improve your mood, feel amazing, and enjoy its many other benefits.

These positive habits mainly focus on self-improvement, well-being, creativity, and success. Areas I value a lot to live a happy life.

15 Good health and eating habits

Healthy habits improve your energy levels, boost your mood, impact aging, and affect your mental well-being.

• Stay hydrated: Drink enough water throughout the day to boost and maintain energy and concentration levels.
• Limit processed foods: Reduce consumption of processed foods to avoid unhealthy fats, sugars, and additives.
• Eat the rainbow: Consume nutritious, healthy foods, including various fruits and vegetables, to promote overall vitality.
• Eat less often: Give your body a break to cleanse itself, promoting health and longevity. I enjoy intermittent fasting .
• Strength training: Increasing or maintaining strength is useful for everyone, but it’s especially important as you age.
• Aerobic training: Maintain good heart health and stay sharp with endurance exercises like running or swimming.
• Exercise daily: Pick your favorite sport or workout routine to improve your well-being and physical health.
• Practice portion control: Being mindful of portion sizes is a healthy way to control your weight and prevent overeating.
• Practice mindful eating: Pay attention to food choices and chew thoroughly, leading to healthy eating habits.
• Manage stress levels: Engage in stress-reducing activities such as daily meditation, deep breathing, and hobbies.
• Practice good hygiene: Regular handwashing, dental care, and general cleanliness prevent germs from spreading.
• Limit alcohol intake: Moderate alcohol consumption promotes liver health, better energy levels and improves overall well-being.
• Practice regular stretching: Incorporate stretching exercises to improve flexibility and prevent muscle stiffness.
• Maintain a healthy posture: Proper posture supports spinal health, prevents back pain, and promotes overall body alignment.
• Practice safe sun exposure: Wear sunscreen and sunglasses to minimize the risk of sunburn, premature aging, and skin cancer.

Adopting these habits improves energy, well-being, physical health, vitality, and longevity. 

10 Good sleep habits

Good sleep habits are essential for optimal energy, peak productivity , and overall well-being throughout the day.

• Get enough sleep: Sufficient sleep rejuvenates the body, improves cognitive function, and increases mental alertness.
• Maintain a consistent sleep schedule: Go to bed and wake up at consistent times to improve sleep quality and reduce drowsiness.
• Create a bedtime routine : Establish a relaxation routine that signals your body to unwind and prepare for sleep.
• Keep your sleep environment comfortable: Aim for a dark and quiet bedroom at a comfortable temperature.
• Limit exposure to screens before bed: Avoid devices with blue light emission, as they interfere with your sleep cycle.
• Avoid stimulating substances: Minimize or avoid using caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol near bedtime.
• Use your bed for sleep and intimacy only: Avoid stimulating activities like working or watching TV in bed.
• Plan your day: Plan your tasks for the day ahead improves productivity and reduces overthinking and stress.
• Journal your worries away : Write about your struggles, emotions, and concerns to clear the mind for a good night of sleep.
• Practice relaxation techniques: Progressive muscle relaxation, guided imagery, or aromatherapy relaxes the body and mind.

Establish a healthy sleep routine and you’ll feel better and experience greater mental clarity, creativity, and productivity.

20 Good morning habits to start the day

Good morning habits set the tone for your day. Achieve some goals and habits to feel accomplished by the time the rest of the world awakens.

• Wake up early: Start your day early to work on an empowering morning routine checklist that sets you up for success, rather than having to rush for work.
• Make your bed: Achieve a quick win to start your day with a sense of accomplishment and self-discipline.
• Drink a glass of water: Replenish your body with water after a night of sleep to rehydrate yourself and kickstart your metabolism.
• Practice gratitude: Expressing gratitude every single morning promotes a positive mindset and sets the tone for a joyful day.
• Light stretching: Stretch or practice yoga in the morning to boost circulation, energy levels, and flexibility.
• Eat a healthy breakfast: Fuel your body with a healthy meal to gain essential nutrients early in the day.
• Meditation or mindfulness: Take a few minutes to cultivate mental clarity, focus, and inner peace.
• Practice personal grooming: Take care of personal hygiene and groom yourself to boost confidence.
• Review your goals: Review your tasks and short- and long-term goals to keep them at the forefront of your mind.
• Engage in positive affirmations: Speak positive self-talk aloud to improve self-esteem and create an empowering mindset.
• Read or listen to inspiring content: Stimulate your mind through books, podcasts, or educational videos.
• Prioritize important tasks: Tackle the most important task early in the morning when your mind is fresh and focused.
• Avoid excessive screen time: Minimize screen exposure in the morning to reduce distractions and promote mental clarity.
• Take a moment for self-reflection : Spend a few moments reflecting on your growth and areas for improvement.
• Practice deep breathing: Incorporate exercises like the Wim Hof Method to oxygenate your body and feel amazing.
• Listen to uplifting music: Start your day with uplifting and positive songs to enhance your mood.
• Joyful dance: Dancing can be a fun way to set a positive mood and foster mental well-being.
• Get natural light: Step outside to soak in natural sunlight, which regulates your body’s internal clock.
• Express acts of kindness: Begin your day with a small act of kindness, such as sending a thoughtful message.
• Smile and laugh: Start your day with a genuine smile and find something that makes you laugh to boost your mood and well-being.

Most people start with a snooze and later rush to work. Instead, take charge of your morning to promote growth, well-being, and success.

15 Good self-care and mental habits

Good mental habits are essential when poor mental health is a serious problem. Here are a few habits for mental peace:

• Practice mindfulness: Being present in the moment helps reduce stress, enhance focus, and improve overall well-being.
• Cultivate gratitude: Keep a gratitude journal to promote positivity and a greater sense of happiness and fulfillment.
• Engage in positive self-talk: Use positive affirmations and self-encouragement to boost your self-esteem.
• Challenge negative beliefs : Challenge and reframe negative thoughts to promote resilience and foster a positive outlook.
• Foster self-compassion: Be kind and forgiving toward yourself to improve mental and physical well-being.
• Engage in creative acts : Participate in creative pursuits to enhance cognitive, problem-solving, and creative skills.
• Engage in hobbies: Pursue hobbies and leisure activities that provide an outlet for relaxation, joy, and personal fulfillment.
• Prioritize self-care: Regularly engage in physical activity and other forms of self-care and relaxation to nurture yourself.
• Practice forgiveness: Let go of grudges and practice forgiveness to reduce resentment and promote inner peace.
• Limit media consumption: Be mindful of media intake and information overload to improve clarity, focus, and peace.
• Practice self-reflection : Regularly reflect on experiences, emotions, and goals to increase self-awareness.
• Maintain a positive attitude : A positive attitude promotes resilience, well-being, and a productive work environment.
• Connect with nature: Spending time outdoors reduces stress, improves your mood, and enhances overall well-being.
• Read for pleasure: Engage in reading for fun to calm your mind, reduce stress, and promote relaxation.
• Schedule downtime: Allow regular periods of relaxation and schedule a rest day to promote rejuvenation and prevent burnout.

Incorporating self-care habits on a daily basis promotes balance, well-being, fulfillment, and increases the overall quality of your life.

20 Good work and productivity habits

Good work habits boost productivity, proactiveness, and better collaboration, empowering you to level up in your career.

