As students, many of us feel like there is at one thing that we all would like to improve on in order to better commit ourselves to learn and flourish in our academic careers. Whether this be to procrastinate less or improve grades in a certain subject, it is healthy to view the New Year as a time for change and progress; however, in order to create effective and realistic resolutions that may lead to fruition, there are some tips that students should consider following.
Written by Rohan Kumar
1) Take time to understand deficiencies as a student
This is applicable to all academic New Year resolutions: it is critical to identify your current shortcomings, and direct your desired change towards it in attempt for improvement. The first step is to understand these deficiencies, and to dive deep into what prevents you from being the best possible student that you can be. Rather than focusing on broad subjects such as studying, look into more specialized areas within your studying routine. For example, it might be of interest to look at how you initially interpret classroom material or how notes are taken before a test. Different courses may prompt you to take notes in different ways, but it makes a huge difference in the way you process material if certain styles simply are not suitable to your learning style. By understanding such key issues, reasonable steps to betterment can be planned.
2) Create a resolution that is meaningful to you!
What means the most or creates a big impact on your performance will always be subjective. By paying attention to the things that hold you back, you can strive to cut the problem at its root and generate substantial success. For example, if you simply fail to focus for long hours of studying because you feel distracted, set your phone to ‘Do Not Disturb’ mode, set periodic alarms when breaks should start and end, and then start working. This can help you set up a regular routine where you don’t necessarily have to focus for too long, but can still stay on a productive track and focus in bursts of time. Eventually you will train yourself to achieve the focus you once lacked, and this will help you feel good about yourself, and hopefully reflect with improved grades as well!
3) Write out your resolution
Writing things down can help you give shape to goals that otherwise just linger in your mind. Do you want to get an A+ on next week’s test? Write down the goal where you can see it, and then start making a study plan! Want to drink more water? Put a note up beside where you usually keep your water bottle! Try to write as much as possible about the resolution, such as current problems, measures that can be taken, and end goals of the resolution. This will provide clarity to what you truly want, and thus provides the greatest chance to achieving your resolution.
4) Don’t expect change quickly
Many students are discouraged when their habits do not improve immediately. Successful study habits are like exercising — you can’t lose 100lbs in one day! The same way, no one ‘becomes good’ at studying overnight. Breaking goals down into smaller steps and staying consistent with your intentions are key.
5) Commit yourself
You cannot fulfill great goals without committing yourself to them first. Sometimes you will need to give up watching your favourite TV show or hanging out with friends to study for that test, and sometimes you will need to lost sleep to feel prepared for the next day. As a high school student looking into post-secondary education, based on your end-goal, you could be studying for an additional decade before actually fulfilling it!
Conclusion
Stay organized, and commit yourself to what you feel strongly about. You may notice that all these tips converge at some point, and this is because goals are expectations you set for yourself. These are your feelings, your intentions, your limitations, and your achievements. There is a world of difference between what you decide for yourself and what others think you should achieve, which is why many students fail to reach the later and end up in negative cycles. Effort should come from within, and perhaps that is the biggest New Years resolution we students can strive to achieve. Stay strong and try to embrace a 2021 filled with personal growth and achievement!
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