Five Ways to Get Better Grades in College in Five Minutes or Less a Day

Many college students wish to improve their study habits and grades, yet few wish to spend huge amounts of time studying and doing additional work. Fortunately, it is possible to become a better student by establishing a few simple daily habits. In this article, I describe five things a college student can do to be a better student in five minutes or less every day.

Better Student Habit #1 - Daily Goal List
One of the simplest things that a college student can do to be a better student is to make a list of two to three goals every day and to complete those goals on the same day. Such a list takes only a couple minutes to make in the morning or at night and can give a student direction to follow throughout a given day.

The goals on this list should be small and well-defined. For example, "do physics practice problems" is not specific. "Complete 6 force practice problems from sections 5-6 and 5-7" is more specific and is more likely to be completed for that reason. Make sure that you can complete all of those goals on that day, ideally within a reasonable amount of time. Otherwise, unnecessary guilt and stress result.

If you complete those two to three smaller goals daily, you will be more productive, will absorb more material, and will experience less stress overall. These results will help you to be a better student and to get better grades. The key is that this list provides direction.

Better Student Habit #2 - Summarize Lecture Notes ASAP
It can be difficult to wade through pages and pages of lecture notes, especially prior to an exam. For this reason, it is useful to summarize notes in three to four main points immediately after a lecture ends. Doing so takes only a minute or two and forces a student to consider what information is most important for review and further study.

These main points should be complete thoughts so that they may stand alone when reviewed. At the same time, each point should be limited to a sentence or two, or else they tend to become a transcription instead of a summary. Relevant equations, drawings, and derivations should be included if helpful or necessary.

By summarizing notes, important points are immediately identified, review is easier, and information is more likely to be recalled. All of this allows for more efficient studying and better retention of material, both important for doing well academically and getting good grades in college courses.

Better Student Habit #3 - Maintain a Daily Work Log
A daily work log can help a college student to be more productive on a day-to-day basis. This is due to the fact that a work log makes a student accountable to himself or herself for the work that he or she does. Few serious college students want to log days and days where nothing is accomplished. Logging work takes only two to three minutes total over the course of a day.

A log such as this could include the subject, a description of the activity, the time the task took to complete, location, and any notes. Compared to an entry such as "wrote outline," "English Composition, Completed Outline for Persuasive Essay, 45 minutes, 4th Floor Library, some trouble focusing" is much more descriptive.

From many entries such as this, it is possible to determine how much time you spend on tasks, to what subjects you devote most of your time, what days of the week you are most productive, and where you are most productive. This information can be used to modify your study habits and to become a better student.

While an empty work log is undesirable, a work log that is consistently filled with accomplishments can be motivating and reassuring. This log can also be used to establish new goals so that long-term assignments and studying aren't neglected. Did you finish an outline two days ago? Consider starting the next portion of the assignment within a few days. Did you finish outlining a chapter? Now review the notes and make sure you understand the material.

Better Student Habit #4 - Keep a Clean Workspace
It may not be obvious, but an organized workspace really does help students to get better grades and to be less stressed. For example, a lost syllabus, rubric, or textbook can spell disaster for a college student, especially with a fast-approaching deadline. Usually disorganization occurs over time, so taking a few minutes everyday to make sure that documents, assignments, and other miscellanea are in their proper places may be all that is necessary to keep a workspace orderly.

Better Student Habit #5 - Relax
Unfortunately, many busy college students neglect their own well being. Most experience stress and may not take time for themselves. For at least five minutes everyday, take time to relax and decompress in whatever way works best for you. For example, take a hot shower, go for a walk around campus, read or write poetry, listen to or play music, or do yoga. Do whatever helps you to relax and takes your mind off of school.

Even when you're busy, make time for this. If you are calm and relaxed, you will be more capable of learning and retaining material. Stress, more often than not, leads to sub-par performance. Likewise, stress can lead to illness and generally makes a person less fun to be around. If you've been working hard all along, you will have time for yourself left over.

While getting good grades in college certainly does require hard work, making a daily plan, summarizing lecture notes, and keeping a work log can provide direction for your efforts and make sure that your hard work yields results. Likewise, decreasing physical and mental clutter will help to keep you organized and will reduce your stress level. Good luck in your education and thank you for reading!