21 Tiny Habits for Students
Students are busy. It can be hard to find a good balance between school, work, and social life. But, with the right habit methods in place, you can feel much more in control.
Regardless of where you are in life, we should all strive to be lifetime learners. There are millions, of students across the United States, approximately 20 million students were enrolled in colleges and universities in the US. Additionally, approximately 50 million students were enrolled in primary and secondary schools.
Whether you are a high schooler, in college, or even just enrolled in an online course to further your knowledge about a passion, the never-ending pile of schoolwork can easily become overwhelming. It’s often extremely frustrating to watch certain students get through school with minimal effort and still maintain decent grades, while you struggle to stay caught up. While it may seem like all your friends and peers get through school with ease, the vast majority of students require concentrated study time and planned-out schedules. The most successful students typically achieve good grades and comprehension by applying effective study habits through their courses. Over the course of schooling, you have probably unknowingly developed little habits to make things more doable and optimize your time management.
Benefits of good study habits
Establishing a balanced study routine can have a significant impact on your motivation and overall success as a student. By developing good study habits, you can improve your ability to retain and understand information, and increase your confidence and motivation.
We’ve all experienced the rush to finish an essay before a midnight deadline, or the stress of understanding a term’s worth of content the night before the final exam. Good study habits can also help you manage time effectively and reduce stress and anxiety, so these instances pop up less. By breaking down your study sessions into manageable chunks, you can avoid the pressure of cramming and instead approach your studies with a more relaxed and focused mindset.
By developing good study habits, you can also foster a love of learning and a lifelong habit of continuous improvement and intellectual growth. By setting a strong foundation for your academic and personal development, you can lay the groundwork for success in the future. The benefits of good study habits are numerous and can have a profound impact on your academic and personal growth. By investing time and effort in developing effective study strategies, you can reap the rewards of improved performance, reduced stress, increased motivation, and a love of learning.
What studying method is right for you?
First, you should figure out the approach that works for you, then we’ll talk about the smallest and easiest way to make your studying habits second nature. It's important to find the study method that works best for you and to be consistent in using it. A combination of different methods can also be effective, as long as they help you to retain and understand the information at hand. There are a plethora of studying tips for students out there but here are a few of our favorites!
Buddying up: Many students enjoy studying with a group, like going to a coffee shop with a few friends, or organizing a meeting time with classmates to prepare for an upcoming midterm. Research suggests that well-structured group study sessions can be a valuable tool for enhancing learning and improving academic performance. They are particularly beneficial for students who are struggling with the material or who have low motivation. However, it's important to note that group study sessions can become unproductive if they lack structure and are full of distractions when students spend more time socializing than studying.
Staying Healthy: Stay hydrated, take stretch breaks, and get SLEEP! If your brain is over-taxed because it’s running on empty, your studying will suffer too!
Get to a location that works for you: Going to your local library or library on campus can greatly increase your productivity and motivation. A library has a quiet and focused environment that helps reduce distractions and increase concentration. It can also provide a sense of structure and accountability to help increase motivation and encourage students to stay on track. Many students find it beneficial to reserve a study room and completely remove any noise or other common distractions.
Accountability Buddies: Use an external resource to help keep you on track. Maybe you have a roommate or friend who is great at holding you to a study schedule! If so, lean into that! Many college students love using Shelpful’s real-human buddies to help them stay on track with their long-term goals and everyday tasks. Receiving helpful reminders and motivational nudges is often all it takes to achieve your goals.
What are Tiny Habits?
Here at Shelpful, establishing tiny habits is our favorite way to implement new habits into our lives. We have been trained in this habit-building method by Dr. BJ Fogg, a world-renowned behavioral scientist and author of Tiny Habits.
Tiny habits are small, effortless actions that are linked to a cue or trigger in your daily routine. The idea behind tiny habits is that they are easy to start and maintain, and can eventually lead to significant behavior change over time. For example, if you want to drink more water, you might start with the tiny habit of taking a sip after each email you send. Over time, you will start reaching for your water more naturally and eventually, it will become a HABIT!
We like to use this habit equation when creating our tiny habits:
[Anchor (existing habit)] + [Tiny Habit (miniature version of your new habit)]
Below we have listed 21 examples of tiny habits for students using this method!
21 Tiny Habits for Students
After I walk into the classroom, I will put my phone on do not disturb.
After I hit submit on an assignment, I will stand up and stretch.
After writing a to-do list, I will open my calendar and schedule one of the to-dos into my day.
After taking my first sip of coffee, I will open my Canvas, Blackboard (or whatever learning management software my school uses), and look at my assignments due that day.
After sitting down in class, I will take a sip of water.
After I put on my jacket, I will walk to class instead of driving (fresh air provides brain clarity and can help improve focus).
After I close the Instagram app, I will put in headphones and play instrumental music (classical music creates a calm and serene study environment).
After I send an email, I will delete three pieces of junk mail.
After I walk out of school, I will call a loved one (it can be hard to find time to talk to our family, this is a great opportunity).
After I click submit on an assignment, I will stand and take 3 deep breaths.
After I press start on the coffee machine, I will sit down and open my textbook
After I finish class, I will write down three of the concepts I struggled to understand (so I can review them later).
After I read the syllabus for a class, I will add the important deadlines to the calendar.
After I get assigned an essay, I will open my calendar (and write a writing plan to stay on track.)
After I sit down in class, I will take out my notes from the previous class session.
After I close my computer for the day, I will take out my planner/to-do list to plan for the next day.
After sitting down in bed, I will read 2 pages of my textbook. (Students spend so much time staring at screens, it's important to give your eyes a break before bed).
After my professor announces a test, I will send a text to set up a study group session with classmates.
After I sit down at the library, I will put my phone in my backpack to not become distracted.
After I get home from class, I will open my planner and choose one quick assignment to complete.
After finishing reading for class, I will write down 3 things that stuck out to me.
Remember that establishing new habits can be HARD! Don’t beat yourself up if things don’t always go the way you hope, or if you have a slip-up. Any implementation of a thoughtful change is HUGE and a great start to developing bigger habits and life goals.
Let us know how you incorporate these habits into your routine! Message or tag us on Instagram / Tik Tok.
Tiny habits are small, effortless actions that are linked to a cue or trigger in your daily routine. Our client @shelpful believes in linking new habits to existing habits (aka. anchors) in order to build habits that actually last.
Learn more about tiny habit recipes by checking out the Shelpful account team’s favorite tiny habits to stay on track as college students! Reminder to visit shelpful.com/blog for more! You can also register for a FREE three-day trial to see the benefits of having an accountability buddy.
