bad study habits essay

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8 Bad Habits Successful Students Don’t Have… And How to Avoid Them

About the Author Stephanie Allen read Classics and English at St Hugh’s College, Oxford, and is currently researching a PhD in Early Modern Academic Drama at the University of Fribourg. Top tips on how to be less like you and more like the brain-boxes whose grades we all envy.

1) Plan to work right up to a deadline

The problem is, even though being last-minute does not translate to being lazy or disorganised, it can and does get you into trouble. I’ve got examples too numerous to mention of times when I’ve ended up doing badly on something I should have nailed, because I planned to do far too much, too late. Like the time I decided to radically re-structure a 10,000 word essay the day before it was due and with 2,000 words still to write – and didn’t end up having time to finish the references. Or the time I was going to finish writing a piece of coursework on the morning it was due, and then woke up with a migraine and couldn’t do anything. Or the hundreds of times I’ve handed things in full of spelling mistakes that I was too tired to see after staying up all night. If you’re a last-minute person reading this and cringing inwardly over all the terrible things you’ve handed in because it’s all gone to pot at the very last moment – this trick can help. Set yourself a deadline of 9am on the day before your work is due, to have something that you could hand in. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but it has to be complete – written all the way to the end, conclusion and all, referenced and formatted. If that means staying up late, or getting up super early – so be it. Make changes on the day before if you need to, but to a completed product that’s ready to go.

2) Use caffeine to answer all problems

One cup of coffee, or even Red Bull in truly desperate times, can work wonders at sharpening your thinking and helping you power through great swathes of work. But any more won’t make much of a difference, and instead will turn you into a jittery, shakey, unfocused, ill mess. Too much caffeine is also bad for your heart, and disrupts your sleep patterns. If you find it hard to focus, or sometimes feel like you’re operating from behind a brick wall of tiredness, try getting more exercise – it’s been scientifically proven again and again that getting your heart rate up for half an hour a few times a week does wonders for mood, sleep and concentration.

3) Stay up all night working

The evil sister of working until the last minute and overdosing on coffee is the all-nighter, my least favourite of all study crutches. We’ve all done them; I’ve done probably hundreds in my time. Once there was a time I watched the sun come up, go down, come up, and go down again during a single session in the library (admittedly, this was in winter, when the sun was only up for about seven hours a day – but it was still a very depressing experience).

All-nighters always seem like a brilliant idea at about six p.m. on the day before you do them: you’ll gain an extra twelve hours you wouldn’t normally have, without distractions, and you’ll probably have to eat loads of junk food and drink gallons of fizzy drinks to stay awake. And in fact, if you’re going to stay up all night you can probably sneak off for a bit of a break now… At about 9pm, once you’ve eaten all your snacks and had a good long break, and started realise quite how much you’ve got to do, and how much you’d rather be doing almost anything else, the sense of smug resolution starts to disappear. By 12, after the third coffee, you might feel OK again – but by 2, your head positively throbs and your eyes are so itchy and bloodshot they’re basically half-closed. And by 4, you’re so light-headed with tiredness and hunger that you can barely read the words you’ve already written, let alone think of new ones. When you read your work back the next day, when it’s already too late, you’re horrified at the amount of typos, spelling mistakes and 6am sentences that just don’t make sense criss-crossing your page. That’s if you can work the next day, that is – staying up all night turns me into a zombie for two days at the very least. Of course, they’re sometimes inevitable – when a piece of work takes longer than it should, or something goes wrong at the last minute. But unless you’re one of those mad nocturnal bat-people who sleep all day and do their best work at 3am, don’t plan or rely on all-nighters. They’re thoroughly horrible and definitely don’t produce good work.

4) Sit on social networking sites while studying

Hey, we all do it – when we’ve got a big piece of work to do, that we know will require more than a couple of hours’ concentration and effort, we want to make the process as fun as possible. And there are lots of different ways of doing this: whether it’s planning to meet people for coffees or lunches to break the day up; sitting and reading through notes in the sunshine rather than the library; going to the library with a friend and stopping work every few minutes to have a chat; or sitting with Facebook or Twitter open while we work, and simultaneously conducting our social and academic life from the same desk. The last two ways of getting round work are, in my experience, always a mistake. To garble some pop-science, our brains function on two different levels. The first level, the way we normally think, is fast, instinctive and emotional – always prompting us to act in response to our surroundings, this is the brain that helps us get through the day without being knocked over by a car or eaten by a lion. But the human mind can also function in a slower, more deliberative and logical way – taking its time over decisions in order to reach stronger answers and, crucially, allowing for creative thought. This is the system of thinking we should aim to employ when working, whether it’s on a piece of writing or a set of maths problems: the slow, logical, creative brain. And in order to make the switch to this system, it’s crucial to shut out the distractions, the little things that trigger our instinctive reactions. Sitting with friends or on Facebook might seem like way to make working less stressful and more fun, but it’ll make it harder to focus and really think through a problem. It will mean that those problems take longer to solve, and the solutions end up being of a worse quality. Try working alone, without distractions, for three- or four-hour bursts and you’ll be astonished how much you get done, how much better your work is and how much more time you have left for the things you really want to do.

5) Work in their bedrooms

Working in your room always seems like a great idea at first: it’s nice and cosy, there’s easy access to tea and snacks and you don’t even have to get dressed. But I find that it’s a recipe for distraction: whether it’s the clarion call of the delicious treats in the fridge prompting a break every five minutes, the lure of the television or the realisation that I really do desperately need to do laundry this very instant , I always find reasons to distract myself at home. And what’s more, a day cooped up in a single room without achieving much or seeing anyone can leave you feeling lonely and stressed and mean that it’s difficult to switch off and relax in the same room at the end of the day. No – the library is the way to go.

6) Ignore problems

When you don’t understand or you can’t get the hang of something, and you haven’t got a clue even how to begin, it can feel like you’re the only person in the world who just doesn’t get it . I used to sit in Science and Maths lessons for weeks on end without having a clue what was going on, copying the occasional thing down just to look like I was listening, lost in daydreams of bashing the girl next to me (who used to put her hand up to answer every single question ) very hard over the head with my graphical calculator, and sniggering unpleasantly if she ever got a question wrong. The thing I didn’t understand in those dark Sciencey days was that no matter how bright or hard-working, everyone struggles with topics or concepts from time to time. Absolutely no one understands absolutely everything the first time they hear it; what makes a really successful student is how they deal with things they find difficult. Rather than ignoring tough topics, focusing on what they like and declaring sadly that they ‘just don’t have a mathsy brain’, top students identify problems and deal with them early. If they don’t get something in class, they go home that day and read through their notes, a text book or their syllabus; they ask the teacher or a friend to explain it to them again so that the problem doesn’t fester, becoming bigger and more stressful, and meaning that they don’t understand more things later on.

7) Leave work behind in the classroom

When you were younger, listening in class and doing your homework, as well as the odd bit of revision for a test here and there, were probably enough to guarantee that you always did brilliantly. But as you get older and start to specialise, everything suddenly seems to become more and more complex, and teachers and tutors use classes to throw huge amounts of information at you, aiming to cover everything in a short space of time and expecting that you’ll go away and work on things independently. From your final years at school onwards, it makes a huge difference to your success if you consolidate what you’re learning as you go: shifting from a paradigm of relying on your teacher and classes, to being more independent, and putting in the hours outside of lessons to make sure you understand everything. This sounds scary but actually isn’t too tough if you do it regularly. Spend an hour a day or a few hours at the end of a week reading through the notes you’ve made and relevant sections in your textbooks, jotting down any questions you want to ask, checking anything you don’t understand with your teacher or against the book, and practising anything you find tough. This will not only stop gaps developing in your knowledge as you progress, but will mean that by the time you come to revise, you’ll have great, full notes, and will effectively have revised everything once already!

