Feel like you didn’t try your hardest on the final? Regret not turning in your assignments on time? Wish you spent more time studying? You can avoid all these problems and start fresh this next semester, making sure to work harder and redeem yourself. So, here’s a couple tips to help you along the way. 

   Studying is one of the most important activities to help you keep up with academics. Most people have their own methods and preferences for studying, and it’s important to find a way that works for you. Some may like to study when the new content is still fresh in their minds, others may prefer to wait until the end of the lessons and study the unit as a whole. Group study sessions with peers, taking practice quizzes, or annotating notes are all popular ways of studying that can be very helpful going into the second semester. Finding an effective and efficient way of studying that works best for you will help improve your academic performance.

  Being well-organized is another tip to help you start fresh, and it can create a better mindset when working. Making an organized schedule can help you figure out how many activities are planned on certain days and when there is free time. This helps with lowering stress and keeping a healthy schedule. Additionally, weekly and monthly organization can keep students from doing assignments last-minute or forgetting them all together. 

   Procrastination is a common issue for teens when it comes to academics . However, there are many ways to prevent this problem. Making a to-do list throughout the day can help keep track of the assignments that need to be completed. In addition, setting aside a specific time for classwork and studying can help prevent any stress from last minute assignments (creatingpositivefutures.com). 

   Staying healthy is something that not many realize is important to improving your studies. Procrastination is a major negative influence on mental and physical health. Some students become so overwhelmed from classwork that was pushed to the last minute that they end up losing hours of sleep or forgetting to eat. According to South College, getting enough rest and remembering to eat properly can increase focus and endurance when studying. It also helps develop more energy and motivation to work harder and perform better (south.edu). 

   Asking for help is a simple action that will benefit you in the long run. Many students are afraid of asking “stupid” questions. However, if something is confusing or doesn’t add up, being inquisitive in class can benefit you and your peers. Whether it’s a friend, a teacher, a classmate, or even a random person, asking for help is better than struggling by yourself. Always remember, there’s no such thing as stupid questions, and the odds are that if you’ve got a question, someone else probably has the same one.

   Now that the first semester is over and the second semester is about to start, reflect on how you did during the first semester. Find something that you think you can change about your study habits in order to improve, and use the next semester as an opportunity to put it into practice!