One *Little Daily Habit Can Change Everything!

Last Semester Was Not My Best

Are you having regrets about your academic performance last semester? Maybe your grades weren’t what you wanted them to be, or maybe you squeaked out the grade you needed at the last minute, but the anxiety of it all just about broke you?

Why Do My Notes Look Like a Foreign Language?

Have you ever sat down to study for a big exam, and when you begin to study notes from four weeks

before (which you never reviewed), they literally look like a foreign language? It feels like you’re seeing this material for the first time. Your brain has completely forgotten what you wrote down. If this makes you freak out, it’s normal! My small habit change will prevent your notes from looking like they’re from a class you’ve never even attended.

Anxiety Hates Structure

Small, daily habits can be anxiety’s biggest enemy! If you set yourself up for daily, small wins, you will feel accomplished and more confident, and your anxiety will lessen…promise. It can help you in keeping yourself focused the whole semester. 

Procrastination Station

We all know and have experienced the freak outs associated with procrastination and feeling overwhelmed before tests.So, why not start on a fresh path this semester and set yourself up for success? This strategy works for all students: from high school to graduate school.

Days Are Long, Actually

Before I get into the details, I want you to think of it like this: there are 24 hours in a day. Even on your busiest days of classes, you probably won’t be in class more than four hours. And that’s probably lab days. So that means you have 20 extra hours. 

FINALLY, Here Is The Habit:

Create a small, daily habit for the semester to review notes immediately after class. That's it. 

And you might be thinking, Suzanne, you've got to be kidding me this is lame and this is not a new strategy and I don’t want to do this.

But I’m telling you right now, this strategy separates successful students from students who are freaking out and feeling anxious because they feel so behind. Anxiety is a miserable feeling, but you can find ways to structure your life where you set yourself up for success rather than making the same old decisions you’ve always made and backing yourself into an anxious corner.

Find Your Spot

Locate your favorite spot to focus on campus. This spot is totally up to you, BUT, there is one hard and fast rule: you have to go to this spot right after class (unless you have to eat and I still think that will distract you).If you start anything before, you’re unlikely to follow through because you’ll get distracted and start looking at reels, or you’ll nap, rot, or get derailed and lose motivation.

The Process 

Once you’re in your fave spot, throw in your ear buds and review your class notes. This process only takes 20 to 30 minutes. Some days it will even take less (maybe 10-15). Remember there are 24 hours in a day: you’ve got time, sis!

Quickly review what you’ve written or typed. This is all you have to do. 

Finding Mistakes

Every single day you are going to find notes that you may have written incorrectly, and because you still remember what you just heard, you can correct them quickly on your paper. This also gives you a chance to highlight areas where you might be confused. Now you’ve given yourself the opportunity to refer back to your textbook, research online, or better yet, go to office hours and clarify what you’ve written down to make sure you have the correct information. If you study incorrect information, it’s super tough to rewire what you’ve incorrectly learned. 

“But, Suzanne, My App Takes Notes for Me!”

Having lectures dictated in an app does not mean that you have internalized the material! If you’re using that app, I think it’s a really cool tool, but you have to interact with the material or it will not move from short term memory to long-term memory.

When you arrive at your fave spot, the notes will be fresh in your mind because you just experienced them being presented to you. Remember, you have to interact with the information so your brain can absorb it. 

Short-Term to Long-Term For the Win

Also, during the lecture, your brain is storing this information in short-term memory, but once you review, remember, recall, and interact with the new material, this information starts to move to long-term memory. When it’s in long-term memory, it’s yours! 

Nerdy Tidbit

A quick nerdy tidbit: did you know that when you're introduced to a new vocabulary word, it takes an average of SEVEN TIMES seeing it and interacting with it before you actually know and understand the word? That shows how essential it is to review your notes. You have to see the stuff many times for it to stick. Reviewing your notes every day ensures that you get this exposure, plus some.

Extra Credit

If you want extra credit, read all of your notes from that class every time you review (meaning alllll the notes from day 1 or from the last test). You will be amazed at how quickly your brain remembers your notes, and every time you review, the process will get quicker and quicker because your brain knows the material and you’ll read it faster.

Your Turn

So, I challenge you to make a small habit change this semester. It’s only for the semester, not the rest of your life, so don’t knock it until you try it! After class, instead of going back to your room or apartment and rotting in your bed looking at TikTok and reels, you can spend 20 to 30 minutes reviewing your notes. I promise you will have positive outcomes with this strategy and it is the best use of your time (because it doesn’t take a lot of time—remember how much time you actually have?). 

Coulda, Shoulda, Woulda

I wish I had done this in college. I embraced this habit when I was in graduate school, and I couldn’t believe how much more I learned and how much easier my life was. It’s crazy how a quick review and a small, daily habit can change your whole educational experience.  

Share Your Experience

I want to hear how your small habit is working for you! Please reply and let me know if this is a habit that is helping you, and also give some details, like where you go and your process, etc. I can share ideas with you all on Instagram (we’re in this together, remember!).  

You’re stronger than you think you are, and I’ve always got your back. 

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Disclaimer: This blog is totally my opinion and should not serve as medical or psychiatric advice.

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