8) Stress out when they fail

Even the best students mess up sometimes, getting things wrong, making mistakes in tests or handing in pieces of work that totally bomb. But because these students tend to do well, they’re often confident enough to accept occasional failures, taking them in their stride and realising that having written one bad essay, or even a string of them, doesn’t make them incapable of doing well the next time. If you mess up once, a few times, or even for a whole year, the worst thing you can possibly do is let it knock your confidence and make you stop trying. Instead, tell yourself that you’re just as capable of doing well as anyone else, and ask your teacher for feedback on what the exact problem was and work on rectifying that thing the next time. It might be that you then mess something else up but don’t let this stress you out. Making a mistake and learning a lesson often gives you a better understanding of how to succeed than flukily hitting the jackpot the first time round. Good luck!

Image credits: banner ; pocket watch ; coffee ; asleep ; bedroom ; classroom ; grade .

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poor study habits negatively impact grades.

BY ANTON LUCANUS

With the advent of new technologies and social media, students at college are finding it increasingly difficult to focus and study effectively. Top ranked colleges across the United States are becoming so competitive that in order to stay afloat and thrive in their chosen field of study, students must consistently outperform peers – and the key to doing so is maintaining a high level of academic performance. Poor study habits are the downfall of many a student, and with so many varying approaches to effective study, how on earth are you supposed to know which is the best?

Here are some negative study habits that will without doubt impact your academic performance in the long run, so we recommend you address them as quickly as possible.

Not taking care of your eyes

While eye strain has not yet been proven to lead to longer-term, chronic health issues, it can certainly make it more difficult to work comfortably and focus for long periods of time. There are some quick fixes to the issue, including ibuprofen and eye exercises every 20 minutes, but there are some longer-term habit changes that need to be in place to make sure you can achieve pain free, successful study periods.

According to Doron Kalinko, Co-Founder of SmartBuyGlasses, “when working on a computer for any length of time, students commonly find themselves experiencing symptoms of computer vision syndrome (CVS) including blurred vision, eye strain, neckaches, headaches and red eyes, a result of your monitor’s bright backlight, glare and the inability of your eyes to remain accurately focused on your screen.” Luckily, it’s easy to fix most of these things. Firstly, tweak your monitor so that it stands 20-30 inches away from your eyes and so that it is consistently at eye level. Secondly, switch off any harsh fluorescent lights and ensure natural light is flooding in from either side of your computer, rather than from behind it. And, perhaps most importantly, consider getting your eyes checked in order to rule out vision problems, and then invest in some customized glasses with computer lenses, designed specifically to filter out blue light being emitted from your computer and protect your eyes.

Multitasking

Music. Television. Texting. Social media. These are perhaps the most dangerous temptations a student will face during allocated study time. Constant push notifications, alerts, text messages and incoming calls mean that unbroken focus on your studies is nearly impossible. Recent studies have shown that 38 percent of students are unable to last more than 10 minutes without checking their phone or social media account, and nearly three quarters of college students admit they are constantly engaging with some form of technology while studying. Another research study conducted by the University of Connecticut also (unfortunately) revealed that students who multitasked while studying had to study longer and had lower grades on average than peers who multitasked less often. This means that if you want to spend less time studying, you need to actually pay attention and study without checking your phone!

To eliminate the temptation of distractions altogether, it’s best to remove mobile phones, laptops and tablets from the room before studying, unless of course they are required for learning. If you need a laptop, it’s worth downloading an application designed to help students remain focused. SelfControl is one app that enables you to block access to any distracting websites, mail servers, or pop ups while studying. Or, try switching to the ‘focus view’ function within Microsoft Word, which enables you to view your documents in full screen and hide all other potentially distracting toolbars. Set yourself a goal to not check your phone until your study session is complete. Habits are tough to break, but if you follow these suggestions you will eventually find the temptation to be less and less.

Poor posture

How you sit while studying for prolonged periods of time can have a huge impact on your ability to concentrate as well as your longer-term health. The worst habits, which you’ll probably recognize, include sinking down in your seat (which strains the lower back), jutting out your chin (which can cause upper back pain), slouching to one side, and sitting on your wallet (which could potentially pinch the sciatic nerve and cause longer term damage to the spine).

The best posture you can adopt when you’re studying is one where your back is connected to the chair, your feet are flat on the floor, your keyboard is no more than an arm’s length away, and the monitor two to three inches above eye level. If you start a small, regular, exercise routine that focuses on core strength and stretching, you’ll improve your ability to sit up straight for prolonged periods – as well as keep you fit and healthy! Take intermittent breaks throughout study to stretch, and last, but certainly not least, avoid hunching over your keyboard. This will cause you to develop a rounded upper back and lead to spinal misalignment and stiffness in your shoulders, which will definitely prevent you from being able to study as long as you need to get the grades you want.

While most students believe that an all-nighter before an exam, fueled by caffeine and junk food, is the best approach to retaining information, studies show they could not be more wrong. Rather, an hour of study one day, a few the next, followed by another hour or two over the weekend in the lead-up to an exam is a far more effective means of improving later recall. Why is this? Simple. By cramming, you’re making a trade-off between sleep and study, but it turns out that sleep is actually a key contributor to academic achievement. UCLA professor of psychiatry Andrew J. Fuligni reports that sacrificing sleep for extra study time, whether it’s cramming for a test or working through a pile of homework, is in fact counterproductive, as you’re more likely to have more academic problems, not fewer, the following day.

In a study he jointly ran with a number of UCLA professors, it was found that study time became increasingly associated with more academic problems, because longer study hours generally meant fewer hours of sleep. According to the National Sleep Foundation, not getting sufficient sleep limits your ability to learn, listen, concentrate and solve problems. The solution? Get the prescribed 8 hours of sleep per night recommend for university aged students. Ensure you quit studying early enough each night to squeeze in 8 hours of pillow time, and no less. Plan your study calendar well in advance of an exam to ensure you have allocated sufficient hours to study, so as to avoid last minute cramming.

There are countless other negative study habits that, unfortunately, 21 st century students have fallen prone to. Consistently using one single strategy to study is a negative study habit to avoid. So are excessive consumption of caffeine and junk food to fuel long cram sessions, and sticking to the same working environment rather than mixing it up occasionally. Learning how to ‘study smart’ is vital if you wish to achieve great things, not only on campus but beyond it – in the working world – where negative work habits will not only impact your health but also your greater career prospects.

Byline – Anton Lucanus is the Director of Neliti. During his college years, he maintained a perfect GPA, was published in a top cancer journal, and received many of his country’s most prestigious undergraduate scholarships. Anton writes for The College Puzzle as a means to share the lessons learnt throughout his degree and to guide current students to achieve personal and educational fulfilment during college life.

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Poor study habits and how to break them

Study tips Published 31 May, 2023 · 7-minute read

Breaking your poor study habits and replacing them with good study habits could make a world of difference to your grades. It could even help you feel happier and more satisfied with school.

But when you’re right in the middle of things, it can be hard to spot the behaviours that are weighing you down. Look through the bad study habit examples below to identify what your obstacles might be and learn how to overcome them.

Cramming for exams and doing assignments the night before

Yeah, let’s get this obvious one out of the way. You might pass the occasional exam by cramming or get away with a last-minute essay every now and then, but this approach to studying isn’t sustainable.

When you cram, you’re effectively committing facts and concepts to your short-term memory. You’re unlikely to recall the information later, and you’re also not really engaging with the content and thinking about it on a deeper level.

How to stop cramming

You can break this poor study habit with a study schedule. Map out all the times you have available to study – after school, in the evenings, on weekends, even in the mornings – and plan which subjects you’ll study and revise in those time blocks.

If you’re a bit forgetful or easily lose track of time, consider making your study schedule on your phone or laptop . This way you can set up alerts to notify you when it’s study time.
If you’d prefer having a constant reminder of your plans and goals, instead create a physical schedule and place it prominently on your desk instead. Decorate it as you wish.

Not sure which kind of study schedule will work for you? Try both at first to see which one keeps you on track.

By using a schedule, you’ll be able to revise content from your subjects gradually over time, which will make it much easier to access the info you need when exams come up. Plus, if anything doesn’t quite make sense when you revise it, you’ll have time to check in with your teacher and get answers.