• Take the initiative : Take ownership of tasks and responsibilities to demonstrate leadership and drive success.
• Be punctual: Being on time shows respect for others’ time and makes you appear more professional.
• Maintain a clean workspace: An organized, clutter-free workspace promotes focus, efficiency, and creativity.
• Go the extra mile: Exceed expectations, build your reputation, and stand out in your field.
• Practice effective communication: Clear communication fosters teamwork, minimizes errors, and enhances efficiency.
• Seek feedback: Ask for feedback to stimulate growth and continuous improvement in work performance.
• Improve time management skills: Utilize time-blocking, prioritization, and avoid multitasking for optimal productivity.
• Maintain work-life balance: Strike a balance between work and personal life to enhance overall well-being and reduce burnout.
• Build positive relationships: Connect with colleagues and root for their success to promote collaboration.
• Practice proactive problem-solving: Anticipate challenges, think ahead, and find solutions to save time and resources.
• Learn a high-income skill : Upgrade your assets and stay updated with industry trends to maintain a professional edge.
• Celebrate accomplishments : Recognize and celebrate milestones to boost morale and motivate yourself and others.
• Prioritize tasks: Focus on high-priority tasks to achieve critical goals efficiently and effectively.
• Do The One Thing : Identify and act on the most impactful task to transform your character, career, and life.
• Set clear goals : Clearly defined goals provide direction and motivation, increasing productivity and success.
• Practice time blocking: Schedule blocks for different tasks to manage your time effectively and avoid distractions.
• Break tasks into smaller steps: Breaking complex tasks into smaller, manageable steps reduces procrastination.
• Minimize distractions: Create a distraction-free environment by turning off notifications and minimizing interruptions.
• Take regular breaks: incorporate short breaks between tasks or use the Pomodoro technique to increase focus.
• Use productivity tools : Utilize productivity apps, goal and task management systems , or project management tools to streamline your work.

Good productive habits improve your efficiency and effectiveness and lead to greater satisfaction in your work.

10 Good learning and study habits

Good study habits enable you to learn faster, memorize more, and shorten your learning curve.

• Establish a learning routine: Consistent study schedules enhance focus, productivity, and retention of information.
• Create a dedicated study space: Have a designated area to improve concentration and minimize distractions.
• Use active learning techniques: Engage in hands-on activities, discussions, and testing to improve comprehension and retention.
• Take thorough notes: Write and review notes to reinforce learning and organize information.
• Review your notes: Reflect on your notes on a regular basis to improve comprehension and retention.
• Use mnemonic devices: Mnemonics aid memory by associating information with visual or verbal cues, making recall easier.
• Break up complex learning: Break challenging subjects or assignments into manageable parts to reduce overwhelm.
• Use varied study methods: Employ techniques like reading, summarizing, visualizing, and teaching.
• Practice self-assessment: Engage in practice tests, quizzes, and self-evaluation to identify areas of improvement.
• Teach others: Explain concepts to others to solidify your understanding and reinforce your knowledge.

Incorporating good learning and study habits optimizes your learning potential and develops a lifelong love for knowledge acquisition.

11 Good social habits

Good social habits enable you to connect with others, gain more empathy and understanding, and build deeper relationships.

• Listen actively: Pay attention to others during conversations to increase understanding and empathy.
• Show empathy: Understand and share the feelings of others to foster compassion and build meaningful connections.
• Be respectful: Treat others with kindness and consideration to create a positive and harmonious social environment.
• Maintain boundaries: Respect personal boundaries and provide space to build trust.
• Initiate conversations: Take the initiative to start conversations, opening doors to better and new connections.
• Be reliable: Keep your commitments to build trust and improve your reputation as a reliable friend or colleague.
• Practice good manners: Politeness, courtesy, and basic etiquette contribute to a pleasant social atmosphere.
• Celebrate the success of others: Acknowledge and celebrate the achievements of others to build a supportive social network.
• Be inclusive: Value diversity and ensure everyone feels included to promote equality and foster a sense of belonging.
• Practice active engagement: Participate actively in social settings, events, and activities to feel good and build relationships.
• Be your most authentic self : Stay true to yourself and show genuine interest in others to create meaningful friendships.

Good social habits cultivate empathy, respect, inclusivity, and authenticity, fostering deeper and more meaningful relationships.

10 Good financial and money habits

While money isn’t everyone’s favorite topic, good wealth habits are essential to reduce stress and live a carefree financial life.

• Automate savings: Set up automatic transfers to a savings account to ensure consistent savings.
• Track your expenses: Monitor your spending habits to increase awareness, make better decisions, and manage your finances.
• Create a budget: Set a budget to allocate your income wisely, save money, and work towards financial goals.
• Live below your means: Spending less than you earn is the only way to achieve financial freedom, regardless of your income.
• Pay bills on time: Meet payment deadlines to maintain a good credit score and avoid late fees and penalties.
• Reduce debt: Use additional income to pay off debt to minimize interest payments and unlock financial freedom.
• Minimize impulse buying: Practice mindful spending and avoid impulsive purchases to control unnecessary expenses.
• Comparison shop: Research and compare prices before purchasing to find the best value for your money.
• Invest for the future: Invest in stocks, mutual funds, bonds, or retirement accounts to build a financially secure future.
• Stay informed: Keep up with financial news, market trends, and personal finance topics to make informed decisions.

Adopting good financial habits provides control over your money, builds wealth, and propels you towards your financial dreams and aspirations.

Routines transcend new habits into a chain of positive actions that elevate your well-being, success, and happiness.

And morning routines are a very effective way.

Your willpower is at its peak during morning hours. It sets the tone for the rest of your day. And crafting a well-designed morning routine increases consistency, focus, and intention. 

Imagine feeling accomplished before starting your workday.

A morning routine enabled me to make daily progress on my goals, eventually leading me to escape my 9 to 5.

I first learned how to set up powerful morning routines with the Morning Ritual Mastery program . And I bet you’ll love it, too, if you want to create a morning routine for lasting success and fulfillment.

What’s next?

Building good habits transforms your life. 

Just one keystone habit can ignite a major positive change. But even developing a few good habits from the list above leads to a happier life.

Key points discussed:

• The best habits to develop are your keystone habits, aligning with your goals, values, and aspirations.
• Good habits can become bad habits when they no longer serve your goals or take time away from higher-priority habits.
• A good habit stack contributes to various aspects of life, such as productivity, health, confidence, and long-term goal success.

Here are more resources to build good habits:

• Goals on Track is a goal-planning software with an integrated habit tracker, perfect for aligning your habits with your goals.
• Morning Ritual Mastery Course by Stefan James
• Best books about habits

Do you want exceptional habits to create a more authentic and meaningful life? Then sign up for the weekly newsletter below to gain my best personal growth tips and strategies straight into your inbox.

Mick is a personal growth enthusiast and was able to use it to transform his life. He now helps others pursue their dreams, create positive change, and build better lives through self-improvement.

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Study Habits Checklist

Study habits assessment.

To assess your personal study habits, please print and complete the study habits checklist .

Information from the printable self-assessment is included below.

Time Management

• Do you keep up to date in your text reading and other assignments?
• Do you have a study-schedule plan in which you set aside time each day for studying and reviewing?
• Do you schedule manageable study periods and frequent periods for review, interspersing 50-minutes of studying with 10-minute breaks?
• Do you read over the Table of  Contents of a book before you begin studying the book?
• Before studying the book, do you  take 10 minutes to thumb through the book as a whole to check for the presence of study aids such as glossaries, summaries, outlines, italicized or bold-faced words, and charts?
• Before each reading assignment, do you take 10-15 minutes to preview the chapter (familiarizing yourself with charts, illustrations, key words, summaries, etc.)?
• Do you write down questions based on the preview so that you approach your reading and class with an active inquiring mind?
• Do you look up or find the meaning of important new words and key terms?
• As you read an assignment, do you turn section headings into questions that  you actually are trying to answer?
• Do you find the main idea of each paragraph or section and repeat it aloud to yourself?
• Do you read one section of a chapter at a time rather than reading straight through the entire chapter?
• Do you seek out other reading materials in addition to assigned textbook sections if you need to strengthen your understanding?

Reading Review

• Do you utilize review questions or summaries at the end of a chapter to test your recall of what you’ve read?
• Do you write key terms and definitions on 3x5 note cards or notebook paper?

