Want to know the secret to getting better grades? It’s all about your study habits.
That’s what makes successful students so successful – it isn’t how smart they are or how long they spend studying. The key to their success is their study habits. And that’s good news, because it means you can boost your grades by copying some of their habits.
If you’re still in high school, studying an undergraduate degree, or earning a postgraduate qualification, you can use these six study habits to help you succeed:
An easy-to-share infographic is located at the bottom of this post.
1. Stick to a study schedule
Having a set study schedule is what gives successful students the edge.
By planning specific times for your studies, you’ll create a weekly routine which will help you stay productive and avoid missing deadlines. And if you stick to your schedule, you won’t find yourself trying to write all your coursework in one night!
You can create your own study schedule by following this step-by-step guide.
2. Start each study session by doing your toughest assignment
Successful students get their hardest assignments done first.
If you complete your most challenging assignment first, you’ll find it easier to do the rest of your work. You’ll get a boost from knowing your toughest assignments are out of the way, and that’ll help you feel more motivated to get the rest of your homework done.
Try studying this way for a week and see how much your productivity improves!
3. Make sure you won’t be distracted while you study
Successful students know that making their study time distraction-free is important.
Working in cafes might be fun, but if you find it noisy and distracting then you’ll have trouble getting anything done. Local libraries can be a great place to work, but if yours is full of loud schoolchildren then you’re better off avoiding it. Your best bet is setting up a dedicated study space in your home.
And while you’re studying, put your phone on silent and stay off social media. If you’re too tempted to keep checking your phone for notifications, you can even keep it in a separate room while you study. You’ll do your best work when you’re focused and not distracted.
4. Take care of yourself
Successful students know they can’t do their best work unless they look after their health.
Make sure you’re getting enough sleep each night – you need at least 7 to 9 hours, according to scientific research. Stick to healthy study snacks like these to fuel your brain while you’re studying. And make time for a little exercise too, if you can!
If you’re over-stressed, over-tired and you aren’t looking after your health, you won’t be able to get your best grades. So take care of yourself!
5. Ask questions and ask for help when you need it
If they need help or clarification, successful students ask for it!
Don’t be afraid to message your professors if you need clarification about an assignment. After all, at NAU Canada Online our professors want to see their students succeed – so they’ll be happy to answer your questions.
And reach out to your personal advisor (every student is assigned one when they enroll) if you have questions, concerns or just need a little extra support. Your advisor is there to help – but they’ll only know you need help if you ask for it.
6. Make the most of all the resources you have available
You’ll have access to multiple support and learning resources at NAU Canada Online, and the most successful students make sure to use them.
Brush up on your skills by using our tutoring and writing center. And push your coursework to the next level by using our Ask-a-Librarian service (open 7 days a week), plus free access to the most up-to-date scholarly journals.
We’ll give you all the resources you need to succeed – all you have to do is use them!
Ready to start your online degree?
You can apply to NAU Canada Online for your undergraduate degree here. And you can apply to take your online master’s degree with us here.
Have questions? Feeling unsure? We can help – schedule a consultation or give us a call on 855.210.5641
Share the infographic
Roll your mouse over the image to see share options (click on mobile)