Procrastinating

It’s human nature to put off things that feel difficult and do easy things instead. It’s why you might spend hours playing games even though you know an important assignment is due soon.

A little bit of procrastination is normal and shouldn’t hurt your grades too much, so don’t be too quick to beat yourself up. But if you start to miss due dates or hand in unfinished assignments, there’s a good chance procrastination has become a serious problem.

So, how do you beat the big bad study habit that is procrastination?

One trick to reduce the impact of procrastination involves the study schedule we mentioned earlier. When you have an essay or project to complete, try putting a due date in your schedule a few days before the actual deadline. Artificially making the work seem more urgent may give you the push you need to get cracking on it sooner.

Another good way to stop procrastinating is to break up any big assignments you have into smaller, more manageable jobs. This can apply to almost any kind of task, including essays (break into research, planning, writing, proofreading) and exam prep (break into taking notes, paraphrasing your notes, comparing notes with a friend or your study group, reviewing your notes).

You can extend this approach to your general study sessions too. Break each hour into smaller chunks of time, such as 40 minutes of making notes, 10 minutes of taking a walk and grabbing a snack (breaks are important!), and 10 minutes of reading back your notes.

Getting distracted

You’re finally in the zone on your English essay when a notification on your phone grabs your attention and you lose your train of thought. Or you’re on a roll with a series of practice equations when your brother starts blasting music in the next room and now you can barely think.

You can’t always control the world around you and stop distractions from happening. But you can usually choose where to study and influence your surroundings.

How to stop getting distracted while studying

Firstly, you need to select a dedicated study zone – a sanctuary where you can focus on your schoolwork. Your bedroom or your home’s study might seem like the obvious choices, but you could also try a local library or park if your household has too many distractions.

Once you’ve chosen your study zone:

Make sure the lighting, temperature and seating are comfortable.
Turn off your phone or use an app to keep it from distracting you.
Close any browser tabs that aren’t related to your study session.
Place any items you might fidget with out of reach and out of sight.
Ask anyone in the house not to disturb you while you’re studying.

Leaving your notes unorganised

We know taking notes in class can feel a bit rushed. You don’t always have time to neatly organise and colour-code each sentence as your teacher speaks.

That’s alright. Your notes don’t have to be meticulous or beautiful all the time.

But it’s important to organise your schoolwork and materials at least a bit. Even a simple to-do list, combined with your study schedule and a tidy study space, can help you stay productive and feel less stressed. This also ensures you won’t miss any due dates or forget any assignments.

Many students find it helpful to take those quick notes from class and recreate them in a neater format in the evening or the next day. This is a great way to review the content you’ve recently learnt, and it also means your notes are easy to find and revise when you get to exam time.

How to organise your school notes

Here are some quick tips to help you organise your schoolwork:

Find a note-taking structure that suits your study style. Experiment with bullet points, mind maps, highlighting, colour-coding and other approaches to see what speaks to you.
Give each of your subjects a designated notebook, folder and/or binder .
Make sure all your notes have a title and date so they’re easy to organise and find.
Try a digital to-do list to keep track of your tasks without cluttering up your desk.
Review your notes each week or so . This will allow you to you spot any gaps in your notes, keep track of the key concepts throughout the term, and group together any content that is related.

Sticking to standard studying techniques

One bad study habit that flies under the radar is repeating the same approach to studying or revision, even if it’s not working that well.

Sure, some people really do learn best by writing notes and reading them back. But many people absorb information better in other ways and will struggle to retain content they’ve only seen on paper.

Even if straightforward writing/reading is your preferred study style, mixing things up every now and then can keep your study sessions fresh and your mind engaged.

How to keep your study interesting

Try some of these ideas to see what approaches to studying work well for your learning style:

Take your written notes and summarise/paraphrase them in your own words.
Turn paragraphs or bullet points of notes into mind maps or diagrams to make them visual.
Record yourself speaking through your notes and play them back.
Join or start a study group for collaborative learning and discussions.
Try teaching the content to somebody else (take turns as the “teacher” with a study buddy, persuade a sibling to volunteer, or even gather some plushies to become an imaginary audience)
Use flash cards to quiz yourself.

Studying too much

Yes, you read that correctly. There is such a thing as studying too much.

Committing to regular study and keeping to your study schedule is an excellent step in breaking poor study habits. But investing too much energy into your studies can become negative too – if it comes at the expense of your self-care, health and relationships.

If your study time is cutting into your exercise, meals, sleep and social activity, this can start to hurt your grades instead of helping them. This is because your brain can’t perform at its best if you’re fatigued, malnourished or burnt out.

How to avoid over-studying

To make sure your study doesn’t become unhealthy:

Factor time for meals, snacks and exercise/sports into your study schedule.
Stick to a consistent bedtime, even if it means sometimes interrupting your study halfway through a topic.
Make regular time to catch up with your friends. If your friends are also your study group, make sure you do things together beyond studying.
Be mindful of your mental health and seek help if you’re struggling.

Final thoughts

It’s important not to waste time and energy feeling guilty about any of these poor study habits. Nobody can say they’ve never procrastinated, gotten distracted or left their work in a messy pile on their desk.

What matters is that you’ve now got a good idea of the obstacles that might be holding you back in your schoolwork. And you’ve got a plan for getting over them.

Once you’ve weeded out the bad study habits that were holding you back, take things to the next level by developing these good study habits.

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Banish your bad study habits

Establishing healthy routines can boost graduate school success.

By Amy Novotney

Print version: page 34

As an undergraduate, pulling all-nighters to write a paper or cram for an exam may have gotten you decent grades. But grad school is different. Much of the academic work needed to earn a masters' or doctoral degree is self-directed and dependent on meeting longer-term goals and deadlines.

That means the less-than-ideal routines that might have worked for you before are unlikely to lead to success, says Wendy Wood, PhD, a professor of psychology and business at the University of Southern California.

"Most graduate students are pretty good at studying for exams, but the basis of evaluation shifts as you move into graduate school, and you're expected to give talks and write a lot," Wood says. "These things are not always ingrained habits for many students when they start school."

Add stress on top of that, she says, and students will fall back into old patterns, "and it's hard for them to learn new ones."

In a 2013 Journal of Personality and Social Psychology study , for example, Wood and colleagues found that students in the midst of exams had less willpower and motivational energy, reverting to habits they had developed earlier in the semester. For example, those who tended to eat a healthy breakfast stuck with this behavior even under stress, while those who reported often eating an unhealthy breakfast during nonexam weeks continued to do so during exams.

"The key to meeting your goals is establishing good habits from the very beginning," Wood says.

Wood and other experts share these six tips for helping graduate students adopt healthy habits that will help them in school — and in life.

Create a new habit in 66 days

Forming a new habit is all about repetition, Wood says. In a 2010 study led by University College London psychologist Phillippa Lally, PhD, researchers followed 96 volunteers over 12 weeks as they adopted a new health habit, such as drinking a bottle of water with lunch or running for 15 minutes before dinner. Participants reported each day whether or not they did the behavior and how automatic it felt. The researchers found that it takes 66 days on average for these simple behaviors to become habits. While the length of time can vary widely depending on the person and behavior — anywhere from 18 days to 254 days, according to the study — people who repeated a behavior every day were more likely to make it a habit quicker.

Embrace a routine

When developing a new habit, it's also important to tie it to a particular context, Wood says. Find a time and place where you know you do your best work and build it into your schedule every day.

"You don't want to have to constantly be making decisions about whether you're going to write now or in half an hour," she says. "You want contexts to cue the decision to work, so find a place that works for you to write and go there on a regular basis."

Over time, she adds, you'll find that you're struggling less and the context starts to cue the behavior that you've engaged in in the past.

Find a way to enjoy your work

People aren't going to automatically do things they don't like, Wood says. So, if you are dreading studying or writing, for example, you have to figure out a way to look forward to some aspect of the job. If you're the type of person who craves social connection, for example, get a few members of your cohort together for a "writing date," and spend an hour writing and then take a break to have coffee and discuss your work.