Remembering

• Do you display an interest or enthusiasm for a course to people around you  (fellow students, instructor, etc)?
• If you do not understand a concept, do you ask the instructor?
• When studying material to be remembered, do you try to summarize it or put it into your own words?
• Do you distribute the study of a lengthy assignment over several study sessions (less than an hour each)?
• Do you deliberately relate new or unfamiliar material to things that you already know?
• When studying information to be memorized, do you practice or review over many short sessions
• Do you always take class notes?
• Do you ask questions or initiate comments in each class?
• During class, do you try to compare or relate ideas being presented in class to ideas from the textbook?
• Do you approach each class with questions from your readings or preview?
• Do you review and edit your class notes within 24 hours?
• Do you write down possible test questions while reviewing your class notes?
• Do you review all your notes weekly?

Writing Papers

• Before starting to write a paper, do you collect information and ideas from other people or outside readings?
• Before writing a paper, do you make an outline OR list ideas and then organize them into a meaningful order?
• In writing a paper, do you clearly indicate the main ideas of the paper as well as each paragraph?
• In writing a paper, do you write a first draft, edit and rewrite the paper at least once?

Preparing for Examinations

• In studying for an examination, do you distribute your studying over at least 3 or 4 one-hour sessions?
• As you review, do you relate class notes to textbook notes to reinforce the  main ideas?
• Do you create memory devices, such as acronyms, to help you remember lists of terms, etc.?
• Do you make up examination questions that you think will be asked and then find the answers?
•  Do you get a normal amount of sleep the night before an exam so that you are well-rested and alert?

Taking Examinations

• When taking an exam, do you first carefully read each section’s directions and look through the entire test?
• Before beginning the test, do you make plans for distributing your time among the questions?
• In taking an essay examination, do you quickly outline your answer before you start to write?
• At the end of an examination, do you proofread or check your answers?
• In multiple-choice, matching and true-false tests, are you aware of good strategies in finding answers?

Physical Setting

• Do you study in a quiet place – one that is free from noisy disturbances?
• Do you study by yourself before studying with others?
• Do you have a special location to study – separate from relaxation or sleeping furniture?

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45 Good Habits for Kids (& Simple Ways to Teach Them)

What are good habits in kids.

We all want to set our kids up for a happy, healthy life. One that they maneuver with grace through life’s ups and downs.

Plus, teaching kids good habits early, makes it so much easier for them later. (At the very least, they’ll have a clear guide that helps them navigate.)

*Note: Please don’t try to teach the entire list of good kid habits at the same time! Embed some in routines and use others as valuable to-dos during long breaks from school.

Good Habits for Preschool

First, we start with the littles! (If your kids are older, skip ahead!)

Often parents wonder what is helpful for kids going into preschool and kindergarten. In this section, we focus on life skills and habits instead of academic to-dos (numbers, shapes, etc).

This post contains affiliate links at no cost to you. See my disclaimer for more info.

1. Get Dressed Independently

Teaching independence is a big part of the preschool age! Helping kids learn to dress themselves and put on their own shoes gives them confidence (and gives parents breathing room too).

2. Put on Jacket

As an extension, many preschools focus specifically on teaching the child to put a coat, gloves, and hat on by themselves. Take it a step further by packing their backpack together before school.

Listening is a life skill that starts early. According to the American College of Education , the best way for you to help your child with listening is by listening to them .

Additionally, they suggest you give short multi-step directions, read them stories on topics they are interested in, and  teach whole body listening .

4. Wash Hands

Washing hands well has never been more important!

For a year or two, I put up a paper in my kids’ bathroom reminding them of the steps needed. (My son liked to skip it – we had to become more intentional)

• Wet your hands
• Rub hands together
• Rub hands together under water
• Rinse off all the soap
• Dry hands with a towel

5. Go Potty

Of course, potty training is a right of passage for everyone. Getting your child to go on the potty not only helps them become independent, but also saves you a lot of money on diapers.

6. Fine Motor Skills

Next, kids need to develop a good foundation for their fine motor skills at this age.

This includes using scissors but also hand-eye coordination and learning a pincer grasp (useful for holding a pencil later). Here’s a great post of fine motor activities for preschool age .

7. Share and Take Turns

Sharing is tough, but if they learn to play cooperatively, negotiate, and cope with disappointment now, they’ll be in MUCH better shape later on. Try setting a timer for taking turns to help take the pressure off of both of you.

8. Imaginative Play

In this day and age, it’s tempting to direct our kids’ play. There are a million activities online that do this. But it’s important for kids to have plenty of unstructured free time so they learn to use their imagination and develop cooperative play skills.

9. Tie Shoes

Finally, for our little ones, tying shoes is a kindergarten skill that helps kids gain independence. It also builds their fine motor skills, dexterity, and hand-eye coordination so it aids in overall development.

***Good Habits for Kids Chart

For young ones, the reward chart in the kids reward pack is a great way to help with those important first-time habits like going potty and tying shoes!

Listen To A Read Aloud Routine Book

Healthy Habits For Kids

Next, these good kids habits help build strong bodies and minds. The truth is, we are surrounded by temptations often. If we can build a solid health foundation in our kids we could be giving them YEARS of better living.

10. Eat Healthy Foods

First, a healthy lifestyle starts (and ends) with food. Sometimes that’s easier said than done when it comes to our kids!

To build healthy food habits include multiple vegetable options at meals. That way, if they don’t want to eat something, they have something else available that’s good for them. Keep meals colorful, limit processed food snacks , and try smoothies or other recipes that make healthy eating fun.

11. Educate Kids About Food

There are a TON of misleading labels on our food. As they get older, show your kids how to look at the nutrition labels and evaluate the true value of their food. Ask questions like…

What’s in this food? Can you pronounce it?

How much sugar is in this? Is that number a lot?

12. Drink Water

Getting into the habit of drinking water instead of soda and juice is a small thing that saves a TON of struggles later on. Just make it a rule that juice is for special occasions and you don’t drink soda.

13. Stay Active

Next, keep kids moving while they’re young, and they’ll be more drawn to movement later on.

There are two great ways to do this:

• Sign them up for physical activities they are interested in.
• Get moving as a family! Take family walks after dinner or weekly bike rides and reap the benefits of fresh air, quality connection time, and being fit together.

14. Be Outside

Spending time outside reduces stress and improves your mood and focus. If kids learn to love the great outdoors early, they’ll also be more respectful and appreciative of the beauty that our world offers.

15. Eat Breakfast

Next, kids need the energy that breakfast provides. So, a healthy first meal gives them a bright daily start and also teaches them to start their days off right.

Try a whole foods approach like…

• Eggs with spinach
• Oatmeal with fruit
• Fruit and almond butter

16. Pack a Healthy Lunch

Finally, imagine a child that learned to pack a healthy lunch as a kid. What a booster as an adult (both to health and money management)!

To teach this kids habit, have your kids help you make lunches! Have them pick a fruit and vegetable to go with their main item, and do it regularly.

Related Post: Fun Freezer Lunches to Make Ahead

Good Habits for Kids at Home

17. do chores.

Everyone in your household should contribute to the greater good. It’s important to teach children that you are part of a team that works together. Plus, regular chores teach kids household skills and the value of hard work.

To start chores with your kids, see this free template chore chart or the daily household chores list .

18. Learn to Cook

As an adult, the habit I wish I had learned more of was cooking. 15 years later, my husband is still a better cook than I am, and I’m convinced it’s because he cooked a lot as a kid.

Even teaching your child the basics like making eggs and spaghetti gives them a foundation down the road.

Experienced school psychologist, Dr. Jamie Donnelly, says, “by helping with grocery shopping, kids can learn to make healthy choices. Further, they can help prepare the meals to encourage healthy habits.”

Here are a few great cooking resources for kids:

• The Complete Cookbook for Young Chefs
• Safe Knives for Kids Set

19. Money Management

Teaching your kids to properly handle money can mean the difference between chasing money their whole lives or being a millionaire. These habits start early and make a profound difference in the long run!

Start with an allowance system and guide them with their decisions on what to save, spend, and give. As they grow, discuss the basics of big expenses, the stock market, and your financial dreams.

