How to be more productive as a student (6 tips)

Being a student is hard! Not only do we have to get good grades but we’re also responsible for completing assignments on time, taking care of ourselves physically, and maintaining healthy social balances. 

While we do have it easier than some other professionals, that doesn’t mean we don’t encounter challenges along the way. 

Among these challenges, every student’s Achilles heel at some point or another has been unproductivity.

For quite a while I struggled to reconcile my time with my obligations as a student. Nothing was clicking! I was always behind on assignments, barely had time to study, and my grades were… I was not happy with myself.

If this sounds like you, below are 6 tips that helped me and can help you become a high-achieving, productive student.

How to be a more productive student?

Start your assignments immediately.

Procrastination is every student’s worst enemy! I mean, the agony of having to HURRY UP when Professor James wants the assignment you were supposed to submit fifteen minutes ago is simply unmatched! Start immediately. Use whatever time you have to spare, and get on that assignment! This ensures that by the time it’s due, you have time to fact-check and proofread and that you submit the highest quality work possible.

Read ahead

It is always good to read ahead. By doing this you can garner beforehand knowledge of a topic. It also ensures that as your professor goes through, what you already understand is being reinforced and that you get a better idea of what you don’t. 

Create a schedule

Schedules and plans are your best friend! 

By creating a schedule and making an effort to allocate your time effectively, you ensure that you minimize the amount of time you waste and that you have the most productive day possible. 

There are a lot of frameworks and systems to help you manage your time and tasks effectively and you’ll definitely be doing yourself a disservice by not taking advantage of them!

Tackle the hardest tasks first

You cannot avoid that dissertation forever! Instead of spending your time organizing your notes or writing that ungraded report, why don’t you start that Chemistry Lab? Take on Goliath first. The sooner you begin the sooner it ends. 

When you finish the hard tasks first, the sense of accomplishment you feel will build your confidence and will motivate you to finish those smaller, less daunting tasks.

Get lots of rest.

I don’t know about you but I cannot do anything when I’m tired! My brain just evaporates, and by the time I’m rested and actually look at what I’ve done, I have to start all over again. 

The best thing to do is to save yourself the trouble and get some sleep. Eight hours is ideal but it’s unlikely that you’ll get that much. I recommend you get a minimum of six hours per night. It’s better to study for three hours with an alert brain than to study for six when you’re half asleep.

Eat healthily

There are literally no cons to eating healthy. As a student, we use our brains a lot to complete activities. Practising healthy eating helps to keep your energy levels elevated and keeps you sharp and intuitive.

And there you have it! 6 brilliant tips to keep you on top of your game and ensure you’re always at your most productive! College is never gonna get easier, but we can make sure we maximize our time and productive energy. With these tips, you have the beginnings of a solution to your woes and, hopefully, they make things less stressful!