How to become a disciplined student?
Hi guys! As promised, here is a simple, three steps method (packed with additional tips) that will help you become more disciplined.
If you apply these tips consistently a bit everyday, I promise you’ll see positive changes in your daily routine and that your study sessions will get less tedious.
1. Get yourself a planner
Or an agenda, or a bullet journal,… anything that will help you organize your days and schedule your activities.
Use it to keep track of all the things you need to do.
Additional tips :
- Use a color code to distinguish between your various activities
(For instance, here’s mine : Red = law school papers/compulsory activities ; green = sport ; pink = compulsory things that are not college related (doctor appointments, vet appointments for my pets, etc.) ; pink = domestic chores (laundry, cooking, etc.) and blue = spare time).
- If you opt for a bullet journal, decorate it as you wish, but do not lose time doing too elaborate things (not everyone is Picasso, right?)
Below, you’ll see the kind of bujo that I love! It’s neat, simple and straightforward.
- You can opt for a digital agenda and use your phone/computer/iPad to manage this BUT, do not forget that there will be times when you’ll need to switch ALL your electronics device off (= when you’re studying). So this might not be the more useful tool, but if you enjoy it, don’t hesitate using it.
P.S.: @emmastudies printables are just awesome to use on a daily/weekly/monthly basis! If you haven’t done it yet, check her studyblr and use her printables to build good, disciplined habits.
2. Know your rythm
As for anything, discipline requires that you know your rythm.
- Are you more productive in the morning or in the evening? - Do you feel drowsy after meals?
Always plan difficult subjects of demanding activities on the moments when you feel at the top of your capacities.
(For instance, I’m more productive in the mornings, so I always study a more difficult subject during my morning sessions. I feel sleepy after lunch, so I always plan some compulsory readings or some research at that time of the day and get back to “real” studying at around 2 p.m. And since I’m usually totally fed up with my books at around 6 p.m., that’s when I plan 30 to 45 minutes of sport).
Additional tips to become an early riser (if you’re more productive in the morning):
- Change your rythm step by step It’s no use trying to get up at 5 a.m. when you usually get up at 10 a.m.! Try to do it step by step and get up half an hour earlier every three days. Also, if you want to get up earlier go to bed earlier too. YOU NEED SLEEP to study and memorize effectively, so go to bed early if you need it!
- Have a shower in the morning and keep baths for the evening Showers will wake you up ; bath are more relaxing and will help you go to sleep.
3. Be gentle with yourself, but also learn to force yourself!
Of course, students need to be gentle with themselves. It’s no use blaming yourself because you “only” studied for 5 hours a day instead of 8 on your weekends –> progress is progress, no matter how small!
But sometimes, in order to overcome procrastination, we really need to force ourselves.
I’m sorry if you don’t want to read this, but if you want to become disciplined, there will be moments when you won’t feel like studying, but you will have to sit behind your desk, take your notes and books and start studying them.
There’s no miracle recipe here: sometimes, we HAVE TO be stronger than our feelings.
It’s hard, of course, but the result will be worth it. Don’t forget that success is at the other end.
Additional tips:
- Start at once Start studying as soon as you are showered, dressed and have breakfasted, Do not think about it: just go to your desk, check your planner/agenda, and start working on what you planned for the day.
The bigger the “gap” between your breakfast/shower and your study session will be, the more difficult it will be for you to start what needs to be done. So, it’s better to start at once, without even thinking about it.
Do that a few times, and it will become a real habit!
- Take care of your study area
a) Clean and tidy your desk every night after you finish your daily work By doing this, you won’t lose time cleaning and tidying the next morning.
b) Prepare everything you’ll need for your next study session the night before Same objective here: everything will be ready for you to start studying at once! Do not forget to put an empty glass on your desk (this will remind you to stay hydrated) and to pack your fridge and kitchen with healthy snacks (fruits, veggies with hummus, almonds, etc.) that you’ll just have to grab when you want to take a break from your desk.
c) And don’t forget to make your desk area as appealing as possible Pin some motivational quotes on your wall; make a moodboard that will remind you why you are working so hard and what are your goals; put some pictures of your friends and family and imagine how proud they would be if they could see you right now!
- Try to avoid computers and phones when you do not need them
Of course, we need computers and phones to study. Most of universities and college make the study material available to students online; and some even organise online courses. Plus, many of us take notes with computers rather than with pen and paper.
But do not forget that computers and phones are the best way to procrastinate: you need to do some research on the web –> you end up spending an hour on Instagram.
So, use these devices carefully!
And if deep down into you, you know that you should avoid your computer/phone at all cost (because the temptation to do something else than studying will be too strong), then DO IT!
Instead of using your computer, take a pen and a sheet of paper and draw diagrams or mind maps with these, instead of using Free Mind (which is great, by the way, but “hand made” mind maps are too).
Same with flashcards: write them with a pen rather than with Quizlet (I love Quizlet too).
Besides training your discipline, you will train your hand. You will need this, since you’ll have to answer your exam with pen and paper (sometimes for 4 hours in a row, so your hand needs training, believe me. Otherwise, you’ll cry with pain once the exam is over).
This is my personal method for developing discipline. I’ve been using it for the past four years, and it never failed me, so I hope this is helpful to as many of you as possible!