20. Pick Up

If you can teach kids to keep things tidy early, you’ve won a long-term battle! Often, this is a regular habit of putting your plate away or picking up toys after playing with them.

These resources can help with young ones:

• Melissa & Doug Let’s Play House! Dust, Sweep, Mop
• The Berenstain Bears and the Messy Room

21. Stay Positive

In the constant news world we live in, it’s easy to get down. But teaching kids to stay positive is teaching them to be resilient.

So, try a “good & grit” game at dinner. Everyone at the table says one good thing that happened to them and one way they worked through a challenge.

22. Honesty

The habit of telling the truth starts young. Make telling the truth a priority in your home and your kids will have honesty and integrity to fall back on for life. ( This book is helpful if you need more guidance.)

23. Family Relationships – Togetherness

According to research at the  University of Florida , sharing a family meal means that:

• family bonds grow
• kids are happier (less depressed and anxious)
• everyone eats more nutritious meals
• kids do better in school
• kids are less likely to be obese or overweight
• kids are less likely to use/abuse drugs, cigarrettes, or alcohol

That’s a lot of benefits (and just the tip of the iceberg in the research)! So make family meals a regular habit that kids come to expect.

24. Good Hygiene

Establish regular morning and night routines that include brushing teeth, showering, brushing hair, and clipping nails. These are basic habits that can sometimes be overlooked. But emphasizing them now makes it easier later.

For a clear kids routine, try this daily schedule template chart .

25. Pick Up Litter

When your kids see litter on a trail or sidewalk, what do they do? Get them in the habit of picking it up by showing them that you do it too. Also, talk about how important the Earth is to our livelihood, so they understand how we are interconnected.

26. Make Sleep a Priority

Many kids and teens are sleep-deprived (thanks to their devices). Following a clear bedtime routine can help.

Make sure kids get enough exercise during the day so that they are tired. Then, create an electronics “off time” and have an established “lights out” time that kids follow. (Doing this yourself is a great model). Here’s an example:

8:00 No electronics time, read short kids bedtime stories or homework

9:00 Lights out

27. Be Open to All

Raise your kids to be open to all kinds of people. In order to do this, it’s important to expose them to other cultures, races, and backgrounds. Look for sports teams and neighbors who come from different places and think differently.

This is often overlooked, but building curiosity instead of fear or apathy will make a HUGE difference in how they react to people as they become adults.

28. Spend Time With Friends

Friendships and learning to socially interact are some of the most important aspects of healthy development in school-aged children.

In fact, playing with friends teaches valuable skills such as communication, cooperation, and problem-solving. Having friends can also affect their performance in school.

So, set up a few playdates or activities (it doesn’t need to be a crazy amount) and let kids have regular free time with siblings too.

29. Be Kind

Kindness towards others (and animals) gives kids a sense of belonging and self-esteem. Acts of kindness also increase energy, gratitude, and optimism.

So, make kind words and actions a priority in your home through kindness activities and games for kids , family giving (like this 12 days of Xmas gift ), and helping those in need.

Discussing this phrase can help kids test their thoughts too:

Is it true?

Is it necessary?

Is it kind?

• Best List of Books to Teach Kindness
• Fun Kindness Kids Quotes

30. Patience

In today’s instant gratification world, teaching your kids patience gives them a massive advantage for life. So, explain how patience pays off, and that it’s worth it to try to relax and be calm as you wait.

Encourage activities such as gardening, saving money, and cooking where you have to wait for the results you want. And check out these fun kids breathing exercises for help with patience, anger management, and stress relief.

31. Gratitude

Research proves that gratitude is strongly associated with greater happiness. This is because it helps you be more positive, savor good experiences, deal with adversity , and improve your health and relationships (source) .

Cultivate the habit through praying twice a day or writing down the good things in your life morning and night. Do this with your kids and discuss what you’ve each come up with.

Related: Great Kids Gratitude Activity Ideas

32. Be Helpful

Encourage kids to provide a helping hand to those in need. And show them the way; help people, be it a friend or a stranger, in front of your kids. Also, explain why you are doing it. (While also cautioning them to be careful with strangers.)

33. Build a Growth Mindest

Having a growth mindset means that everything in life happens for your growth . Failures are just a stepping stone to get to where you want to go.

So, celebrate when your kids try new things, when they have an “oops” moment, or when they took on a challenge. For more,

• try activities for growth mindset with your kids
• Good Books That Teach Growth Mindset

34. Take Responsibility

“ Wasn’t me ” lives at my house.

There’s also been a lot of trouble blamed on our imaginary dog. As a result, we’re working on the habit of taking responsibility at my home.

For this, model taking responsibility for your life as an adult. And discuss with kids why leaders take responsibility. You can’t improve your situation if you don’t first take responsibility for it.

35. Screens Aren’t Everything

Our kids are growing up in a digital world. They see screens at all hours of the day (through more devices than we ever imagined).

But time on screens means less time outdoors, getting exercise, and learning social interaction. In many cases, it also means less sleep, more exposure to detrimental social media, and more behavioral problems (source) .

So, set clear boundaries for screen time and stick to them.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) can help you create your own  family media use plan .

Watch the Video for My Favorites!

Then, don’t miss the top student habits below!

Good Habits for Kids at School

Next these good habits for students help kids build lifelong learning into their daily routine schedule . How awesome is that?!

36. Read Daily

Reading helps build focus, empathy, and imagination. Children who read also do better in school and have a deeper understanding of the world.

Moreover, if you read together it builds deeper relationships between parents and kids.

So, make reading a treat, and not a chore! Get kids books that interest them so they see it this way!

*Find 10 year olds book series here or good books for 7 year olds to get your child started!

37. Study Skills

Knowing how to study for deep understanding isn’t always clear. Encouraging kids to study regularly and take effective notes is a small thing that reaps big rewards to their learning over time.

38. Be Punctual

Kids that learn to value time will be less likely to waste it. So make it a priority to be on time together and that they complete things on time.

39. Work Hard

As with adults, it’s natural for kids to want to do the least amount of work. But getting into the habit of doing it right the first time and going the extra mile will serve them exponentially as an adult.

Sometimes, that means making them re-do an assignment or running an extra lap.

40. Look Over Your Work

Instead of rushing through, remind kids to stop and check answers before turning work in. It takes only thirty seconds, but it’s a small habit that saves a lot of pain when it’s it comes to grades.

41. Minimize Distractions

Finally, for good student habits, this one is HUGE. Digital distractions are so prevalent that it’s difficult for kids to focus deeply. Teach kids the habit of turning their phone off during study time and minimizing time spent on social media and youtube until their work is done.

Make Expectations Clear

Grab access to a free checklist to help you navigate these habits daily!

Good Manners For Kids

42. please, thank you, & sorry.

Good manners teach kids the value of respect and kindness. It’s not hard to use manners, but it is a habit that has to be focused on regularly (and modeled) for it to stick.

43. Noticing & Appreciating Everyone

If you can teach your kids to look others in the eye and actively listen to them (so the other person feels seen and appreciated), you’ll be setting them up for great success later on.

44. Table Manners

Eating with the proper utensils, using manners, and offering food to others all seem to be a lost art in today’s world. Bring back a little etiquette to the dinner table and you’ll be helping kids navigate social settings later on.

45. Sportsmanship

Losing is hard. But we can teach kids that it’s not always about winning or losing. The progress you achieve, the amount you learn, and the effort you put in are important too.

How to Develop Good Habits With Kids

Now, we have a great list of good habits for kids. But how do we teach them so that they stick? Here are a few key tricks:

Model What You Want Them To Do

Above all, show your kids what good habits look like. Work on them yourself! (Use this adults good habits list and printable habit tracker )

Perhaps they won’t follow in your footsteps immediately , but they’ll remember the way you acted much more than what you said . THIS is what they’ll think of years down the road. For example,

* Do you want them to be lifelong learners?

