5 habits that’ll make you a better student

Summary

The speaker humorously rejects the idea of an extreme morning routine, instead sharing five effective habits for student success. These include establishing an after-school routine to avoid procrastination, evenly distributing study tasks, confronting knowledge gaps, getting comfortable with asking for opportunities, and ensuring daily enjoyment to prevent burnout. The script also promotes BetterHelp for mental health support and emphasizes the importance of balance in a student's life.

Takeaways

• 🏃 Every morning, the speaker jokingly describes an extreme routine they never follow, including running a marathon and taking a freezing cold shower.
• 🛀 The speaker then transitions to their real habits, emphasizing that having an after-school routine is crucial for success as a student.
• 📱 The routine helps avoid wasting time on activities like endlessly scrolling through social media.
• ⏰ Taking breaks with a timer is recommended to avoid long periods of unproductive relaxation.
• 📚 The speaker shares their high school routine: relaxing for a bit, preparing their workspace, and then diving into study sessions.
• 🔄 They emphasize distributing workload evenly over time to prevent cramming, such as reading a set number of pages each day.
• 🧠 Confronting knowledge gaps is critical; students should actively address and understand their mistakes and unclear concepts.
• 📧 The speaker encourages getting comfortable asking for opportunities, such as research positions or leadership roles, by reaching out directly to relevant people.
• 😊 It's important to do something enjoyable daily to avoid burnout, even if it's a small activity.
• ⚖️ Balancing academics with other aspects of life, like hobbies and social activities, is essential for overall well-being.

Q & A

What is the speaker's actual morning routine like?

The speaker does not wake up at 3:00 a.m., run a marathon, or take a freezing cold shower. The detailed morning routine is not described, but it is implied that the speaker does not follow the extreme habits mentioned at the beginning of the script.

What is the first habit the speaker suggests for student success?

The first habit is to follow an after-school routine to avoid getting lost in distractions like scrolling on a phone, and to make it easy to start working as soon as you come home.

How does the speaker recommend managing breaks during study time?

The speaker recommends using a timer for breaks. If you decide to take a break, set an alarm to ensure you return to work after a set period, such as 15 or 30 minutes.

What does the speaker's high school routine look like after coming home from school?

The speaker would relax for 10 to 15 minutes, then spend another 10 to 15 minutes getting ready to work, which includes cleaning up the workspace, bringing out supplies, updating the to-do list, and preparing everything needed for work.

How does the speaker approach the distribution of study tasks?

The speaker evenly distributes study tasks over time. For example, if there is a 70-page reading due in two weeks, the speaker would read five pages every day.

What is the role of BetterHelp as mentioned in the script?

BetterHelp is an online platform for therapy that makes starting therapy easy. It matches you with a licensed therapist based on a short questionnaire, and sessions can be conducted via phone, video chat, or text.

What is the habit that the speaker claims will have the biggest impact on grades?

The habit of confronting knowledge gaps has the biggest impact on grades. This involves not dismissing mistakes or unfamiliar concepts and actively working to understand and fill in those gaps.

Why is it important to confront knowledge gaps according to the speaker?

Confronting knowledge gaps is important because it prevents students from dismissing or putting off things they don't fully understand, which is crucial for learning and improving academic performance.

What life philosophy does the speaker suggest for high school students?

The speaker suggests getting comfortable with asking for things, such as research positions, leadership roles, or internships, which can significantly enhance a student's high school experience and resume.

What is the final habit the speaker recommends for a balanced student life?

The final habit is to do something enjoyable every day to prevent burnout. This could be a small activity like listening to music, watching TV, reading, or trying out a new hobby.

How can students ensure they maintain a balance between academics and other life aspects?

Students can ensure balance by incorporating enjoyable activities into their daily routine, even if it's just for a short period, and by decompressing or doing something special on weekends.