tips for becoming a Successful Graduate Student

Dictionary meaning of "Success" is "the accomplishment of an aim or purpose". 

So what is the meaning of success in this context? What is meant by a successful student?

A successful student is who:

1. obtained good marks (does not need to be first one in class)

2. learnt the topics that are necessary for the future

3. has a great connection with people/peers

Here are the top 10 tips for becoming a more efficient student:

1. Get Set organize:

    People doesn't born organized, it is a skill that they acquire. They cultivate healthy habits which help them to stay organized. Even if you think you are a disorganized person, you can also become an organized person.

So how to organize all the things(study, work, personal affairs etc.)?

The most effective and simple way to stay organized is writing things down. When you write things, you don't have to recall what you need to do again and again.

To get yourself organized you need to focus on what you actually need. In this process, you may have to say "NO" to other people who just want to consume your time in other activities. 

To get yourself organize you can use "Time-Blocking" technique.

Time Blocking technique is a time management method that asks you to divide your time into blocks. Every block is specific to a task or a group of similar tasks. This technique reduces distraction and focuses on accomplishing.

Credit: todoist

You can read more about time blocking: The Complete Guide to Time Blocking (todoist.com)

2. Manage study space:

    After you plan your routine with time blocking technique, it's time to organize your study space. Study space is a place where you're going to study on a regular basis. 

Numerous research suggests that doing a particular task at a particular place and time builds our muscle memory. If you regularly study on a specific time and place then somedays later that place and time will trigger your study mood. So it's important to manage your study space. 

Quiet places are recommended for concentrating on the study, find a quiet place around your house. 

Then make that place distraction-free, move away from potential distractors(mobile, screen, play station etc).

You can place some indoor plants near your space. This will provide more oxygen to space and absorb negative energies. 

Recommended Read: How to Create a Great Study Space (With Examples)

3. Take notes:

     Taking notes can help you focus on and understand the main topics of that subject. Note-taking involves many parts of your brain to process and summarize the information. So you understand better. 

Even taking notes can help you prepare for exams and sudden tests.

You can also store or save your notes for future reference. 

4. Actively participate in class: 

    When you participate in the class by asking a question or adding up a point, it increases your interest in the topic. Also, you may get other perspectives from your fellow batchmates. 

Teachers' also notice who is participating, they provide additional marks for that. Even participating also increases your public speaking skill.

5. Find a group of people who has similar interests.

    It is more fun to be together if you share similar interests. And it gives you the chance to learn something you like. 

You can also participate in events(like hackathons, coding competition, sports etc.) with your group. 

6. Hard work accompanied by Smart work: 

    Only studying hard not going to make you successful as a student. 

You have to study smartly to manage other aspects of your student life. Studying hard would mean spending long hours to complete your syllabus and assignments. It definitely ensures good results but the process is long and stressful. 

Where studying smart would be aiming the same results with planning and prioritizing. So studying hard accompanied by smart work would help you save your time and get good results.

   

7. Relax after study:

    Relaxation is the most effective way to manage stress. It helps us to have a calmer and clearer mind which supports positive thinking, concentration, memory and decision making. 

    So it is better to take rest in between your study routine. Also, researchers find that our brain tends to remember only the first and last part of any work, study or conversation. This effect is called Serial-position effect.

Recommended Read: 7 Healthy Study Break Ideas to Increase Your Productivity

   

    “Recent studies have shown that adequate sleep is essential to feeling awake and alert, maintaining good health and working at peak performance,” says Dr Epstein.

     “After two weeks of sleeping six hours or less a night, students feel as bad and perform as poorly as someone who has gone without sleep for 48 hours. New research also highlights the importance of sleep in learning and memory. Students getting adequate amounts of sleep performed better on memory and motor tasks than did students deprived of sleep.”

So your good night sleep is also important. 

Some important points to remember:

1. Never stop learning - There are always so many new things, skills you can learn, so never limit yourself. Go out and try out new things and never stop learning.

2. Don't multitask - Scientist shows that multitasking is not possible, rather we switch tasks. So what you think is multitasking is actually nothing but switching between multiple tasks simultaneously. That decreases your performance and even can damage the brain. 

3. Put integrity and honesty first - Stay honest to yourself.  As a student, academic integrity means making ethical decisions, asking questions, and following instructions - even when faced with difficult situations. 

4. Concentrate on the present - The place and time where you have full control are in the present moment. 

5. Listen more than you speak - That's why we have only one mouth and two ears. Also, there are so many benefits to it. You can google that. 

6. Use technology for your advantage, not distractions - Found out ways how you can optimize your gadgets (mobile, laptop, tablet etc.) for your study. 

7. Use additional study resources - You know the difference between the ordinary and the extraordinary people is a little extra. Additional study resources are that little extra. 

Author: Satyajit Debnath
Bio: I am a student of Computer science. I believe in speed and optimization both in my code and life. And writing article is one my hobby.