Starting college or university is an exciting new venture. I am sure you are both nervous and elated. There is no way to escape from all the emotions you go through during your first year. However, there are some habits you can adopt to help you make it a bit better. While you are trying to adjust to the life of a student mentally, here are some study habits to help you cope academically.

1. Your best methods to date

Look at how you have been studying until this point. Figure out which habits have worked for you in the past and which have not. Eliminate the time wasters. Do you study best by yourself or in a group? Are you at your best early in the morning or late at night? Be honest with yourself and extract only the good habits.

2. Stick to your study time

Try and schedule your study time at the same hour every day. Of course this will not always be 100% possible due to changing schedules, but try and do it for most of the time. Your brain is a powerful tool and will start associating the time of day with you studying. Also this way, you create a habit that will stick,

3. Focus on the difficult one first

Before your brain starts getting tired or tricking you into thinking you are tired, do your biggest challenge first. We all have a subject that challenged us, but if you get it out of the way early, you can succeed. Just knowing it is done and dusted, you will have more energy and motivation to complete the rest of your tasks.

4. Eliminate distractions

We see this point on almost every study habits list. The reason is, we waste so much time on social media, search engines or just procrastination. You need to be able to get rid of all of those distractions and just do it. Put your phone on airplane mode and only use your computer if it relates to the work you are doing.

5. Review your notes

Every day you come home with some notes. Many students only look at these before an exam. You can use your weekends or evenings to read through your notes. You will be amazed how much of what you read over and over again actually sticks.

6. Time is your friend or your enemy

You have to utilize your time effectively. With the amount of work first year students have to work through, you don’t have any time to waste. College admissions statistics show that some students don’t make it into a college. You are fortunate enough to be a student so use your time to help you achieve success.

7. Remember your personal statement

Before you were accepted, you wrote a personal statement. Most students have good grades but your personal statement is what set you apart and got you accepted. Remember what you wrote and who you presented. Don’t give up on the hopeful individual when things get tough. You said you can do it and you should.

8. Ask for help

Your professors would love for you to come to them and ask for guidance. Don’t be afraid to reach out. You can even ask your classmates to help you if you are struggling to understand a concept. You asked for help writing your personal statement and you can ask for help during your first year. Eventually you will be self-sufficient, but asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

9. Don’t cram

Please don’t cram for an important test. This will only result in a lot of frustrations and leave you drained. The course you are taking is going to lead you to be a professional in the industry of your choice. By cramming, you will only have the information locked in for a short period of time. Study throughout the terms to help you actually understand what you are studying in theory.

10. Read

You will probably receive a reading list at the beginning of your first year. Be sure to work through this list in time. Going to class with the knowledge of what is being discussed is going to help you a lot. Reading before class also allows you to make some notes and ask relevant questions.

Don’t lose your focus during first year. This is the foundation for many years to come. There will be enough time to build a social life but you need to be balanced in your ways. Many students do well academically and socially. You can enjoy your college or university experience while excelling in class.

Linda Jellison works as a content manager. Her hobby is traveling, reading and guest post writing. She was a top student and now she shares her experience with other students.