At School:

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1. If you are struggling in a particular class, check to see if that class’s teacher is available to meet after-school or during office hours

2. As soon as you receive an assignment, write it down in your planner. You can keep a physical planner, Google Calendar, or both, but you should definitely have a resource to track your time

3. Ask questions during class! There are probably many other students who are also confused, so don’t feel like anything is a stupid question

4. Participate! At many schools, participation is a major part of your grade, so don’t slack in that area!

5. Use your study halls wisely and get your work done then. You can spend time with your friends at lunch and over the weekend!

 

Before Studying:

1. Before you start studying, eat a healthy snack and drink a glass of water to re-energize 

2. Organize and set up your materials. Clean up your desk too

3. Remove your phone from your work area, and put it in another room. Texting your friends and going on social media are the biggest time-wasters, so getting them out of your way will help you work much more efficiently

4. Exercise. A sports practice, gym session, or even a jog around your neighborhood will energize and rejuvenate you

5. Get a Chrome extension like Stay Focused to prevent you from getting distracted by the Internet!

 

After Studying:

1. Spend time with family! Eat dinner together, play a board game, or watch a movie, if there’s time

2. Get a good night’s rest. Aim to get 8-9 hours of sleep, but if this is unattainable, then go to bed early on the weekends

3. If you are hungry, then eat a nourishing dinner or a healthy snack. Do not snack on chips, ice cream, or soda, as those foods are not good for your body or your brain

4. During your study breaks, you should read, spend time with family, walk your dog, etc. Avoid spending time on screens, as they only tire you out

5. Once you are done with everything, pack your backpack, and put away your supplies. You don’t want to spend hours completing homework only to forget it at home!

 

When Studying:

1. Take 15-minute breaks every hour to maximize productivity

2. If you are having trouble with your homework or have a question about it, write it down. This way, you can remember what you struggled with, and ask those questions during class

3. Spend 5-10 minutes reviewing your material from every class each day. This way, you won’t be cramming the night before the test!

4. Find out what setting works best for you. Do you prefer to study in complete silence, or with background noise? If you’re more of the former, then try studying in your bedroom or at a library. If you try to work in a group area, like your family room, then it will be easy to get distracted by family. If you’re more of the latter, then a local coffee shop may be best for you

5. While you are studying, do not listen to music with words. Classical music has been scientifically proven to boost concentration, so that would be the best pick