September is almost upon us, and for most people, that means the start of the new school year. It’s a time of change and new beginnings, meaning it’s the perfect moment to re-evaluate your current habits and shake them up. Here’s the 5 most common bad habits for students, and how you can change them!
Putting off assignments
Why it’s bad: The assignments will start to pile up, causing stress as you race to finish them before the deadline.
How to stop: Create an assignment tracker and commit to doing tasks the day they’re set. Or, try setting internal deadlines for yourself. If this doesn’t work, breaking the assignments down into more managable tasks can make them seem less daunting, which can prevent procrastination.
Being disorganised
Why it’s bad: If you don’t know what to do or when, then you’ll keep putting off your goals in favour of short-term fun, like scrolling on TikTok.
How to stop: Decide on a way to plan (such as Google Calendar) and create a schedule that works for you. Keep track of any and all responsibilities here, including school, assignments, and any appointments.
Cramming before exams
Why it’s bad: Not only is cramming really ineffective, it’s stressful, too. Your grades and mental health will suffer.
How to stop: Create a study routine to ensure you’re studying daily so that there’s no need to cram before the final exam. I would recommend creating flashcards then reviewing them on anki for 30 minutes a day so that everything you’ve learned stays in your mind. Closer to the exam date, you can do practice questions or past papers to revise.
Bad study methods
Why it’s bad: Low-yield study methods take a lot of time and effort, but you learn very little. They’re the definition of a waste of time.
How to stop: Replace taking notes or reading the textbook with high-yield and lower-effort active recall methods like flashcards, past papers, or practice questions. If you really want to use make notes or read the textbook, then incorporate active recall by doing blurting.
Not taking breaks
Why it’s bad: You’ll overwhelm yourself with work, leading to burnout and low productivity.
How to stop: For every 25 min of studying, take a 5 min break. Similarly, for every productive day, set aside an hour or two to do the activities you love. Make sure to make the most of the breaks as well: don’t spend your time scrolling, but do something you really enjoy.