Be a learner yourself. Read books. Ask critical questions .

* Do you want them to be kind?

Take them with you as you drop off goodies or do a kind deed.

* Do you want them to be healthy?

They’ll remember watching you make a smoothie for breakfast .

Give Step-By-Step Instructions

Kids need guidance and clear steps. So, for more complicated habits don’t be afraid to break them down.

I mentioned that I put an instructions sheet up for washing hands in my kid’s bathroom, but you can also give checklists for bathroom cleaning , cheat sheets for studying, and clear recipes for cooking.

Know What’s Appropriate For Age

If something isn’t working it may be because your kids aren’t ready for it. Just as some chores are too old for kids, so are some habits. Remember that they don’t have to learn everything all at once, and some of them get easier with time.

Use Rewards

When kids need extra motivation, we love using these free printable reward coupons . The coupons support the good kids habits in this post!

Also, see the list of easy kids rewards for tons that kids love.

Make Time for Family

It’s impossible to teach and model lasting habits if you aren’t around your kids often. So, schedule in family time at the beginning of your week, both for good kids habits and for fun together.

Try this Family Feud together or inspirational family movies to make it easy.

Stay Involved – Listen!

Keeping bad habits out as kids get older isn’t always an easy task. It’s important to build a strong connection with your kids to keep the lines of communication open. Talk to them about the sneaky power of peer pressure and make sure they know they can talk to you.

To Consider With Good Habits of Kids

What do you think are the best habits for kids? And what has worked for teaching them in your home? Leave a comment and let me know!

Next, enter your email below to grab access to our resource library for free printables and resources.

More child and family posts you’ll love…

• What If Questions Kids Love
• Best Kids Thought For the Day Quotes
• Good Bucket List Ideas for Families

Big List of Good Habits in Kids

Jennifer is the founder and chief editor of Healthy Happy Impactful®. She believes that living, loving, and connecting deeply are the foundation for a good life. She holds a degree in education and is a mom to 3 kids.

Great and resourceful thank you for sharing

I’m so glad you enjoyed the kids habits Fredah!

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BOSS Magazine

Working on an Assignment

In this article, we will cover the most effective study habits of advanced students.

by BOSS Editorial | Published: October 18, 2022 | Updated: October 24, 2023 8:45 am

Highly Effective Students’ Study Habits

Learning how to study smarter, not harder, is the key to becoming a good student. This gets increasingly true as your education progresses. You will have to manage more and more complex assignments and also have to handle increasingly larger workloads. This calls for efficient study techniques. Fortunately, there are numerous strategies that will help you learn faster. And if you can’t keep up with your assignments , you can always turn to an online assignment help service.

1. Record notes during a lecture

There’s no need to be the person who always asks the question—especially if the professor has just asked that question three times already. Try taking notes during the lecture and jotting down important points. This can help you to pay attention and to remember what the professor says. Look back at your notes after the class is over so you can tie them in with what you learned in other classes. Or use them as a foundation for a custom research paper.

Color coding is another effective study technique for advanced students. Using color codes, students group related information together. This makes it easier to review material before exams.

2. Use your homework as a study tool

Most students begin their homework as soon as they get home. They jot down answers without fully understanding what they’re being asked to solve. Instead, go over your notes or texts after coming home from class.

As a student, one of the best study tools you have at your disposal is your homework. By working on assignments and taking the time to understand the material, you can better prepare yourself for exams and other assessments.

Highly effective students use their homework as a study tool, taking the time to understand the material and using it to prepare for exams.  This approach allows them to retain the information better and perform better on assessments. If you want to be a successful student , take advantage of your homework and use it to improve your understanding of the course material. Write the key points on a piece of paper. This will serve as a review sheet for your next study session.

3. Plan out when you’ll study

Assuming you have a set amount of time to work on an assignment, it is important to plan out when you will study. This allows you to use your time efficiently and avoid last-minute scrambling.

If you have a week to complete a project, for example, you might study for two hours on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Breaking up your studying into manageable chunks will help you retain information and stay on track.

In addition, it is important to create a study schedule that works for you. Some students prefer to study in the morning, while others find evening studying to be more effective. Find what works best for you and stick to it.

4. Each time you study, you should have a clear goal in mind

Without a study plan or clear goals, your studying will be disorganized and chaotic. Each study session should have a specific objective. Perhaps your goal is to read the materials and create a master list of key ideas. Or you may want to create flashcards or practice quizzes to prepare for an exam.

Regardless of your academic performance in the past, if you approach each study session with a positive attitude and the willingness to put in the effort, you can improve your skills and surpass your expectations.

5. Prioritize your biggest assignments

When assembling a study session, start with your heaviest assignments—the ones due soonest. Work on them first so that other classes and less significant projects can eat up less of your time during this busy time.

6. Study by topic rather than by schedule

Some days you will have more time available than others, but it’s impossible to miss a fixed study schedule. Instead, study according to the topic—and be flexible.

If you start working on a topic and after half an hour you realize you don’t know what you’re doing, then go back to your study schedule and be stricter with yourself. But if you understand the material and are confident you can do good work, then stick with the topic and give yourself a break.

7. Study a new topic for 20 minutes at a time

Pile all your cards and notes onto the table. Start by reviewing any entries in your journal related to the subject. Spend five to ten minutes on this first subject. Move on to your flashcards, spending five to ten minutes per deck. Make sure to focus on the key concepts. Next, practice your spelling words or vocabulary words for 10 minutes. Finish up with your homework or classwork, spending 10–15 minutes on it.

These small, concentrated study sessions serve two very important purposes:

• They force you to focus on key concepts, and
• They build confidence in your ability to learn the material.

8. Use multiple techniques to help with retention

Sometimes information is easiest to learn when it is spoken, so consider using audio files to help memorize important material. Reading aloud can help you improve your pronunciation and better understand the meaning of words in Spanish, for example. Additionally, speaking aloud allows you to hear how words sound and helps you memorize new vocabulary words.

Use flashcards to help memorize important information. Creating these cards can be a very effective way to learn and retain new information. Not only does writing out the words over and over again help you memorize them, but these flashcards can also be used to test yourself—and build confidence in your ability to remember key concepts and words.

9. Keep reviewing the same material until you understand it

This includes classwork, homework, tests, or whatever other materials you’ve previously completed. Sometimes students try to cover new material instead of reviewing what they don’t know. This is a waste of time if you don’t understand what you’ve missed because you need to learn what’s already been taught to understand the missing pieces.

10. Be flexible with your study schedule

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the stress of school and/or your homework, take a break. If you’ve been studying all week and feel like taking a day or two off, do it!

• Maybe you need to study in shorter bursts instead of long sessions.
• Maybe you need to relax and spend some time doing fun things with friends to recharge your batteries.

Give yourself some flexibility—you’re probably able to study longer on some days than on others, so be willing to adapt your plans according to how you’re feeling.

11. Don’t beat yourself up if you don’t get much done

Sometimes students get into really good habits when they’re in the middle of a big project or heavy load of classes. And then maybe an unexpected event comes up—such as a sick day or a birthday party—and suddenly you have too much going on to keep up with your studies. This is totally fine! Give yourself some leeway if you’re too busy or stressed to work for a day or two. Then make sure to get back to it as soon as you can.

12. Keep a journal

As you learn new concepts or complete assignments, write them down in your journal. These entries should be detailed and include explanations. Review your entries whenever you’re assembling a study session. It makes for excellent reading and provides you with valuable insight into the material. This helps you understand the problem deeper. It also creates a foundation for using other study techniques effectively.

13. Get enough sleep

Stress hormones released during the day can interfere with learning until they are cleared out at night. Get into a good routine of going to bed at a consistent time each night and getting a healthy seven to nine hours of sleep. This will help you to perform better in class and reduce stress.

The research on effective students’ study habits concludes that a student’s success depends on a variety of factors. However, the three most important factors are time management, organization, and effort. If a student can manage their time wisely, stay organized, and put forth a lot of effort, they are more likely to succeed than a student who does not possess these qualities.

