It's a few weeks into Spring Semester and everyone is starting to feel the stress. Teachers are loading on projects, assignments, quizzes, and tests and all we can think about is how many days until Spring Break. It's easy to give up on schoolwork and fall into the winter slump, but keep reading for 5 easy things you can do every day to keep your GPA high.
1. Wake up early
This one can be tough, especially if you don't start classes until 2pm. But waking up early means you have more time in your day to get things done, which is effective in time management. Starting your day just 30 minutes earlier to eat a nutritious breakfast and plan out your day can save your life- and your GPA. You will be able to make a to-do list, check your e-mails, and even look over your notes before heading to class. Starting your day off this way makes you feel prepared, which allows you to focus during your classes and earn better grades.
2. Avoid procrastination
College makes it so easy to procrastinate. Your parents aren't around to tell you to do your homework or stop you from going out on a Thursday night. If a teacher assigns a project that isn't due for another month, take initiative and start on it early; you'll thank yourself later. Also, try to get your homework done before you hang out with friends or get stuck in meetings for the rest of your evening. Turn off your phone and spend at least an hour doing homework. You'll be surprised at how much you can get done in a short amount of time.
3. Study in Advance
This is a habit I didn't pick up on until my Freshman year in college. I used to wait until the night before a test to study- but that is bad! Instead, spend time each day studying your notes. After class every day, I go home and make flashcards for terms and important information that was in the notes. When it comes time for the test, my flashcards are already made and I'm already familiar with them. Studying in advance really helps eliminate stress and makes tests seem less scary.
4. Do your homework
Some courses don't require you to do homework. For instance, your math professor may assign problems but never checks to see if you did them. It's tempting to skip the homework since it won't impact your grade. But for courses like math, knowledge builds on itself. If you don't understand the concepts early on, the class will only get harder and you will most likely fall behind. This also goes for reading assignments. Most students don't read the textbooks because they think it's a waste of time. Often times, the test questions are derived from the textbook rather than the lectures. Make sure you read the chapters that your professor assigns, no matter how long or boring they may be.
5. Read class notes before bed
I got this tip from one of my professors. She always suggests that we read our notes before we go to bed each night. I gave it a try and it helps so much. Studies have shown that the brain takes the most recent memories of the brain and stores them in long term memory. So, spending about 30 minutes each night reviewing your notes from the day will help you remember the information better when it comes time for the test.
I hope that these tips help you have a successful Spring Semester! Good luck!
This one can be tough, especially if you don't start classes until 2pm. But waking up early means you have more time in your day to get things done, which is effective in time management. Starting your day just 30 minutes earlier to eat a nutritious breakfast and plan out your day can save your life- and your GPA. You will be able to make a to-do list, check your e-mails, and even look over your notes before heading to class. Starting your day off this way makes you feel prepared, which allows you to focus during your classes and earn better grades.
2. Avoid procrastination
College makes it so easy to procrastinate. Your parents aren't around to tell you to do your homework or stop you from going out on a Thursday night. If a teacher assigns a project that isn't due for another month, take initiative and start on it early; you'll thank yourself later. Also, try to get your homework done before you hang out with friends or get stuck in meetings for the rest of your evening. Turn off your phone and spend at least an hour doing homework. You'll be surprised at how much you can get done in a short amount of time.
3. Study in Advance
This is a habit I didn't pick up on until my Freshman year in college. I used to wait until the night before a test to study- but that is bad! Instead, spend time each day studying your notes. After class every day, I go home and make flashcards for terms and important information that was in the notes. When it comes time for the test, my flashcards are already made and I'm already familiar with them. Studying in advance really helps eliminate stress and makes tests seem less scary.
4. Do your homework
Some courses don't require you to do homework. For instance, your math professor may assign problems but never checks to see if you did them. It's tempting to skip the homework since it won't impact your grade. But for courses like math, knowledge builds on itself. If you don't understand the concepts early on, the class will only get harder and you will most likely fall behind. This also goes for reading assignments. Most students don't read the textbooks because they think it's a waste of time. Often times, the test questions are derived from the textbook rather than the lectures. Make sure you read the chapters that your professor assigns, no matter how long or boring they may be.
5. Read class notes before bed
I got this tip from one of my professors. She always suggests that we read our notes before we go to bed each night. I gave it a try and it helps so much. Studies have shown that the brain takes the most recent memories of the brain and stores them in long term memory. So, spending about 30 minutes each night reviewing your notes from the day will help you remember the information better when it comes time for the test.
I hope that these tips help you have a successful Spring Semester! Good luck!