How to achieve best in academics while balancing other activities in student life
Academia is overwhelming, highly competitive and strenuous. We need high marks in our classes and a list of publications once we enter the sphere of higher education and want to know activities in student life, along with the stress of getting a scholarship or good jobs in the future. We sometimes give up our social life, ignore extracurricular activities, ending up getting consumed by work. Rather than perceiving work and study as part of the routine, we sometimes let it occupy our whole routine, ignoring the requirement of refreshment for ourselves. Writing weekly reports, doing so much homework and studying for exams envelopes the lively side of our personality.
A student life needs to be a balanced one. The inclination toward idleness is far much destructive as well. You do not have to be a workaholic either. One has to stand out from monotonous life and focus on tasks in defined time and balanced effort.
Activities in student life
Mentioned below are the tips on following a balanced work routine in student life:
Planning proper schedule:
Spend the first few minutes of your day writing down all the tasks you have to complete that day. You can even manage it for a week as well. Keep this point in mind that you do not have to be extra ambitious; instead, gradually build up the routine. For example, instead of deciding to finish your thesis or paper’s introduction today, aim to write 300-400 words of it. Our brain works better with simple smaller tasks. Allocate the time to complete this activity in a realistic manner. Are 400 words too much for an hour? Take two hours, and achieve this goal by avoiding distractions.
There are many conceptual and digital tools available that can help you to focus. One technique is the “Pomodoro Technique” in which you have a short period (you can decide it on your own for yourself) to work on a specific single task, and nothing else is allowed to be done meanwhile, i.e., no cell phone use, no social media use, no roaming around or talking with friends, even no refilling the coffee cup. Afterwards, you get a break (say of 10-15 minutes). Then you return to your work for the same initial period, taking another short break of fixed time and repeating the studying time cycle until the task is finished. Two hours of Pomodoro schedule is more productive than an entire day of distraction-filled work.
Schedule business task schedules for the week. A profit growth plan depends on proper planning. Business plan. Special date. Main day
Aiming for your own best:
Academia is harshly competitive. Students start comparing their work with everyone else around. But it is the reality that forgetting yourself and your health for a few extra grades/marks results in no benefit for you in the long run. It is seen that a ratio of students with average-good marks are as much successful as the toppers and full CGPA students are in their careers. There is no need to ignore your fun time and health, competing with others. Follow the moderate approach and balance your routine with various inputs and experiences instead of being a bookworm. Have faith; I have also seen average students getting scholarships for further higher studies based on their various skills and qualities. Don’t miss the get-togethers and sleeping hours merely for a handful of extra points. Be lenient with yourself.
Sparing time for extracurricular activities:
Spare some time for new friends on weekends, sing, play instruments, enjoy your student life along with flourishing in your studies! Join student clubs (The University of Faisalabad has so many student societies for you to join, explore and experience new learning there!). These activities make you much more productive.
Follow your passions, find productive hobbies and make them part of the routine. Play outdoor games, as your brain needs a break, so you do not have to saturate it with excessive work. It is clear already that after 3 hours of consecutive work, our brain starts making mistakes and losing focus. These extracurricular activities and productive hobbies help you to work more efficiently.
Work smart and play smart!
Mentioned below are the briefly highlighted tips for you to keep yourself prepared for a prosperous educational route:
- Set goals
- Provides direction
- Increases focus and attention
- Increase effort and motivation
- Reduce anxiety and increase confidence
- Develop SMART goals which stand for:
Specific-Measurable-Achievable-Realistic-Timely
- Keep a positive attitude
- Be optimistic about the success
- Look forward to new learning
- Be curious and keep an inquiring mind
- Manage time
- Setting a schedule realistically
- Keeping track of where and in what you spend your time
- Studying for 3-4 hours a day, apart from university time.
- Read course readings and text-books
- Surveying chapters before reading, reading chapter summary, looking for the bold and italicized words for important concepts.
- Reviewing readings and chapters before class
- Re-reading chapter after class
- Making notes for study
- Attend lectures
- Intending to grasp something in every lecture you take
- Doing assigned readings before class (you will take better notes)
- Asking questions (it will enhance your process of learning)
- Sitting in the first few rows (you will pay better attention)
- Record the lecture notes:
- Taking notes in class
- Reviewing and editing notes after class
- Aiming for major reviews of notes before exams
- Highlighting important points, making definitions and drawing diagrams
- Prepare for Exams:
- Review past exams
- Make practice study questions
- Memorize definitions and formulae – try cue cards
- Know the type of exam to expect
- Eat balanced meals and sleep 8 hours per night
- Attempt exams properly:
- Keeping a positive attitude and doing your best
- Arriving early for the exam with an extra pen and necessary supplies
- Reading instructions and test questions clearly
- Reviewing and revising the attempted paper
- Relaxing by taking deep breaths