If you’re looking to boost your grades and work more efficiently, hopefully, this list has given you some ideas of where to start. Time management, organization, and setting goals are key to success, but so are taking regular breaks, getting enough sleep, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. And finally, don’t forget to enjoy your studies!

By: BOSS Editorial

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Try These 12 Daily Habits and Become a Healthier You

Take control of your wellness by adding these healthy habits to your lifestyle. Here are the top ones to try.

We all want to be healthy, but sometimes life gets in the way. Starting over with your wellness journey can feel too big to take on. The good news is that small changes to your daily habits can make a surprisingly big difference to your overall health, especially as the effects accumulate over time.

We've got a dozen healthy habits that can help you enjoy better physical and mental health, all backed by science.

It doesn't have to stop here. See which foods you should eat for a happiness boost , hacks to handle stress and six tips to reboot your sleep habits . 

12 daily habits to improve your health

Here, we're talking about small adjustments that benefit every human. With these minor modifications to your daily routine, you can start working toward better health without having to give up a ton of time, money or enjoyment.

1. Prioritize sleep 

Going without sleep is a lot like expecting your phone to run all day on a 12% battery. Your body needs time to not just rest and recharge, but also to do important work like learning new things and solidifying memories. 

Adults should get at least seven hours of shut-eye each night. If this is a challenge for you, turn to your circadian rhythm . This is your body's natural process that should help you fall asleep, stay asleep and wake up feeling refreshed.

How do you use your circadian rhythm for better sleep ? Go to bed and get up at the same time every day.

2. Walk more 

Heading out for a stroll boosts your physical and mental health, so it's well worth adding to your list of healthy daily habits. 

On the physical front, regular walking supports your immune system, reduces joint pain and makes it easier to maintain a healthy weight. 

Any exercise helps your mental health, and that includes walking . If you want to shift your daily habits to combat symptoms of depression or anxiety or to boost your mental wellness in general, make it a point to lace up your walking shoes each day. 

3. Read for 30 minutes 

Feeling stressed? Crack open a book. One study found that a half hour of reading can have the same stress-busting effect as known sources of calm, like yoga and humor. 

Reading also does a lot for your brain, strengthening connections there. That study showed that diving into a book has both short and long-term benefits for your brain health. So to maintain the boost, make reading one of your daily habits When you do, you'll also be actively working to fight cognitive decline as you age.

4. Meditate 

Another stress reducer and mental health booster , meditation gives you a way to tune into the present moment. In our busy, hyperconnected world, this can go a long way toward not just keeping yourself healthy, but also protecting your happiness.

Starting meditation could be as simple as doing a little reading on it and setting a timer for, say, 5 minutes each day. There are also plenty of good apps to guide you. You can even incorporate a meditative mindset into your regular activities, such as mindful eating .

Meditation gives you a way to tune into the present moment, so you can reduce stress and improve your mental health. 

5. Spend time in nature

Getting into nature can help us soothe ourselves. It offers an effective counterbalance to all the screentime built into most of our days. In fact, an expanding body of research shows that time in nature can:

• Improve our cognition
• Increase attention span
• Lower risk of mental illness
• Increase empathy and social connectedness

You can combine this with other healthy habits, like your daily walk. Ideally, aim for green (like a forest) or blue (like bodies of water) spaces during your time outdoors. 

6. Eat more plant-based foods 

You probably already know that eating nutritious food makes you feel better. As an overarching concept, healthy eating habits can feel a little vague.

So let's be specific: work to get more plants onto your plate. A plant-based diet helps you maintain healthy cholesterol and blood pressure levels and reduces your risk for some chronic conditions. Plants are full of the vitamins, minerals and other nutrients we need to keep our bodies working optimally.

Try to incorporate more fruit, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and legumes into your daily meals. It might be helpful to keep a produce bowl on your kitchen counter so you can grab things as a quick snack, too.

A plant-based diet helps maintain healthy cholesterol and blood pressure levels and reduces your risk for some chronic conditions. 

7. Drink more water 

This is one of those areas where it's easy to see how healthy habits help. Since we're mostly water , it makes sense that we would need to continually replenish our body's supply. Getting enough water helps your body flush waste and keeps your joints lubricated, while acting as a shock absorber for your spine and helping your digestive processes. 

To build healthy habits around water, start carrying a reusable water bottle with you. Whenever you're bored, take a sip. Your body will thank you. 

8. Reduce alcohol intake

Reducing the alcohol you consume does a lot for you , especially if you used to binge drink.:

• Lowers risk of high blood pressure, depression and other conditions
• Decreases symptoms of those conditions
• Helps your body better absorb nutrients
• Improves sleep and minimizes fatigue
• Supports liver health

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that men have two drinks or fewer each day, while women stick to a max of one drink per day. To help yourself out here, figure out a nonalcoholic beverage you like a lot. Soda water, bitters and a lime can scratch the cocktail itch without adding another alcoholic drink to your daily total. 

9. Quit smoking 

Does this come as any surprise? Smoking is bad for your heart and lungs, and it's also bad for your longevity . Long story short, if you want to live a longer, healthier life, kick the habit. 

As you're figuring out how to be healthier, don't turn to vaping. It might be less harmful, but it's just as addictive and still comes with health risks . 

Smoking is one of the hardest daily habits to ditch. The CDC and the American Lung Association have resources to help.

10. Spend time with those you love 

If you're pursuing healthy habits to feel happier in 2023, hang with your people. Social connection goes a long way toward boosting our moods.

If you already have a group of friends or family, let this be a reminder to hit them up. Call someone you haven't talked to in a while or invite a few people over for a game or movie night. Check how you feel afterward. Better? We thought so.

If you don't have a social circle, make 2023 the year you intentionally work on making connections. That could mean striking up a conversation with a coworker or getting to know your neighbors . 

Social connection goes a long way toward boosting our overall mood.

11. Take a break from electronics 

Screen time takes its toll. In fact, studies directly link it with lower psychological well-being . 

Fortunately, the reverse is true. A digital detox can:

• Improve your sleep
• Boost your focus and productivity
• Reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety
• Support real-life social connections (see the point above)

You could try going off social media apps for a while and see how you feel. If you want to incorporate this into your healthy daily habits, carve out time each day when you're screen-free. For better sleep, maybe make that the last hour before bed.

12. Take on a new hobby 

Your healthy habits can also be fun and rewarding. What have you always wanted to do? Your answer to that question might point you toward a new hobby to explore in 2024. And getting into it can help you reduce stress and boost mental well-being.

Plus, some hobbies can get you moving, supporting both your physical and mental health. Maybe you get into playing pick-up soccer at the park, or you could explore yoga . 

Ultimately, you've got a lot of options for healthy daily habits you could incorporate into your lifestyle. You can pick one or two, or go big and go for the full dozen. Either way, you'll be moving toward a healthier, happier you. 

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Habits are established customs which are followed regularly. It is a repetition of a similar action in different situations or circumstances. Good Habits are like the daily schedule, the longer we practice it the better we get at that in our daily life. There is nothing like a good or bad habit, but there are surely many habits which are better than the others. The age-old adage, ‘early to bed and early to rise’ is considered to be a good habit. People indulge inhabits to fulfill their needs and wants. At times, habits are developed on one’s own and at times, they are picked up from a source. There are a few habits which everyone should follow in his or her daily life, i.e.; brushing your teeth twice a day, taking a bath daily and making your bed after you wake up. Man has different kinds of habits. There are some habits which are based on instinct. Habits like eating meals three times a day, drinking water, going to sleep in the night or the afternoon are instinctual in nature. As man is a social animal, he cannot live in alienation from other human beings. Thus, to stay together in a group, man develops certain habits. The basic good habits include respecting one’s elders, greeting people when one meets them, wishing them well when departing, etc. Other than this, observing the law, serving the poor and downtrodden, helping the sick and needy, giving shelter to the homeless, assisting someone with a handicap, etc. are also considered noble or good habits.

