Back To School Success Habits

Sep 1, 2022 by Yolanda Fontanez-Coleman | Back To School, Homework, Organization

A new school year is upon us and this is the best time to create new habits and goals.  Successful students establish goals, create an action plan and work the plan a little each day. Creating small daily habits lay the foundation of success which will be useful in the classroom, in sports and in life. 

How do I create these small daily habits? Here are some tips that can help you this school year: 

Scheduling Sundays: 

Sundays are great days to plan out your week. Of course if Sundays don’t work for you, it’s ok to pick another day. Try to pick a day that you have at least 30 minutes to an hour to sit and really put time and energy into planning out your upcoming week. You can do this solo or if you need help, ask your parents to help you. Just be realistic with your time and your needs. 

Remember to be flexible, if the “schedule” doesn’t work for you, try another schedule until you find one that works for you!!!! 

• Use a planner and schedule out the week. 
• List all your classes. 
• Schedule your study and homework time. 
• Schedule your workouts (Exercise helps improve academics). 
• Schedule your downtime. Don’t deviate from this. Don’t let your friends or other distractions sabotage you and your success. 
• Schedule your deadlines, due dates, tests etc. 

Organize Like a Pro: 

Organization is another vital element in your success plan. This will help you stay focused and eliminate distractions that may impede your academic performance and success. 

• Organize your room. Create a workspace that works for your learning style and personality. Keep it tidy. Remember “less is more”. 
• Minimize items that may distract you. Incorporate items that help you focus. It may include music, fidget toys or cool lights. Your room should reflect your personality and learning needs. 
• Organize your backpack and school materials. Set a weekly time to do a “clean sweep”. Clean sweep your folders and any “build up” of things in your backpack. 
• Throw things away. This should not take your more than 10-15 minutes. Eliminating extra things will once again minimize distractions and allow you to access things quickly when you need them. 

Set Attainable and Realistic Weekly Goals: 

Goal setting is one of the most important parts of becoming a successful student. The action plan needs to be established in order for you to reach that goal. 

• When establishing your goals and action plans, be sure to be realistic. Know where you are and what you are capable of right now. For example, if you don’t like to read, but you need to read a 400 page book. Reading the entire book is your “Long Term Goal”. Your weekly goal is to read 3 chapters. You need to break them down into “Short Term Goals”. Read 30 pages a day. Create smaller, more attainable goals. 

• Remember to set the goals. Write them down. Then go ONE step further and create the action plan. What will you do daily to reach that goal? Break it down to match your schedule and learning style. Think baby steps. You only have to do a little each day to reach your goals. 

Focus on doing a little each day. Experts say working on your habits just  1%  daily can have a huge impact over time. The daily habits are creating a solid foundation for your academic success. If you need support with creating and working on these habits, enlist the help of your parents or a tutor. 

Team Tutor is here to help you along the way. Our tutors are not only subject experts but they specialize in helping students reach their academic goals and their fullest potential.