Many college students are tired of being told “Work harder!” or “Study More!”
Working harder may seem like the simple solution to improve your grades. However, you can improve your chances of success by adopting habits that have nothing to do with studying! Here are my top ten tips to maximize college success:
- Praise your efforts.
Praising small efforts helps build motivation, which is essential for boring or difficult tasks. All great work starts with effort, so give yourself credit for taking the first step! Praising your efforts will help you maintain confidence and a positive outlook as you pursue your goals. - Name your strengths.
Quick—name your top 3 weaknesses. Now name your top 3 strengths. Which one was easier? Most people find that naming their weaknesses is easier. It’s common to spend a lot of mental energy focusing on what could be better or different. Try shifting some of that energy toward the positive. When you name and recognize your strengths, you boost your confidence and mood. A hard task doesn’t seem impossible when you know that you have the skills needed to achieve it. - Celebrate small successes.
Your college journey is a series of small successes leading to your ultimate goal. Small successes may include learning a new study strategy, talking to a professor during office hours, making a new friend, or writing one paragraph in an essay. Celebrate these successes as important building blocks to your larger goals. - Visualize your goals.
Daily stresses and activities can easily take over and seem more important than longer term goals. Think of your college goals as a road map guiding you toward your destination. If you never look at the map it’s easy to veer off track or even forget why your destination matters. Keeping your goals in mind will help guide your daily choices to support your ultimate goals. - Set daily goals.
College life is so busy, and sometimes every activity seems equally important. To keep yourself focused on what’s important, try setting small daily goals. These goals may include school assignments, laundry, or grocery shopping. Think about what you truly NEED to get done, and what can wait until another day or be done if there is time leftover. - Set weekly goals.
Consider what you need to complete each week, and plan accordingly. Create small goals to make consistent progress on larger projects. College students who plan ahead have better success and less stress throughout the week. Prepare for your week by looking ahead at your activities and class assignments. Pace yourself and be realistic about what you can accomplish each day. - Practice gratitude.
Gratitude is not just for Thanskgiving! Feeling grateful has been shown to improve mood and wellbeing. College can throw some curve balls! Maybe you got bad test score, felt rejected by friends, or missed out on a job or internship. Feeling discouraged, overwhelmed, or sad will lead you away from your goals; seeking distraction from these unpleasant feelings. Practicing gratitude can override negative emotions and create the positivity you need to get back on track. - Sleep more.
Sleep is essential for memory consolidation and learning. While sleeping, your brain is working hard to organize everything you have learned and prepare you for success the next day. College students are some of the most sleep deprived people, and also among those who need sleep the most! Making sleep a priority will pay off and set you up for success in college. Increased focus, higher energy, and better mood can be yours! - Drink more water.
Being just a little dehydrated can cause fatigue and poor focus. Nurture your body and brain to help you get through long days. College life is so busy that it’s easy to forget about basic needs like drinking water. To simplify your life, fill a large water bottle and take it to class each day. Track your water intake to make sure you’re getting enough based on your weight. As a bonus, drinking cold water can help you be more alert in boring classes! - Walk with purpose.
What do you think about as you walk through your college campus? If the answer is “nothing,” good for you! Many students rush from class to class, buried in their phones as they walk. Others think, worry, and plan while walking. Those 10 minutes between classes provide a chance to reset and refresh your brain. Instead of scrolling through your phone or thinking about what you have to do next, try being fully present. Let go of thoughts by focusing on the scenery or the sensation of walking.
College success involves so much more than working hard, studying, or being intelligent. I would love to help you get the most out of your college journey. Contact me to discuss how we can work together to help you reach your goals!