"Recognize what's appealing to you and use that," Wood says. "Otherwise, you may need to find a new career — something that you do find fun."

Rewards work, too. Promise yourself that if you get a certain amount of work in, you will treat yourself to Facebook time, TV watching or whatever guilty pleasure may motivate you.

Take breaks

More than 50 years ago, sleep researcher Nathan Kleitman, PhD discovered the "basic rest-activity cycle" — the 90-minute period at night during which we move progressively through five stages of sleep, from light to deep, and then out again. He also observed that our bodies operate by the same 90-minute rhythm during the day, moving from higher to lower alertness. In essence, our brain functions better if we allow ourselves times of highly focused work as well as times of rest. Now often referred to as "pulsing" by productivity experts, adopting the habit of performing tasks in 90-minute increments, with rest breaks in between, can help you focus much better than trying to work for hours on end. Brigid Schulte, author of the 2014 book "Overwhelmed: How to Work, Love, and Play When No One Has the Time," turned off her phone and email for 90-minute increments throughout the day to research and write the book.

"It was easier to stay focused on work knowing I'd given myself a grace period to get to the pressing home stuff later," Schulte wrote in her book.

Develop realistic goals

Graduate students' goals often tend to be "too vague and mushy, like ‘work on my thesis' or ‘design that study for my dissertation,'" says Paul Silva, PhD, author of "How to Write a Lot: A Practical Guide to Productive Academic Writing" (2007). Yet 30 years of research by psychologist Albert Bandura, PhD, shows that self-motivation is best sustained by having a clear, long-range goal that can be broken down into a series of specific, attainable smaller goals to guide one's efforts. Chicago clinical psychologist Alison Miller, PhD, author of "Finish Your Dissertation Once and For All: How to Overcome Psychological Barriers, Get Results, and Move On with Your Life" (2008), suggests students aim to break down milestone goals like writing a literature review into actions that can be completed in less than two hours, such as reading a journal article or writing a first draft of a subsection. She also recommends connecting goals to specific days of the week.

"Knowing when you wake up in the morning what you're supposed to do that day helps you avoid wasting energy trying to figure out what you need to do," she says.

Turn off your smartphone

At the end of the day, it's important to psychologically disengage completely from work and school, says Russell Johnson, PhD, a professor of management at Michigan State University. That downtime helps people recover cognitive and emotional resources that were depleted during the workday. In a 2014 study in Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes , Johnson and colleagues examined the effects of technology — including late-night smartphone use for work — on sleep, morning energy levels and work engagement throughout the day. They found that late-night smartphone use for work interfered with sleep quantity and quality, and left workers more depleted in the morning and less engaged at work the next day. Johnson recommends that students turn smartphones off in the evening and keep them out of the bedroom so there is no temptation to check work or school email.

"Fatigue can have detrimental effects on people's engagement, learning and performance at work and school, and this stress can also spill over to negatively affect people's personal relationships and their sense of well-being," Johnson says. "Although it may be difficult sometimes to ‘turn off' work and school, mental respites and breaks really are good for us."

Letters to the Editor

7 Bad Study Habits to Avoid and How to Overcome Them

Procrastination, lack of focus.

Another common bad study habit is a lack of focus. Whether it’s due to distractions, such as social media or other digital devices, or a lack of interest in the subject matter, a lack of focus can make it difficult for students to retain information and complete assignments. To improve focus, students should try to eliminate distractions, establish a dedicated study space, and take regular breaks to refresh their minds.

Poor Time Management

Not setting goals.

A bad habit of not setting goals can lead to poor performance in academic and personal life. A lack of direction and purpose can cause students to lose motivation and interest in their studies. To overcome this, it’s essential to set specific, measurable, and achievable goals, and to track progress towards those goals. You might light to check this post for further information.

Not Taking Breaks

Not reviewing notes, not seeking help.

Many students are hesitant to seek help when they’re struggling with their studies. Whether it’s a lack of confidence, fear of being judged, or a belief that they should be able to handle everything on their own, not seeking help can prevent students from getting the support they need to succeed. To overcome this, students should seek help from teachers, tutors, or other academic support resources, such as study groups or online forums.

Bad study habits can significantly impede academic progress and lead to poor performance. By identifying and addressing these habits, students can establish effective study strategies and achieve their academic goals.

Michael borgers, pin it on pinterest.

Good Study Habits vs. Bad Study Habits

April 1, 2021

By: Jesse Alcontin

Every day, you have two choices. It’s either you continue sleeping with your dreams, or you wake up and chase them. So, choose your study habits wisely; because believe it or not, it will help decide on what your future will be. Nothing is ever too late not unless you’ve given up right from the start. We all know that the student life is hard. But who says you can’t make it easy? Well, you actually can! In this article, you can find comparisons between the good study habits and the bad ones. Let’s see what’s gonna be your choice after reading the whole of it!

BAD STUDY HABIT # 1: PROCRASTINATING

Many students are well aware of our number 1 bad habit, do you know this one too? Well, maybe this is the right time to finally forget about it! When a person procrastinates, it doesn’t necessarily mean that he or she is lazy. But procrastinators often set aside all the things they have to do until the very last moment and then crams to finish all of it. Here are some things that can possibly happen to you when you do this bad habit:

1. Wasted Time

How many hours did you spend sleeping, watching television, and surfing the internet before doing your homework or project? Yes, you haven’t missed the deadline yet if that’s your reason. But if you see it from another perspective, you will realize that time is indeed gold. If you have all the time to sleep, binge watch, and browse the internet, then that definitely means that you also have a lot of time to study for a different subject, to research more about a paper you need to do for your other professors, and organize your schedule.

2. Missed Opportunities

If you think that there’s not really a great harm in being a procrastinator, then you’re wrong. If anything, YOU are harming yourself. By doing so, you deny yourself the chance to become better. Education plays an important role once you start working. So, while you’re still given an opportunity to improve, explore all the possibilities you can do. Spend more time doing extra-curricular activities instead of slacking.

3. Rushed Outputs

Because you have little to no time at all to prepare for your homework or project, you can’t give your hundred percent effort into it. You may have all the great ideas in mind, but once you decide to do it last minute, you are faced with a great pressure to finish it. That’s why the quality of your work will only come second. You now only care about the importance of submitting it. At least you submitted it, right? But always remember, by failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.

GOOD STUDY HABIT # 1: FOLLOW YOUR SCHEDULE

Good students know the importance of following their own schedules. When you have a habit of following your own time to finish all your tasks, then you will notice how much of a breeze it would be! Plus, you might even have more time to do some self-care and hobbies, just because you’ve been following your schedule! When the time is not after you, you can see how unworrying it is to give some time for yourself. When you procrastinate, you do all things before the deadline. But when you follow your own timeline, you can do all things guilt-free after finishing your to-do’s! See the big difference? If not, then here are some perks you can get when you do this good habit:

1. More Time for Yourself

Like what I said earlier, you can do things guilt-free when you follow your own time. It would be such a relief to do all the things you want to do without a voice in your head saying, “You have some homework to finish.” Following a schedule does not only mean you can assign time for your school stuff, but that is also an opportunity to plot some time to do your personal interests without sacrificing a deadline!

2. Large Room for Improvement

When you’re on point in tracking your tasks, you can overlook everything. You can always improve more and adjust some miscalculated schedules when you’re committed into following your timeline. If previously, the schedule you made had still placed you in a tight spot, then for the following tasks, you can revise it into an improved timetable. As the saying goes, an hour of planning can help you save ten hours of doing.

3. High-Quality Outputs

This is the best perk on the list! You can never go wrong with a project that you’ve given much time and effort. Intelligent labor is always evident in anything that you do. This is the best thing you can have when time is your friend. You are prepared, efficient, and systematic. No one can ever bring a hardworking student down.

