Why do students get average grades while others are always at the top? What do all successful students have in common? Well, it is mainly good habits and productive study strategies. Toppers know the price of success and are ready to pay it through their hard work and determination. Here is a list of 15 effective study habits that will help you bridge the gap between a topper and yourself.
They follow a set schedule:
The best study habit of successful students is to construct a practical, doable timetable and follow it. Looking at the syllabus as a whole makes it look like a sea, and finishing it seems like an impossible task. However, suppose the same syllabus is disintegrated into small, manageable chunks distributed through a timetable to be studied over a period of time. In that case, it gets easier to be motivated to finish it. While making a timetable, please allot equal time to academics and extracurricular activities so that there is a balance between the both. Also, include all the subjects in your timetable. You can allot more time to the subjects you find difficult and lesser to easy subjects, but please do not ignore any subject. Also, you can buy a big desk calendar from a stationary store, on which you can mark important dates like exam dates, due dates for assignments, and other academic-related deadlines. This will keep you accountable for any time wasted and help you organize your schedule around them.
They are attentive in class:
Have you noticed the behavior of a topper when in class? Do you ever find them talking to friends or doodling mindlessly while the teacher delivers the lecture? Well, not very often! Successful students always pay attention in class. They take every word of advice from the teacher seriously and follow it religiously. Also, they make sure they focus on every point of the lecture to attain a fundamental understanding of the topic of discussion.
They study every day:
Successful students rarely let a day go without progressing in their preparation. They finish their homework on the same day and complete the assignments before the due date. By studying every day, they maintain a flow in their learning process and finish the syllabus on time.
They start studying early:
A topper is revised by the time an average student starts studying. This is because they start the syllabus very early and study every day. When they attend a class, they review the notes on the same day. They do not fall prey to procrastination. This gives them and their preparation an edge over other students. They seem to take Charles Dickens’s quote “Procrastination is the thief of time” very seriously, and it works in their favor.
They ask questions if they have doubts:
Successful students stand at the top because they get their doubts cleared at the right time. They do not carry those to the exam hall. Whenever they do not understand a thing in the class, they ask questions from the teacher or note down their doubts and get them cleared from a book later. They do not hesitate to ask for help from friends and classmates if they need it. They know how important it is to bring up challenges at the right time and conquer them through hard work and dedication. A Chinese proverb says, “He who asks a question remains a fool for five minutes, while he who doesn’t, remains a fool forever”.
They revise the whole course multiple times:
Most students do not bother to even open their books at home at the start of the course. They are habitual of cramming everything by the time the exam arrives, so they never manage to finish the syllabus before the exam, leave alone revise it. On the other hand, successful students start studying from the very first day of the course. They naturally finish early and get enough time left for revisions. These revision sessions reinforce their understanding of the topics, so they can recall everything from their memory in the exams.
They stay motivated:
Studying every day needs motivation and dedication; otherwise, following the same old routine can get boring. Successful students know their goals, which helps them stay motivated until they achieve them. They know that they are fighting a battle that can be won with hard work alone, and for working hard, you need to stay motivated.
They meditate:
Not all but many successful students meditate. It helps them have a laser-sharp focus and maintain a calm composure even under stressful situations. During meditation, they need to avoid distractions and concentrate on their breathing pattern. This trains their minds to be able to concentrate on anything by complete control of their straying thoughts. Meditation also diverts the brain’s focus from negative influences and brings it to acknowledge the positive aspects of normal things.
Sit at the front:
Have you ever noticed who sits on the front benches in a class? It is always the successful students. By sitting in the front row, toppers can see the board clearly and listen to the lecture without any distractions. There are no side talks and discussions in the front rows, unlike the back rows.
They make their own notes:
Successful students have their own set of efficient notes that they can trust. Having a good set of notes for reference and revisions positively influences your grades to a great extent. Students invest a good amount of time learning the concepts during lectures and while reading textbooks. If there is no access for revision of these concepts, it is impossible to remember every concept from the class lectures.
They manage time efficiently:
Successful students master the art of time management through conscious decisions and mindful habits. They do not indulge in unproductive activities and rarely let a day pass without utilising it efficiently. Time is a very important resource and should be valued if one wants to achieve success in life.
They attend the classes regularly:
Successful students maintain their attendance in class. They acknowledge that if they take any class lightly and miss it, they will have to bear its consequences in the future. This helps them learn the information without disrupting the flow of the concepts. They, therefore, gain a comprehensive knowledge of the topics and can solve any questions related to them.
They believe in themselves:
These students know their strengths and believe in them. They do not doubt their abilities; rather, they use confidence as a shield. Panicking and getting nervous before the exam is absolute foolishness and should be avoided at all costs; it can never help you improve your performance. Belief in themselves is the true soul of a topper’s preparation.
They follow a healthy lifestyle:
Toppers rarely do all-nighters and skip meals in an attempt to cope with stress. They realize that all these unhealthy choices leave a detrimental effect on their health, which harms them in the long run. It is recommended to eat nutritious meals high in fibre and omega-3-fatty acids. Avoid junk foods and foods high in refined sugar, especially during your exams, as those tend to interfere with memory and cognitive abilities. Please ensure that you get enough sleep, at least seven hours per night. Sleep is like brain food; it acts as a cure for exhaustion. Having a sound body is indispensable for maintaining a sound mind, boosting energy, and improving cognitive skills
They assess themselves and fix their mistakes:
“More people would learn from their mistakes if they weren’t so busy denying them”. This quote by Harold J.Smith is enough to understand the importance of accepting one’s mistakes. Successful students accept their mistakes and take measures not to repeat them in the future. Through attending mock tests, solving previous years’ papers, and practicing questions, they analyze themselves, locate their weaknesses and rectify those through hard work and perseverance.
Conclusion
We are sure that this blog will have helped you gain some insight into the habits of successful students, and we hope that you will adopt some of them yourself to improve your performance in exams. Keep working hard, and you will succeed too!
FAQs
What do successful students avoid doing?
- Successful students avoid procrastination. They make efforts to make the best use of their time. Procrastination is a major hurdle on the path of many students as it prevents them from hitting academic targets.
- They do not fall prey to distractions. In today's era, where students waste lots of time browsing social media apps and other unproductive activities, toppers make the most of their time.
- They do not do all-nighters. Successful students start studying early, ensuring that they finish the syllabus on time and have enough time to make revisions. Successful students never try to cram the concepts the night before the exam, as the information gained thus is very volatile and susceptible to being forgotten.
- Toppers do not study the concepts superficially. They try to understand every topic from a fundamental level so that they can solve any question that comes in the exam related to it. Understanding the concepts before memorizing them helps you retain them in your mind for a longer period of time.
- Toppers do not hesitate to ask questions. It is natural to have doubts and questions when learning a topic for the first time. It is best to clear those early so as not to make mistakes in class.
