This week in our Upper School Human Development class we will address what it takes to be a successful student as the habits formed in school will likely lead to being a successful person in life. Below is a list of the 7 most important habits that successful students should follow in order to maximize their potential and open the doors of opportunity for the future!
1) They’re proactive:
Successful students are architects of their own destiny.
Success isn’t something that passively happens to them, it’s something they actively take responsibility for, working proactively towards their goals. How?
They plan ahead and get to work: reducing risk and stress by avoiding last-minute panics before assignments and night-before cramming for tests.
2) They know where they’re going…
Successful students have a plan for the future.
This doesn’t necessarily mean having an entire career mapped out in detail, but certainly some firm ideas for where they want to be in 2-3 years’ time. Successful students know the reasons why they’re studying, and they know how to maximise the benefits of goal-setting for their studies and their life.
Ask yourself these questions:
What do you want to be studying?
Where do you want to go to university?
What do you need to achieve now to make that possible?
To answer these questions, it may be helpful to look further into the future:
Who do you want to become?
What kind of life do you want to be leading in 20 years?
What qualifications do you need to earn, or skills do you need to cultivate, to get you there?
3) Successful students put first things first:
That means prioritizing their studies and long-term ambitions over having fun in the moment. That doesn’t mean never hanging out with friends, watching TV or gaming! It just means putting things in the proper order, doing studies first, and relaxing when the work is done. And when they are studying, they avoid distractions and turn the phone off, to fully focus on the task at hand. As a result (and awesome bonus), this often means getting assignments done quicker and to a better standard. Sounds worth it to me!
4) They persevere:
Successful students are “gritty”.
What does that mean? Well, it’s all about deploying deliberate, sustained effort to get to grips with things that seem tough at first. And that’s not all! Successful students also have a growth mindset that helps them to persevere with their studies. They use aspirational language when talking to themselves or others: “I can’t” becomes “I can’t YET”. They know there is always room for growth, for barriers to be climbed and overcome.
5) They study smart:
Successful students know all the tricks to studying smarter, not harder. And they use them well! They spend the bulk of their study and revision time on high-quality learning techniques. In particular, they use:
Retrieval practice: which means learning by bringing information to mind
A spaced learning schedule: which improves your memory as you revisit knowledge over time
A concrete study routine: perfect for helping your effective student habits become a reality
Memory-boosting techniques including interleaving, chunking and mnemonics
Upgraded flashcards: using Q&A Ultranotes is my favourite method for retrieval practice and spaced learning!
Successful students know that these methods may take a bit more effort than lower-quality techniques (like re-reading, highlighting or making notes). And they also know their efforts will be richly rewarded on results day.
6) They’re helpful:
Successful students know that a rising tide lifts all boats. And so, they work to make their educational tide rise in two ways:
They build good relationships with supportive classmates, exchanging handy resources and are always happy to try and explain a tricky concept to a friend.
They also help their teachers by being open about what they still don’t understand, despite making best efforts independently.
7) They sharpen the saw:
Successful students know that time invested sharpening a saw is time well spent: the tool becomes more effective, and it’s far easier to cut wood as a result.
What does that mean? A student’s “saw” is their mind and body. These are the tools they need to study effectively and reach their goals. Without any time looking after mind and body, any student, like a saw, will gradually become blunt and ineffective. Successful students therefore take the time to look after themselves, so they can continue to be effective, day after day, year after year.
That means:
Looking after physical health: eating a balanced, nutritious diet and getting exercise through the week
Having good sleep hygiene: having a regular bedtime and getting enough sleep
Looking after mental and emotional health: making some time to unwind, practicing mindfulness and meditation, and cultivating kind, warm relationships with family and friends
