CAREERS & EDUCATION HIGHER LEARNING
Two habits to cultivate for academic success
B
eing successful in school requires more than just studying – you need to cultivate some habits that help you learn. Here are two good habits to help you with your studies.
Clear your mind space to do more
A little air will do you good You have heard it from many people, including parents, friends and health professionals. Outdoor exercise has many benefits. As a student you need to be able to clear and refresh your mind, manage stress, find a way of reviewing material, think creatively and problem solve. Exercise can help with all of that and more. It is a habit you want to include in your daily routine. Not only will you benefit as a student, but you will also get some natural vitamin D from the sun. All you need are comfortable walking or running shoes and a good jacket to protect you from the rain,
snow and cold. Aim for a 30-minute brisk walk every day, even if you are short on time. To make it a habit, work in walking into your other needs. Make it part of picking up groceries, your commute or your coffee break. Or catch up with a friend by asking them to join you on your walk. Check the weather
down into manageable tasks. The second list should include larger goals with deadlines for getting them done. For instance, it might include when you need to finish the research for writing a term paper or the due date for your next project. You will be transferring tasks from the second list to the first one as your assignments and studying are broken into smaller, more doable chunks. Your third list is for items you don’t have to work on or at least not right away. It includes some of your long-term goals and your plans for forecast, layer up in winter or go the future, including both your plans out early in the day in the summer A and B. This list can evolve as you change your mind on what you want months. As a student, you may get stuck for the future and what is possible. deciding on a topic for a paper It may also include the skills you or trying to work out its outline. want to develop such as becoming Allowing your mind to wander as a better writer or mastering a you walk may get your creativity particular computer software. going. If you need to memorize some material or listen to a lecture, you can take it with you with a notepad or use your phone to jot things down as new ideas come to you. Walking may help you solve academic and personal problems as you broaden your focus of possibilities. If it sounds too good to be true or too easy, give yourself a month to try it out. Cultivate the habit and it will give you miles of rewards.
Get organized with these three little lists Find a little space on your desk or your wall for three little lists. Postit notes are perfect for this or find an equivalent on your phone. The first list is for all the things that you intend to do today. It can range from reviewing a chapter to doing your laundry. Since it is motivating to cross things off the list, use a good dose of realism about what can actually be accomplished in a day. For this you will need to break goals
Your three lists allow you to take control of your student life by reminding you of what you will be doing daily, what needs to be accomplished this semester, and the reasons you are doing it. This strategy will keep you motivated and focused, which will help you get to the finish line.
Geneviève Beaupré and Susan Qadeer have extensive experience working in university and college settings, providing career, academic and personal counselling to international and immigrant students.
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CANADIAN IMMIGRANT Volume 18 Issue 2 | 2021