BAD STUDY HABIT # 2: SURVIVING ON JUNK FOOD

You are what you eat. You may not control some things, but you can ALWAYS choose the food that you eat. Most students opt to just eat processed, easy-to-heat food like cup noodles, canned goods, and fast-food meals. For some college students who live alone or are renting a dorm, I understand that your time is constraint, and it is much easier to just eat the easiest and fastest meals you can prepare. But here are some effects of eating junk food that affects the brain:

It makes you impulsive.
It shrinks the brain’s learning capabilities.
It reduces the generation of new neurons.
It can negatively affect your memory.

These are things you have to keep in mind whenever you choose junk food over healthy meals. If you have no time for healthy eating, then this may be your sign to finally start doing so.

GOOD STUDY HABIT # 2: EATING HEALTHY

Good food choices are good investments – even for your grades. Students with good grades and a healthy lifestyle know that there are quite easy to prepare meals that are still packed with the nutrients that their mind and body needs. So, whatever you are doing, no matter how busy you get, never ignore the importance of choosing healthy food. Because it is a huge edge you can use to make your brain healthier and readier to study. Here are the advantages of students who eat healthy food:

It can help improve your memory and alertness.
It is key to good sleep.
It improves your mood, contributes to lower stress levels, and decrease anxiety.
It can help your brain in faster information processing.

BAD STUDY HABIT # 3: STUDYING AT THE WRONG PLACE

This habit depends on every individual. Some people find it hard to study on a crowded place, while some don’t. Some students like to study in the library, while some do not. So, when you are aware of the places that you have a hard time studying in, don’t even think about spending your time there. Want to know if a place is a wrong place for you to study?

If you’re sleepy or have fallen asleep while reading in that place, then it’s not for you.
If you find yourself distracted of the things around you, then it’s not for you.
If the place is too noisy or too quiet for you, then it’s not for you.

Anything that may cause you distractions, annoyance, and lack of interest in studying, is a bad place for you. You just have to know where your mind is at best, then you’re one step closer in ending this bad habit.

GOOD STUDY HABIT # 3: FOCUSED LEARNING

It’s an experiment when finding the right atmosphere or ambiance to help you concentrate. Great students do not sacrifice their attention over distracting things. Remaining focused and on top of their game is what they do best. You get what you focus on, so focus on what you want. Want to know how to do it too? Read these:

Pick a right place for you to study in. A place that avoids all the distractions may be what’s best for you.
If you don’t feel like starting to study, take one minute to breath and prepare yourself mentally. It’s hard to focus when you are not mentally present in the things that you’re doing.
Write down exactly the things you must study. Keeping a list with you will lessen the chances of you getting diverted over other matters. Plus, you won’t be skipping anything important.
Stay away from using your gadgets as much as possible. A simple click on a cute video you found on the internet can fuel a much longer time of you being preoccupied. If you don’t need it, don’t use it, then you’ll find yourself very focused on what’s in front of you.

THE BOTTOMLINE

We are what we repeatedly do. Therefore, excellence is not an act, but a habit. So, when you have already started doing good study habits, it will become your daily routine until you find yourself naturally disciplined at the things you do. The bad side of it is when you’re so used to slacking while studying, to the point of not realizing it anymore. When you continuously choose the easy way instead of the long and worth it road, you are inevitably choosing a future not as bright as the others. But the good news is, you still have time, you still have hope. Once you start realizing your bad habits, then you can start motivating yourself. Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what will keep you going.

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Studying is an art. Many students do not know how to do it properly though. It seems as if they are always behind schedule when it comes to handing in homework, or preparing for a test. If they knew how to increase the effectiveness of their studying habits, they would feel less stressed and more on top of their deadlines. In order to educate students on how to study well, the following paragraphs will discuss five poor study habits that lead students into trouble, and how to tackle these defects.

Procrastination is perhaps the most dangerous habit students develop. They put off their assignments until it is almost impossible to do well on them. According to the University of the People, “There are many anti-procrastination strategies you can adopt, from better time management to being more organized, following to-do-lists, to asking someone to check up on your progress” (“5 Bad Study Habits To Drop And 4 Good Ones To Keep”). However, to not procrastinate is more of a personal choice. Inner motivation is more important than outer motivation.

Following motivation, each person studies better in certain places. Libraries, cafes, studying rooms in schools, and more, are often referred to as conductive places to dive into your assignments. The University of the People states that, “Rule of thumb: If you fall asleep when you read in a place (say, the couch or your bed), this isn’t the best studying place for you. The same goes for a place with a lot of distractions, like the beach” (“5 Bad Study Habits To Drop And 4 Good Ones To Keep”). The best thing to do is to practice studying in various locales and see what works best for your brain. You will never know for sure where you study best until you try out many different locations.

Along the same lines with atmosphere, you should you know how to get rid of distractions when studying. There is nothing worse than something breaking your flow when you working on your assignments. According to Oxford Learning, “Study distractions can either be internal or external. Internal study distractions include physiological needs and emotional thoughts. External study distractions include technology and people” (“Homework & Study Distraction Tips From The Experts”). This means students need to have peace inside and out. When you study, you need to get into a certain mindframe and space that is conducive to studying.

As a backing for your studying, you should take neat notes. A lot of students mess around when taking down notes. But, the key is taking accurate, readable, and comprehensive notes in order to make your studying and completing assignments easier (Garcia, Lori). With great notes, you can recall information from class in a cinch and memorize data your brain needs to use for tests. Also, taking good notes during class keeps you focused on the learning process rather than on your friend’s jokes, for instance. Having a good attention during class can change your grade.

You may have fantastic notes, by maybe you are studying with the wrong people. You could be hanging out with friends that distract you, or who are not as serious as you are in studies. You should pick co-studiers who are about at the same grade level or higher in class. There is no need to be rude and say to someone, “your grade is a C, so I can’t study with you,” but do your best to choose wisely. It might even be wise to choose to study with someone you do not know personally, but is from your same class, or studies the same subject.

Getting studying done is notoriously difficult for students. But if they remember to not procrastinate, find the best place to study, throw out distractions, take clear and comprehensive notes, and do their work with appropriate people, they can achieve the grades they desire.

Works Cited

“5 Bad Study Habits To Drop And 4 Good Ones To Keep.” University of the People, 5 Aug. 2018, www.uopeople.edu/blog/5-bad-study-habits-drop-4-good-ones-keep/.

“Homework & Study Distraction Tips From The Experts.” Oxford Learning, 13 Oct. 2017, www.oxfordlearning.com/study-without-getting-distracted-tips/.

Garcia, Lori. “10 Bad Study Habits and How to Fix Them.” Babble, Babble, 22 Mar. 2017, www.babble.com/kid/10-bad-study-habits-and-how-to-fix-them/.

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Study Habits That Can Improve Grades and Performance

M.Ed., Education Administration, University of Georgia
B.A., History, Armstrong State University

It is never too late to develop great study habits . If you're starting a new school year, or you just want to improve your grades and school performance, take a look at this list of good habits and start making some changes in your routine. You'll find that it does not take that long to form a new habit .

Write Down Every Assignment

The most logical place to write down your assignments in a planner , but you might prefer to keep a to-do list in a simple notebook or in your smartphone notepad. It doesn't really matter what tool you use, but it is essential to your success that you write down every single assignment, due date, test date, and task.

Remember to Bring Your Homework to School

It sounds simple enough, but many F's come from students forgetting to bring a perfectly good paper to school. To avoid forgetting your homework, establish a strong homework routine with a special homework station where you work each night. Get in the habit of putting your homework where it belongs right after you finish it, whether this is in a special folder on your desk or in your backpack. Prepare every night before bed.

Communicate With Your Teacher

Every successful relationship is built upon clear communication. A student-teacher relationship is no different. Miscommunication is another one of those factors that can cause bad grades, despite good efforts on your part. At the end of the day, make sure you understand every assignment that's expected of you. Imagine getting a bad grade on a five-page paper because you didn't understand the difference between an expository essay and a personal essay .