To lead on a peaceful life, man develops other good habits like reading, writing, listening to music, dancing, singing, etc. Going to the temple and offering prayers, giving alms to the poor, supporting the old, etc. are other such habits which fulfill the needs of one’s soul. Good habits teach a man a lot of things. A person with good habits is respected by others in society. A person with bad habits is shunned by society. Good habits help man lead a disciplined and serene life. Good habits also help in developing good manners. A person having good habits is loved by everyone and he always stays happy with whatever he does. From our childhood, we are told what we could do to make our life better and the time we followed them, were surely the good old days. With the passing of time, we tend to skip many habits by our lack of interest or merely our laziness. Regular practice can make it a part of our life.

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How our family sticks to a budget with 2 teenagers while also teaching them about finance

• Inflation is prompting families to rethink their household budgets.
• We developed an allowance plan that teaches our two teenagers about budgeting and family finances. 
• For instance, allowance is given weekly but not tied to chores. 

Inflation over the last couple of years has a lot of people rethinking how they manage their household budgets . This is no different in our family of four, which includes two teenagers.

As our daughters, aged 13 and 14, grew older and neared high school, my spouse and I knew that their financial demands would grow as well. For instance, we could see their fashion needs were getting more expensive, and their entertainment requirements had outgrown Chuck E. Cheese. This presents a particular challenge when we are also trying to tighten the budget to deal with rising prices .

To fit the needs and wants of two teenagers into our family budget, we first came up with a new plan for their allowance in 2022 that encouraged good habits. The next step was to get them involved in the family finances to teach them about budgeting and the importance of being smart about money.

Since we adjusted the family finances, we have seen patience grow in terms of saving money and waiting to see if a purchase is truly necessary. We have also seen them become more interested in budgeting and smarter with money.

Here are several ways that we budget around two teenagers and teach them about money at the same time.

Allowance is given weekly and not tied to chores

When my spouse and I came up with a financial plan for our daughters as they got older and a bit more independent, we first understood that they would need regular spending money. However, we did not want the allowance to be performance-based . That is, we decided not to require the completion of chores or other tasks, like homework, for them to receive their allowance.

Every week, they each receive $25, which we think of as a guaranteed basic income program . It also creates a fixed monthly expense in our family budget.

The allowance is a guaranteed amount they can count on each month, and the money does not come with any strings attached.

There is an old saying that once you pay somebody to do something, they will never do it for free again. Our goal is to have our daughters be responsible, not paid workers. We also try our best to reward good behavior and effort instead of punishing them for not helping around the house.

We also budget monthly bonuses for our daughters

Instead of giving the girls $35 every week and taking some away when they don't meet a list of demands, we started at a minimum of $25 each week and give them occasional bonuses.

Bonuses are tied to good patterns of completing chores, being kind, being helpful, trying hard in school, and getting exercise. For example, we might give one daughter a $5 or $10 bonus one week for helping their grandmother without being asked and something similar to the other for working hard on a school assignment.

We then tell them why they received the bonus to reinforce the positive behavior.

There is no set pattern of how often or how much the bonuses are because we don't want them to become an expectation. These are a little more challenging to budget for, but after a while, we settled into a pattern where the bonuses are fairly consistent each month.

We profit-share with our daughters to discourage excessive spending

We have another bonus system for the girls based on how well the family sticks to the monthly budget.

In our family, the budget is not a secret. We encourage our children to be involved in the family finances to expose them to budgeting early on.

At the end of each month, we all review how the month went, where we did well, and what we could have done better. And if we came in under our budget, we give the girls a profit-sharing bonus.

There is no set amount or rate for the budget bonus. We discuss it as a family and assign the bonuses to each daughter. We will also designate a third "bonus" to our vacation fund, which might ultimately mean an extra day at Disney or a little extra spending cash for the girls in New York City.

We use an allowance app to encourage good money habits

There are many ways to budget with teenagers in mind, including good, old-fashioned pen and paper. However, we prefer apps that speed up and automate many steps.

The first is YNAB , which stands for "you need a budget," where the entire family's budget is kept. We also use Greenlight , which is specifically designed for children.

In addition to giving the girls debit cards, Greenlight automates allowance payments and even has games to teach them about money.

The other key feature is that the girls cannot see each other's finances. In a previous app, everything was out in the open for the entire family, often leading to conflicts when one daughter wanted to know why the other had more money or got a little extra one week.

Our girls are very different, and they have different needs. So the money they earn is just between them and us. We don't tell one sister what the other gets, but we try to be balanced and fair.

We distinguish between needs and wants

The girls have a basic monthly income, but we don't want them spending that on basic needs. Therefore, every potential purchase in our budget is defined as "household needs" or "household wants."

In general, if something is a "need," such as hair conditioner or clothes for school, the money comes from the family budget. If it is just something they "want," like tickets to see Olivia Rodrigo in concert, they have to use their own money.

Of course, everything can feel like a need to a teenager, and distinguishing between needs and wants can be tricky.

One daughter might need new shoes, but she doesn't "need" a new pair of Nike Dunk Low Pandas for $115. In these cases, we might give an amount that we think fits the budget, and if they still want that specific item, they can pay the difference.

Of course, we don't always win those battles. Teenagers can be quite convincing and relentless at times. Besides, it is nice to give them a few "wins" occasionally if they put in the effort, and it seems that important.

We also encourage delayed gratification

If you have ever known a teenager, one of the toughest things to instill in them is a sense that some things can wait.

Amazon is a great convenience, but delaying gratification can be a challenge when it is so easy to place an order and have it delivered as early as that day.

We deal with this by having an Amazon list called "do we really want this?" If something is not an immediate need, such as a new Lego set, it goes on this list. Every Saturday, we meet as a family, review the list, and see what we still want.

We often find that the desire for the item has waned, or we have thought of something we would rather have instead. It also can be quite jarring to see all the items simultaneously, and everybody realizes how much it would cost to order everything. The wait encourages everybody to be selective about what is most important.

When we started doing this, our "household wants" line in the budget was almost instantly slashed in half by several hundred dollars. Even for teens, when they sleep on something for a few days, a potential purchase can stop feeling like life or death.

The lessons our daughters have learned about money are worth the extra effort

We have used this plan with our family for about 18 months, and both daughters have become excellent savers.

When they want something special like a limited edition signed vinyl from Conan Gray or a new hoodie from Lululemon, instead of asking us and then my wife and I going through the push and pull of "can we" or "should we," they save up their money.

The excitement on their faces when they reach the magic numbers is priceless.

The next step is to find out how to encourage long-term savings. We are working on that. They are still teenagers, after all.

Have you adjusted your family finances or come up with any tips or tricks for budgeting with children? Reach out to this reporter at [email protected] .

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Five tips to ensure healthy sleep habits in children, indians are among the most sleep-deprived, and the trend extends to children as well.

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Adequate sleep: Children in India are quite highly sleep-deprived because most people don’t understand how crucial sleep is and what sleep patterns in children really should be. Some parents think it is a good thing if their child falls asleep anywhere—on a bus, in a mall—but actually that is a sign of sleep deprivation. Not getting good quality or enough sleep can hamper the growth and development of a child. It can also affect their academic performance in later years.

Body touch: Many first-time parents make the mistake of trying to put a newborn or infant to sleep all alone in a crib. This actually hampers sleep because as human beings, we find comfort in touch. Babies, in particular, actually feel a sense of threat when left alone. If a baby is physically stressed, she will not sleep because stress leaves the body in a state of inflammation. Sleeping next to a baby or rocking a baby to sleep is strongly advised.

Short mid-day nap: Some parents attempt to keep children awake all day long, believing they will then get tired out and sleep all night long. However, not allowing them to rest increases stress on the body and reduces the chances of them falling asleep easily later on. A short nap in the afternoon helps recharge, relax and contributes to better sleep at night.

