Some students simply excel at everything they do while some struggle to find opportunities. This is true for getting top grades as well. So, getting top grades consistently is a challenge for some while others do it as if they were made for it.
It turns out that all high achievers have a few baseline habits and practices that keep them always inspired and motivated. These students persistently stick to the course of action despite difficulties, constantly try, and just don’t give up.
Let’s read ahead to find the best practices that will help you maintain top grades throughout the school year.
1. Learn techniques to motivate yourself
At school, teachers are often working under a tight schedule to finish the course work. So, don’t be surprised if the teachers don’t have the time to motivate every student individually in class.
Moreover, you may find your parents and friends to be too busy to provide you with a few tips to motivate you and give you a pep talk when you are down. In fact, the best way to motivate that always works is to look inwards! Not satisfied with your grades? Wondering where all the hard work goes? Here is a solution:
- Get yourself a notebook and write down your daily goals. At the end of the day, review your daily goals, achieved or unachieved. Also keep a healthy habit of writing the goals of your life.
- You can also make a list of qualities that define you, such as: I am hard working. I don’t give up easily. I will rise and shine! I am sometimes careless. I am sometimes too stressed to sleep before exams.
- Once you have written this down, it is time to figure our way around the problem areas you probably wish to change.
Remember, everyone is different. What motivates you may be unique to you. So go ahead and find out what works best for you.
2. Learn ways to participate in class
Like we just said, everyone is different. Are you the quiet one who wouldn’t want to speak in classes or are you the talkative one? Do you think if you find a balance between the two extremes, you may be more comfortable asking questions and contributing in classes?
If you know your topics well and do some extra homework and research, you may have an excellent point to raise in the next class. Once you will lower your filters and relax a little bit in classes, you will find yourself listening and participating more than ever!
The filters we usually have in classes are: What will others think about me? What if I ask a silly question? What if I can’t find my voice? What if I forget what I had to say? The reality is that you won’t ever find out the answers unless you try.
3. Take good notes during a class
Many students underestimate the importance of taking notes, thinking it might be possible for them to recall information later. In higher classes, note taking is a very important skill that will help you record your classes in the way you understand best.
Two practical ways to make notes are:
The Cornell method: Divide your page into three sections. The main section is for the teacher’s points. Bottom section is for writing questions that come to your mind. Right section is a one or two word summary of the teacher’s points.
The mind mapping method: Mind mapping is a graphical representation of how you understand information. You will make a center circle or any shape that contains the main idea in one word. Connect that with other main ideas and supportive details. You can think of this as a tree of information that branches out.
Regardless of how good your memory is, note taking will ensure that you do not miss any important information.
4. Stay focused outside of your homework
Does this one surprise you? Mathematicians, scientists, and travelers discovered some very important things, while they were thinking outside of their homework time.
The concepts taught at school are not limited to the classwork and homework only. If Fibonacci series, algebra, or pheolems excite you, keep learning more about them. You may be on your way to discovering a lot of new things while strengthening your textbook concepts.
5. Finish your homework and assignments
If you are assigned homework or assignments, you should just do it. The reason why students don’t finish homework is a lack of planning and timing. Don’t start too late when you are about to sleep and don’t tend to any distractions. Start and finish your homework in blocks of 45 minutes.
Let’s emphasize on this one: Homework is important and sometimes the only difference between those who get top grades and those who don’t. Therefore, don’t wait for your teachers to remind you and motivate you – just go for it.
6. Maintain good grades
Studying for long hours is not always the secret to top grades. Rather, consistent focus certainly is. Reality is that students who study long hours, stay awake nights, and skip everything other than studies tend to burn out. They crash and then simply lose the will to study again.
To prevent the study burn-out and maintain good grades:
- Always take breaks while studying. Walking, healthy snacking, and napping are all good breaks.
- Don’t be afraid to not study. You will return from breaks much more focused!
- Learn how to plan studies in an efficient way. You don’t want to leave a lot of syllabus for little time!
7. Organize your study space
Here are some simple things you can do to organize your study space:
- Use notebooks. Don’t use loose sheets.
- Buy the stationary you will actually need. Don’t buy things you are not going to use.
- Keep containers for small items in the drawers.
- Dust off your desk and books regularly.
- Give away the books and notebooks you won’t need.
- Have fixed places for books, notebooks, etc.
- Don’t clutter and learn to throw away the things you don’t require.
8. Do not make empty study schedules
Making study schedules is a good habit and many students do it. Still, many students do not follow the schedules. The key here is to not make empty schedules. An empty schedule is the one that is full of things you don’t want to do!
Students who are wasting time on making schedules on phone apps or paper, need to pay more attention to self-motivation techniques, such as writing 10 things a day that you want to do. This is how you can get out of the habit of making empty schedules.
If you are not struggling with motivation to study, then go ahead and make productive schedules with enough breaks for rest and relaxation.
9. Eat your veggies
A healthy diet will keep your brain more active and prevent laziness. Extra sugars and calories will only make you feel bloated, uneasy, and drowsy in classes. Unhealthy eating habits are a hidden and less talked about issue behind lack of study focus.
Similarly, if you have a class early in the morning and you choose to not have breakfast, know that within an hour after intense focus, your blood sugar is likely to take a dip. So, you need to make sure that your meals are on time as well as nutritious and balanced.
10. Sleep well
Students love to experiment with their sleep routines. In fact, many students don’t like to keep a routine of sleeping at all. Sleeping at random times not only disturbs your biological clock, it has a drastic impact on your grades as well. Here are some great sleep practices that help you focus better instantly:
- Sleep scientists recommend at least 8 hours of sleep every night.
- Napping in the afternoon for a few minutes is great.
- Sleeping soundly between 11:00 pm – 3:00 am is necessary for melatonin release (the hormone that repairs your body, fights diseases, and regulates body weight).
- Sleeping early is better than sleeping during the day.
- Try sleeping with a complete light shut out (with curtains on, lamps off) to help with your natural biological clock.
- If your sleep cycle has been completely disrupted and you cannot sleep at night, try lowlights or no lights after sunset for a day. This will help you reset your sleep cycle.
- Artificial lights and flashing images from electronic devices certainly interfere with sleep at night. Try switching everything off at least an hour before you go to bed.
11. Exercise and stay fit
Students who are part of a sports team or exercis
e daily, naturally tend to have a positive attitude towards studying under pressure. So, to keep your grades high, you should try exercising everyday and participate in sports-related extracurricular activities.
12. Join community-learning activities
Joining community learning activities such as book clubs and writing studios are uplifting and motivating experiences for students. Similarly, joining a group of other students for academic learning is also a great experience.
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