Be sure to ask questions and find out what format you should use when you write a paper or what type of questions might appear on your history exam. The more questions you ask, the more prepared you'll be.

Organize With Color

Devise your own color-coding system to keep your assignments and your thoughts organized. Select a single color for each class (like science or history) and use that color for your folder, highlighters, sticky notes, and pens. Color-coding is also a tool to use when conducting research. For example, always keep several colors of sticky flags on hand when you're reading a book for school. Assign a specific color for every topic of interest. Place a flag on a page containing information that you will need to study or to cite.

Establish a Home Study Zone

Create a specified study place. After all, if you can’t concentrate, you certainly can’t expect to learn very well. Students are different: Some need a completely quiet room free from interruptions when they study, but others actually study better when listening to quiet music in the background or taking several breaks.

Find a place to study that fits your specific personality and learning style . Then stock your study space with school supplies that will help you avoid last-minute interruptions to go find needed materials.

Prepare Yourself for Test Days

You know that it's important to study for tests, but there are other things you should consider in addition to the actual material that the exam will cover. For example, you might show up for the test and find the room is freezing cold. For many students, this would cause enough of a distraction to interrupt concentration. That leads to bad choices and incorrect answers. Plan ahead for heat or cold by layering your clothing.

Or you might be the kind of test-taker who spends so much time on one essay question that you don't have enough time to finish the exam. Prevent this problem by bringing a watch and being mindful of time management.

Know Your Learning Style

Many students struggle in a subject without understanding why. Sometimes this is because they don't understand how to study in a way that matches their brain style. Auditory learners , for example, are those who learn best through hearing things. Visual learners , by contrast, retain more information when they use visual aids, and tactile learners benefit by doing hands-on projects.

Examine and evaluate your learning style and decide how you can improve your study habits by tapping into your personal strengths.

Take Fabulous Notes

There are a few tricks to taking fabulous notes that really help when it comes to studying. If you are a visual person, make as many doodles on your paper as you can—useful doodles, that is. As soon as you realize that one topic relates to another, comes before another, is the opposite of another, or has any kind of connection to another, draw a picture that makes sense to you. Sometimes the information will not sink in until and unless you see it in an image.

There are also certain code words to look for in a lecture that can indicate that your teacher is giving you the relevance or the context of an event. Learn to recognize keywords and phrases that your teacher deems important.

Conquer Procrastination

When you procrastinate, you're gambling that nothing will go wrong at the last minute—but in the real world, things do go wrong. Imagine it's the night before a final exam and you have a flat tire, an allergy attack, a lost book, or a family emergency that keeps you from studying. At some point, you will pay a big price for putting things off.

Battle procrastination by recognizing the feisty little voice that lives inside of you. It tells you that it would be more fun to play a game, eat, or watch TV when you know better. Don’t listen to that voice. Instead, conquer the task at hand without delay.

Take Care of Yourself

Some of your personal habits might be affecting your grades. Are you feeling tired, achy, or bored when it comes to homework time? You can change your grades by practicing a few healthy homework habits. Change the way you feel by taking better care of your mind and your body.

For example, between text messaging, playing video games, surfing the internet, and using social media, students are using their hand muscles in new ways, and they're growing increasingly susceptible to the hazards of repetitive stress injury. Find out how to avoid pain in your hands and neck by learning about ergonomics and changing the way you sit at your computer.

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Adapt Your Studying Techniques to Your Learning Style
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27 Good Study Habits of Straight-A Students

Chris Drew (PhD)

Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]

Learn about our Editorial Process

Study habits refer to the consistent practice and approach to study, on a regular basis, to enhance academic performance.

The good thing about a habit is that once you do it on a regular basis, it becomes easy. So, your job is to get into this habit early. Once you’re into the habit, university becomes easy (well, easier ).

Good study habits that I recommend include getting into the routine of heading to the library (or a similar study space) to study without distractions, chunking your studies by subject, and using spaced repetition for things that require rote memorization .

I also recommend studying with friends – such as by testing one another – whenever possible.

The integration of efficient study habits enhances academic performance and motivation to study . By developing effective study strategies adjusted to your personal learning style, you improve concentration and retention of information – and concentration, more than time spent studying, is found to be a key factor for success (Nonis & Hudson, 2010).

Good Study Habits

1. Time Management Time management refers to being able to efficiently allocate your time so you don’t run out of time, and so you have enough time to allocate to all important tasks. As a basis, you could initiate a dedicated study schedule, specifying the time slots for each subject. For instance, you might want to allot your mornings for theory-heavy subjects like Anatomy, and save the afternoons for practice-oriented subjects like Clinical Skills. Don’t forget to also block time for regular study breaks and social events. This is crucial to prevent burnout and maintain longevity – university is a marathon, not a sprint.

Read Also: 7 Things to do in your First Week of University

2. Using Active Reading Strategies This is the process of engaging with the material by asking questions and drawing connections. Instead of passively reading your texts, you can participate more actively by summarizing the information in your own words, teaching it to someone else, quizzing yourself, or creating visual aids like diagrams and mind maps. As Issa et al. (2012) found, reading relevant information daily is an effective study habit for improving grades.

3. Setting Realistic Goals This strategy involves laying out achievable objectives for each study session or topic. Setting goals not only keeps you focused, but also helps gauge your progress. For example, instead of aiming to read an entire biology textbook in two days, you might target mastering one chapter per day. I recommend setting both short-term study goals and long-term study goals using the SMART Goals method .

4. Prioritization Successful students often prioritize tasks based on their deadlines and degree of importance. You might follow the Eisenhower Box method: divide your tasks into four categories, namely, important and urgent, important but not urgent, not important but urgent, and not important and not urgent. For instance, an upcoming exam translates into an important and urgent task, hence it would be first on your list.

5. Spaced Repetition This strategy involves studying information over incremental intervals instead of cramming it in one sitting. You might review your notes on the day you learn something, then again in a couple of days, then after a week, and so forth. There are even apps like the Anki flashcards app that have a built-in spaced repetition algorithm that can space how often ideas are presented to you.

6. Creating a Suitable Environment Each individual’s ideal study environment may differ based on personal preferences . Some people need complete silence, while others work better with some background noise. If you like silence, the quite section of a library is a good place to start – I recommend making it a habit to go to the library at your university as often as possible. Conversely, if you feel background noise helps you to concentrate, consider studying at a cafe. But the key is to ensure your environment is right for you. As Ogbodo (2010, p. 229) argues: “Where to study is as important as what to study and how to go about studying.”

7. Taking Breaks Integrating regular short breaks into your study pattern can boost your productivity and mental agility because it decreases distractions during focused study time. And this is important. As Walck-Shannon, Rowell and Frey (2021) found, “students reported being distracted about 20% of their study time, and distraction while studying negatively predicted exam performance.” So, let’s avoid that – by splitting our time between strong focus, then rest. Typically, the Pomodoro technique is a popular method for this, where you study for 25 minutes, then take a 5-minute break. After four such cycles, you take a longer break of 15-20 minutes. During your breaks, you can engage in some light activity such as stretching or walking to invigorate yourself.

8. Maintaining Physical Health Eating well, getting regular exercise, and ensuring enough sleep are often overlooked aspects of efficient studying. Research shows that a balanced diet, physical activity, and proper sleep improve cognitive functions , including memory and concentration. You may want to establish a regular sleep schedule, incorporate a balanced diet, and schedule regular exercise sessions each week into your routine.

9. Using Technology Wisely Technology offers a range of tools that can streamline your study process. For instance, you can use apps for time management (e.g., Rescue Time), note-taking (e.g., Evernote), or spaced repetition (e.g., Anki). While these apps can be beneficial, remember to keep checks on screens’ disruptive nature and the habit of digital distraction. As practice, try turning off your phone’s notifications when you study, or set ‘Do Not Disturb’ intervals.

10. Review and Revise Sessions Regular review of study materials aids in long-term retention of information. You can allocate specific time slots each week to revisit old notes, attempt self-test papers or engage in group discussions. For instance, you might dedicate your Sunday mornings to revising everything you’ve covered during the preceding week.