No light or sound: The best room to sleep in is one that has no light or noise. It is difficult for our bodies to fall asleep if there is too much light or ongoing noise. Blue light that emits from screens should be avoided entirely because it hampers the production of melatonin—the hormone that helps the body relax and go to sleep.

Social support: Dalmia says she have co-founded an online support group for parents called Gentle Baby Sleep. This is for those struggling to help their children fall asleep. It shows there is a need for reliable information, guidance, sharing of experiences and support for new parents when it comes to children’s sleep. Parents themselves must rest and get adequate rest as well. A stressed out caregiver will find it harder to look after a child.

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We know food matters to our health — but how do we find sound advice on what to eat?

They say, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.” As with most sayings it doesn’t tell the full story but does reveal a kernel of truth: what we eat is important to our health. Most of us would acknowledge as much, but it is still difficult to know exactly what we should and should not eat. We hear about the latest trend diets and see food advertising all around us. What should we believe when it comes to food advice?

The answer is simpler than you might expect and probably sounds a lot like what your parents told you as child: eating more plants like fruits and vegetables and less packaged and processed foods promotes good health.

Understanding why this is the case takes a bit more explanation and knowing might help us shift to and stick with a healthier diet. Plants have more of the things important to good health like vitamins, minerals and fiber. Whole foods that haven’t undergone extensive processing have fewer of the additives that can be harmful in large quantities like sugar, salt and saturated fats.

Plants are 'superfood'

In the late 1800’s and early 1900’s scientists linked many diseases with dietary deficiencies. For instance, scurvy, a disease that often affected sailors on long ocean voyages, was determined to be caused by a lack of vitamin C in the diet. After the discovery, many ships began carrying citrus fruit and distributing lemon or lime wedges to their sailors to prevent scurvy. British sailors even took on the nickname “limeys.” Over the years many more vitamins have been discovered and most can be found in the plants we eat. More plant-based, whole food means more nutrients and antioxidants for your body.

Processed foods can lose some of their 'goodness'

Highly processed foods can lose some of what makes them healthy. Consider the difference between eating an apple and drinking apple juice. A whole apple contains fiber which slows the release of sugar as it is digested. The fiber also benefits the digestive system, reducing things like diverticulosis, hemorrhoids and even colon cancer risk. On the other hand, juice has been processed, eliminating the fiber, so we miss out on the benefits. The lack of fiber also leads to large amounts of sugar being released to the body all at once, challenging the body to prevent spikes in blood sugar.

Additives can detract from health

In the mid-1900’s the medical community began to link dietary over-consumption with the development or worsening of some medical conditions. Diets high in simple sugar often contributed to diabetes. Diets high in salt increased blood pressure. Diets high in saturated fats were linked to higher rates of cardiovascular disease like heart attacks and strokes. Nutritionists began recommending that patients with diabetes eat fewer carbohydrates and simple sugars; that patients with cardiovascular disease eat less fatty food to lower cholesterol; and patients with high blood pressure consume less salt.

But as processed foods have come to make up a greater portion of the American diet, restricting these additives is challenging. Consider the difference between eating a potato and tomato versus eating French fries dipped in ketchup. The French fries have been fried in oil and sprinkled with salt. Adding ketchup means even more salt as well as added sugar with each bite. The added sugar can impact blood sugar; the added salt can raise blood pressure; and the added oil and saturated fat can raise cholesterol and risk for cardiovascular disease. A little of this food may not have a big impact but eating it regularly or in high quantities can be a drag on good health.

Protein source matters

Eating a diet rich in protein can be a way to reduce carbohydrate intake, maintain lean muscle and manage weight, but some protein sources are healthier than others. The World Health Organization has recognized red meat (coming from a mammal) and processed meat (like hot dogs, sausage, salted meat or smoked meat) for their increased risk of causing cancer. The American Heart Association recommends limiting the consumption of red and processed meats because they have been linked to cardiovascular disease. They recommend alternatives like fish or nuts or if you do eat meat, a lean meat like chicken.

Plants can be a healthy source of protein that also help reduce meat consumption. One reason is they have less saturated fat. Consider the difference between eating almonds and green peas versus eating a steak. The steak has lots of saturated fats – it can usually be seen on the cut of meat and in the pan after cooking. The effect of consuming this saturated fat is to raise cholesterol levels, a risk for cardiovascular disease. Breakdown of saturated fats also leads to other substances that increase inflammation, which has been linked to increased rates of cardiovascular disease as well as pain levels and risk for some cancers.

What does the evidence tell us?

One of the first serious attempts to study a specific diet came in the 1970’s with Dr. Ornish who studied over 20 years how a strict diet and lifestyle program could improve cardiovascular outcomes. In recent decades many diets have been studied, and studied more rigorously, including the DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) and the Mediterranean diet. The specific details of the diets have varied, but the evidence shows some consistent results: healthy diets include more plants and less processed food. Healthy diets are associated with improvements in blood sugar, cholesterol, blood pressure, cardiovascular events, weight management and even risk for some cancers.

Making a change for the long-term

Most diets will lead to some amount of weight loss because they restrict which foods a person can eat, usually leading to a calorie reduction. Unfortunately, many people will regain the weight once they abandon the diet. Researchers have begun to study the health consequences of frequent weight fluctuations. A healthy diet should be sustainable for the long-term and should do more than just help with weight management.

It is difficult to change diet overnight, and even after a change, can be difficult to sustain. The good news is that most people don’t need a radical change in diet. Even small changes that are maintained over time can have big impacts. I emphasize three things with my patients about diet: which foods they choose to eat, how much they eat at a time and how frequently they eat it. It is unrealistic to expect someone will completely give up their favorite food, but if that food isn’t the healthiest option, it is reasonable to have that food less often and/or reduce the portion size when eating it.

There is more than one way to eat healthy. Many of my patients have come up with creative solutions to improve their diet. Some skip animal protein one day per week, “Meatless Mondays,” or avoid animal proteins before dinner. Others fill up on salad before moving onto other courses. At my house we keep a bowl on the counter stocked with fruits, vegetables and healthy nuts for a quick snack.

I like to frame the issue of a healthy diet as adding more of the good things which naturally leaves less room for the things we want to cut back. Hopefully it gives new meaning to the advice we often give children: eat a generous serving of vegetables before moving onto dessert.

Peter Barkett, MD, practices internal medicine at Kaiser Permanente Silverdale and writes a regular column for the Kitsap Sun. He lives in Bremerton.

Opinion | Your Earth Day assignment: Talk about climate…

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Opinion | Your Earth Day assignment: Talk about climate change | READER COMMENTARY

Earth Day is coming April 22. Are you wondering what action you can take to make the planet better that day? Will it be a trash pickup, tree planting, installing a rain barrel, getting a compost bin?

All these activities are great. But I’ve got a suggestion that won’t hurt your back, require mechanical skills or cost you anything. Have a climate conversation! Climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe says that’s the most impactful thing you can do to slow climate change. Even though climate change is a huge threat to all life on this planet, only the “environmentalists” seem to be talking about it ( “We are not disheartened by climate change deniers,” April 12).

Let’s change that for Earth Day. Here’s my challenge: Find a family member, friend, co-worker, your doctor’s receptionist, the first-grader who lives next door — any human being will do — and ask them what they think about climate change. You don’t have to know anything scientific, just see what comes up in conversation. Talking about it is what’s important.

Then log your conversations at cclusa.org/conversations. Citizens’ Climate Lobby is sponsoring this activity and has a goal of 25,000 climate conversations during the month of April. I’ll bet readers of The Baltimore Sun would like to know how these conversations went, so tell us in a letter to the editor. I can hardly wait to hear what you found out.

— Cheryl Arney, Ellicott City

The writer is a volunteer with Citizens’ Climate Lobby.

Add your voice: Respond to this piece or other Sun content by  submitting your own letter .

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