22 Study Habits That Guarantee Good Grades

Habit #1: Create a weekly schedule

Habit #2: Create a pre-studying checklist

Habit #3: Create a study plan

Habit #4: Study offline as much as possible

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

Habit #6: Learn how to motivate yourself

Habit #7: Take notes during class

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

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

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

Habit #11: Create an environment that helps you study

Habit #12: Time your study sessions and breaks

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

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

Habit #15: Stay on top of your homework

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

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

Habit #18: Test yourself periodically

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

Habit #20: Keep a “worry” list

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

Habit #22: If you struggle with procrastination, use the Pomodoro Technique
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 because they make sure 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
 Set timer

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?

Breathing.

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, 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 habit to get into.

Why?

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 study time. They sum up
what you’ve learned, and they make your study time more efficient.

Here are some great tips for taking notes in class.

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

Get into the habit of reviewing the new information you learned in class 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 homework
assignment.

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?

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.

Give yourself a head start by making sure 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 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
When you do take a break, make it worth your while.

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 develop, 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.

The best advice I can give you 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.

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, 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.

Don’t just include the date of a test, for example. 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
 SparkNotes
 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.