11. Active Writing Transcribing information demands active engagement, thereby reinforcing your understanding and memory of the subject. You might opt to rewrite complex concepts in your own words or diagrammatically represent intricate processes. For example, instead of merely reading about the human circulatory system, consider drawing it out with brief annotations.

12. Seeking Help When Needed Understanding when to seek help is an underrated study habit. If you find yourself struggling with a subject, don’t hesitate to approach your professors, peers, or study groups for clarification. You might also seek online resources such as academic forums or educational websites. Remember, it’s better to clarify doubts initially than to have misconceptions hamper your overall learning.

13. Mindfulness and Focus Mindfulness, or present-moment awareness, can help enhance your comprehension and retention during studying. You could practice mindfulness by removing distractions, concentrating on the task at hand, and making a conscious effort to absorb the material.

14. Integrating Study with Real-Life Scenarios Applying the theoretical knowledge learned during study sessions to real-life instances can facilitate a deeper understanding. You might relate basic principles of economics to household budgeting or chemistry to cooking. This practice can help convert abstract concepts into tangible examples.

15. Regular Self-Assessment Implementing regular exams or quizzes to assess your understanding and memory can be a direct way to monitor progress. You can either use ready-made quizzes available online or design a short assessment yourself. As you answer, mark out the areas you struggled with for further review. This method will help you know where you stand in your preparation and what areas need extra effort.

16. Employing Mnemonics This involves using techniques to retain and retrieve information. The method could be as simple as creating an acronym or conjuring up a relevant mental image. For example, in recalling the taxonomical rank in biology – Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species – you might use the well-known mnemonic phrase: “King Phillip Came Over For Good Soup.” Examples of additional mnemonic techniques include the method of loci and memory linking .

17. Incorporating Understandable Examples Since abstract concepts can be confusing, associating them with relateable analogies can help you grasp the idea. This technique depends heavily on your creativity and could be as simple as linking a literary theme to a popular movie plot. Ensuring your examples make sense to you is vital.

18. Varying Study Methods It is beneficial to avoid monotony and experiment with multiple learning techniques. This can include oscillating between solitary studying and group study sessions, or alternating between text-based learning and audio-visual aids. For instance, following a hefty reading session, you might want to watch a related documentary or podcast on the topic. Switching up strategies not only prevents burnout but also caters to different facets of your learning style.

19. Note-Taking Strategy Effective note-taking is a skill that helps in better understanding and remembrance of knowledge. You should decide a note-taking strategy which could be outlining, mind mapping, or the Cornell method, and stick to it. For example, you might use the Cornell Method, which divides the paper into notes, cues, and a summary section for enhancing retention and review.

20. Regularity and Consistency Consistency is the cornerstone of strong study habits. Establishing a regular routine that allocates specific periods for study each day leads to better academic performance. For instance, studying for two hours per day consistently is more effective than cramming for fourteen hours once a week.

21. Engage All Senses Engaging multiple senses aids in strengthening your memory of the subject matter. This could involve reading aloud, rewriting notes, creating visual aids, or even using software to convert text to speech. The goal is to consume the information through as many sensory channels as possible to maximize retention. For example, if you’re studying foreign vocabulary, you could listen to the pronunciation, read the definition, write the word several times, and visualize an image related to it.

22. Reflective Learning Reflective learning involves regularly taking a few moments to contemplate what you’ve learned. This process ensures you understand the main concepts and helps you evaluate how effectively the learning material has been understood. For instance, after reading a section on World History, take a moment to think about what questions have been answered and what new questions have arisen in your mind about the topic.

23. Preparing for the Next Class Reviewing the material that will be covered in the next class helps make the class more productive and understandable. By having prior knowledge of the topic, you can better participate in class discussions and raise insightful queries. For example, if tomorrow’s Physics class covers Electromagnetic Waves, you might want to read the corresponding chapter tonight.

24. Constructive Procrastination While complete avoidance of procrastination is the goal, sometimes it’s unavoidable. Constructive procrastination involves doing another task that also needs to be done when you feel like procrastinating. If you find yourself unable to study Civil Law, consider switching to another pending task, such as completing your Mathematics assignment. This way, you remain productive while giving in to the urge to procrastinate.

25. Visualization Techniques Visualization involves picturing the information in your mind, which can significantly improve memory and recall. For instance, when studying Anatomy, envisioning the body parts, systems, and processes can enhance your understanding. If you’d like to explore this strategy more, read my article on the visual peg-word system for memorization .

26. Listen to Music Without Lyrics Listening to music while studying is a controversial topic. Some people think it helps them to achieve a flow state, while most research suggests that “ media multitasking ” is a distraction whether we realize it or not (Xu, Wang, & Woods, 2019). Generally, I recommend that if you do like that background nose, try to listen to music without lyrics, like lo-fi playlists from YouTube, which act as background noise and could potentially prevent your mind from wandering.

27. Study with Friends Thalluri (2016) found that “study buddy support groups” significantly support studying. Friends can keep each other accountable and help motivate one another. And, according to social learning theory , working in groups helps us to reinforce knowledge. For example, if you’re talking about the course content with friends, you’ll hear their unique perspectives, which you can critically compare to your own, which augments, supports, positively alters, and strengthens your own perspectives.

Study habits act as the building blocks of your academic journey. Efficient study habits not only ensure better academic performance but also help in gaining lifelong skills like time management, goal-setting, and self-discipline. By adopting effective study habits, you modulate your academic journey to a more favorable and fruitful path.

If you want to dive deeper into getting good study habits, I’d recommend James Clear’s Atomic Habits book – it’s an amazing book for learning to get more productive and optimize your time as a student.

Issa, A.O., Aliyu, M.B., Akangbe, R.B., and Adedeji, A.F. (2012). Reading interest and habits of the federal polytechnic students. International Journal of Learning & Development, 2 (1): 470-486.

Nonis, S. A., & Hudson, G. I. (2010). Performance of college students: Impact of study time and study habits. Journal of education for Business , 85 (4), 229-238.

Ogbodo, R. O. (2010). Effective Study Habits in Educational Sector: Counselling Implications. Edo Journal of Counselling , 3 (2), 230-242.

Thalluri, J. (2016). Who benefits most from peer support group?–First year student success for Pathology students. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences , 228 , 39-44.

Walck-Shannon, E. M., Rowell, S. F., & Frey, R. F. (2021). To what extent do study habits relate to performance?. CBE—Life Sciences Education , 20 (1). doi: https://doi.org/10.1187/cbe.20-05-0091

Xu, S., Wang, Z., & Woods, K. (2019). Multitasking and dual motivational systems: A dynamic longitudinal study. Human Communication Research , 45 (4), 371-394. doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/hcr/hqz009

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11 Techniques to Improve Your Study Habits

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Essays About Bad Habits: 5 Essays Examples and Writing Prompts

Writing about bad habits poses an interesting topic; to help with your essays about bad habits, read our top essay examples and writing prompts below.

Many people tend to discount their bad habits as small. They get blinded to their life-shattering and long-term effects because they don’t think of it as a “big deal,” they get blinded to their life-shattering and long-term effects.

Whether smoking or procrastination, these habits are detrimental to our quality of life. Many people don’t realize how detrimental these habits can be until they create more significant problems in their lives.

Writing about bad habits and how to kick them will create an engaging, compelling, and thought-provoking essay. Read on to see the best examples of essays about bad habits and 8 intriguing writing prompts.

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1. Weekly Reflections – The Ordeal of Breaking Bad Habits by Steven Lawson

2. how to break a bad habit and replace it with a good one by james clear, 3. how bad habits form (and why they’re so difficult to break) by ian kan, 4. break your bad habits by amy novotney, 5. 5 bad business habits you need to stop immediately by dylan ogline, 8 prompts on writing essays about bad habits, 1. causes of bad habits, 2. how bad habits take a toll on the health, 3. getting past the challenge of changing bad habits, 4. how to know if a habit is bad or good, 5. does stress drive us to form bad habits, 6. are bad habits contagious learn how to avoid adopting them, 7. american habits that are considered weird or bad habits in other cultures, 8. understanding the time it takes to break a bad habit.

“Our external realities are always tied to and flow out of our interior/spiritual core. Change occurs first at one’s core and then manifests itself on the surface, not the other way around.”

Lawson uses a spiritual approach to understand bad habits, including how they’re formed and how to get rid of them. He delved into his difficulties with transforming his bad habits and wrote about how he perceived his bad habits as a behavioral reaction to a problem.

“You can teach yourself new and healthy ways to deal with stress and boredom, which you can then substitute in place of your bad habits.”

Clear’s take on bad habits is that they are methods of dealing with stress and boredom. After explaining the formation of habits from stress and boredom, he provides methods and tips for replacing them with good habits. Clear also included examples that his readers can easily relate to.

“Of course, you might feel guilty, but the goal is to be aware of those bad habits and how often they happen. Then from there, you can hatch a plan to break those habits.”

Ian Kan’s essay on bad habits dives into the psychology behind habit formation, including the various stages. After this in-depth look, he offers various methods of transforming bad habits into good ones.

“Self-motivation is best sustained by having a clear, long-range goal that can be broken down into a series of specific, attainable smaller goals to guide one’s efforts along the way.”

Novotney’s essay focuses on the top ten habits that grad students have that prevent them from gaining further academic success. She emphasizes how these habits keep students from making it through graduate school. On top of listing a good number of commonly practiced bad habits among students, she also included solutions for fixing and correcting them.

“But with each habit I shed, my prospects got brighter. When I shed all five, my agency was on track to becoming the seven-figure business it is today.”

Ogline takes bits and pieces from his experience as a business owner to write his essay on bad habits. He also provides business smarts and wisdom for readers of his essay, whether they’re simply interested in the essay or fellow entrepreneurs.

Consider the essay ideas and topics we’ve listed below if you’re more interested in writing your essays about bad habits.

Understand why bad habits exist or how they form by reading and writing about them. Use this essay writing opportunity to talk about how certain actions, situations, or emotions may lead to the formation of some bad habits.

Like stress, bad habits can worsen a person’s health. This essay focuses on the harm bad habits may cause to a person’s physical or mental health. You can even include how bad habits caused by stress can stress a person even more.

This idea will drive you to consider how difficult it is to get out of a habit cycle. When you choose to write about this topic, ensure you research the different methods of effectively dropping bad habits for different kinds of people. It gives immense help if you’ve already experienced how hard it is to break a bad habit.

Figure out how to write a narrative essay to better share your story.

Sometimes, a habit lies in the gray area. It can be good in certain situations and bad at other times. Thus, it’s helpful to figure out how detrimental or beneficial a habit is. Consider including a habit’s effects in the short and long term.

Bad habits can form from many things, including stress. This essay prompt encourages you to read about how stress can create bad habits in a person. For example, drinking alcohol can become a way for someone to cope with stress from work or family pressure. Then, consider other forms of bad habits and how stress might have a hand in encouraging their formation.

Essays About Bad Habits: Are Bad Habits Contagious

Like diseases, bad habits can spread from person to person. In extreme cases, bad habits can even affect entire nations. Think about the bad habits you’ve gotten from being around or observing other people. You can also apply this essay to fictional works wherein the characters start adopting each other’s bad habits. It provides a good study on how bad habits can

What you may see as a bad habit can be good in a different culture. A famous example is slurping noodles loudly in East Asian countries. Loud slurping is unpleasant and rude in the West, but it’s a sign of appreciation for the food in East Asia. Research other habits that create cultural divides and discuss the different ways people view them, whether negatively or positively.

Let’s say you’re ready to break a bad habit. The challenge is to endure until you’ve gotten rid of it or changed it into a good one. This essay idea is a perfect topic for people who have tried breaking several bad habits and want to write about the experience. Use this essay topic to explore why some bad habits took longer to stop and how difficult it has been to break them.

Get more writing ideas from our informative essay topics list for students.

Essay on Bad Habits

Students are often asked to write an essay on Bad Habits in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Bad Habits

Understanding bad habits.

Bad habits are actions we repeat that harm us. They can be physical, like biting nails, or mental, like procrastination.

Why Bad Habits Form

Bad habits often form because they give us temporary pleasure. However, they harm us in the long run.

The Impact of Bad Habits

Bad habits can harm our health, relationships, and productivity. They prevent us from reaching our full potential.

Overcoming Bad Habits

To overcome bad habits, we must understand why we do them. Then, we can replace them with good habits that benefit us.

250 Words Essay on Bad Habits

Introduction to bad habits.

Bad habits are often the result of patterns of behavior that have become ingrained in our daily routines. They are actions that we engage in repeatedly, usually without giving much thought to their consequences. These habits can range from the seemingly innocuous, such as nail-biting, to the more harmful, such as smoking or excessive drinking.

The Psychology Behind Bad Habits

Understanding the psychology behind bad habits is crucial. They often serve as coping mechanisms for stress or discomfort, providing a temporary sense of relief or distraction. The brain’s reward system plays a significant role in their formation and persistence. When a behavior triggers the release of ‘feel-good’ chemicals like dopamine, it reinforces the habit loop, making it harder to break.

Bad habits can have far-reaching impacts on our lives. They can negatively affect our physical health, mental wellbeing, productivity, and relationships. For instance, procrastination can lead to stress and poor performance, while excessive screen time can lead to sleep disturbances and social disconnection.

Breaking the Cycle

Breaking bad habits requires conscious effort, patience, and persistence. It involves understanding the triggers, replacing the habit with a healthier alternative, and rewarding oneself for progress. Cognitive-behavioral techniques, mindfulness, and self-compassion can also be beneficial in this process.

In conclusion, while bad habits can be challenging to overcome, understanding their psychological underpinnings and impacts can provide us with the tools to break the cycle. With effort and determination, we can replace these harmful patterns with healthier behaviors, leading to improved wellbeing and quality of life.

500 Words Essay on Bad Habits

Introduction.

Bad habits are behaviors we engage in repetitively, often unconsciously, that are detrimental to our physical, mental, or emotional well-being. They range from minor annoyances such as nail-biting to life-threatening addictions like smoking and drug use. The complexity of bad habits lies in their deeply ingrained nature, making them difficult to break. However, understanding their psychological underpinnings can provide us with the tools to combat them effectively.

The Psychology of Bad Habits

Bad habits are often rooted in our brain’s reward system. The brain releases dopamine, a neurotransmitter responsible for feelings of pleasure and satisfaction, whenever we engage in activities it perceives as beneficial. Unfortunately, this system can be hijacked by harmful behaviors that provide immediate gratification, such as overeating or excessive use of social media.

Another psychological aspect of bad habits is their association with stress and negative emotions. Many people resort to unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as alcohol consumption or compulsive shopping, to deal with feelings of anxiety, sadness, or boredom. These habits serve as temporary distractions but can lead to long-term harm.

Bad habits can have far-reaching consequences. Physically, they can lead to health problems such as obesity, heart disease, and lung cancer. Mentally, they can contribute to conditions like depression and anxiety. Socially, they can strain relationships and hinder productivity. Moreover, the financial cost of maintaining certain bad habits, such as smoking or gambling, can be substantial.

Breaking Bad Habits

Next, it’s important to replace the bad habit with a healthier alternative. For instance, if stress triggers cigarette smoking, one could try stress management techniques such as meditation or exercise instead. It’s also beneficial to set realistic goals and celebrate small victories along the way to maintain motivation.

In conclusion, bad habits are deeply ingrained behaviors that can have significant impacts on our well-being. They are often rooted in our brain’s reward system and can serve as unhealthy coping mechanisms for stress and negative emotions. However, with self-awareness, determination, and a strategic approach, we can break these habits and replace them with healthier alternatives. Understanding the psychology of bad habits is a crucial step towards achieving this goal.

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .