Being an effective student doesn’t happen overnight, nor does it happen unintentionally.
All effective students have a strategy, meaning actions that they do consistently and intentionally. What, then, are these habits that produce highly effective students?
Well, before we begin, it’s important to define a few things to clear up any misconceptions about this topic. A habit is “a settled and regular tendency or practice.” Being effective is being “successful in producing a desired or intended result.”
Now, each student has a different idea of what it means to be effective. For one student it might be high grades, for another student it might be complete understanding of all subjects, and for another it might be participating in activities in and out of the classroom.
In this article, you won’t get a “student’s manifesto” on each of the above outcomes. Rather, a collective approach to truly be effective at anything as a student.
I can guarantee you 100% that if you implement all seven of these habits consistently, you will soar in the heights of academia.
Why are you so certain about that?
Because the following 7 habits are from America’s leading entrepreneur and Harvard graduate, Stephen Covey, which he published in the Amazon and New York Street Journal best-selling book: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. This book has sold 26.5 million copies in 40 languages and remains the #1 nonfiction best-seller in world history since its publication!
Why should I care?
Because you need to read it!!! It’s absolutely life-changing. A lot of books are. But, this one is out-of-this-world. For real.
If you “don’t have time” to read it, then I’ve got you. Below are the 7 habits from that book, but adapted specifically for students (and summarized in normal-people-English). You’re welcome.
Now, let’s jump into the 7 habits of highly effective students.
- They Are Proactive
How many times have you said “that teacher just doesn’t like me”? How many times have you complained “standard tests are so dumb. I don’t get why we have to take them”? How many times have you laid blame on someone or something else for something you control?
Proactive students take matters into their own hands. They don’t think that the problem is “out there”- but that their thoughts are the problem.
They recognize that it is solely their responsibility to react wisely to whatever “external problem” they face.
Effective students are proactive in that they believe the world isn’t happening to them, but that they are creating their world.
They don’t think of themselves as victims or that external factors produce their reality. They choose to believe that they are in charge and that all of their outcomes are determined by their reactions, not the actions of others.
2. They Begin With the End in Mind
Effective students have a vision. They know their destination before they set foot on the road. You will never find them wasting time working on things that aren’t going to contribute to that end goal.
They know exactly what they are after… and they are after it. They are clear with themselves on what they want and what they are doing right now to get it. They have extreme self-awareness.
Some people work really hard and climb really hard, trying to reach abnormal heights on a latter that is leaning against the wrong wall.
That’s not the case for effective students because they eliminate all the options and goals that don’t serve them. They only choose a select few endeavors that they focus on and pursue. Those few endeavors are the destinations that match their identity and values the most and represent who they are regardless of what others think.
3. They Prioritize Accurately
Now that you know what your vision is, you have to execute it. And to do that you must determine which activity or task is worth your time.
To be an efficient student, you have to prioritize based on importance, not urgency. Some things are going to be necessary for the short-term, but not meaningful for the long-term. Spend more of your time on the latter.
Analyze where you spend most of your time. Are you efficient with tasks and effective with people? Or do you roam around aimless, not really doing either one?
Examine this matrix:
If you truly want to be an effective student, then the majority of your time must be spent in quadrants 1 and 2. Anything that is not important should go on the back burner when it comes to your time, especially things that are also not urgent (like busy work, time wasters, and calls/emails).
4. They Have Healthy Relationships
Effective students are cooperative and work well with people. Not because they are all extroverted or are people’s-persons, but because they understand that interdependence is necessary for success. Endosymbiosis is a fact of life.
They know that and they capitalize on it.
In any interaction, highly effective students are playing a game of win-win, in which both parties are winning and benefiting. They aren’t trying to be the sole beneficiaries of the interaction, nor are they going into an interaction where they aren’t benefiting.
It’s a rule of theirs: each relationship must be a win-win.
That’s why their relationships are usually pretty strong and solid, since both parties are in agreement and at peace.
Thus, there is no competition in the atmosphere. There is no “if you get it, then I won’t” mentality. There is no toxicity. Effective students believe in the abundance of opportunity and outcomes. There is plenty to go around. Scarcity doesn’t coexist with effectiveness.
So, they will help other people achieve their goals. They will give generously and abundantly. They won’t hold back knowledge, experience, or resources…because they understand that the universe isn’t as limited as we think it to be. Those who give will receive in equal measure.
5. They Seek to Understand
In their relationships with others, effective students seek first to understand not be understood. Before they suggest, offer advice, or defend their case, they listen and understand.
You have no right to assume anything about the other person’s experience or emotions because none of us see the world as it is, but as we are.
At any given moment in a conversation, most people are usually speaking or preparing to speak. Seldom is anyone actively listening. We tend to respond in one of four ways:
- Evaluate: Agree/disagree with what is said
- Probe: Ask questions from our own point of view
- Advise: Give suggestions based on our own experience
- Interpret: Judge the motives of the other in the light of our own motives
You must drop all of that and listen. Listening is not the same as hearing. Listening is mental engagement in the emotional experience of the other person, as described to you by their words and body language (NOT your own assumptions).
This kind of listening requires that you throw out your unique interpretation of events and adopt the other person’s.
6. They Synergize
Do you know that when you plant two plants close to each other, their roots will co-mingle and improve the quality of the soil? Do you know what happens then? Each plant grows better than it would if it was on its own.
This is synergy at its finest. After you have adopted the win-win mentality and have understood the people around you, now it’s time to work with them.
This habit is the basis of team collaborations, business projects, and the whole corporate world. It is equally foundational for academia.
Everyone has wonderful gifts, insights, and ideas. Everyone is a plant on its path to full bloom. But a plant doesn’t know that it will bloom better if it scooted closer to its neighbor. You do, though.
My dear effective-student-wannabe, you have to merge your work with that of others. You have to put forth a spirit of safety, trust, and understanding, and then dine on the creativity of others and let them do the same on yours.
You will be astounded by the sheer beauty and intelligence that emerges from an integration of different minds. It will save you a lot of time and also make the outcome a thousand percent better.
7. They Invest in Themselves Daily
To be an effective student, you must devote the time everyday to renewing yourself spiritually, socially, mentally, and physically. We are multi-dimensional beings. Thus, we need a wholesome approach to well-being and effectiveness.
When your body is sick, you can’t live optimally. The same is true for your spirit and mind.
That’s why you have to do things daily that renew each area to create an environment for the creativity and focus to flourish. This is the habit that enables you to work on all the others.
You have to be rested and energized before you embark on any change. Rest isn’t a reward for hard work; it’s a requirement for hard work to occur. You cannot imagine the level of creativity and intellect you can reach with deep inner peace and an enhanced character.
What does that mean, practically speaking?
Well, for the spiritual dimension, you can:
- Grow your relationship with God (practice your faith)
- Spend time in nature
- Listen to music
- Meditate
For the social dimension, you can:
- Spend time with loved ones
- Do schoolwork and projects with classmates or friends
- Help others succeed (maintain an abundance mentality)
- Do meaningful work that will help other people
For the mental dimension, you can:
- Journal your thoughts daily
- Read some great books (let the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People be one of them!)
- Organize & plan tasks/projects on paper
- Limit investment in media
For the physical dimension, you can:
- Sleep more (yesss!!!)
- Move your body (nooo!) jk
- Eat well
- Maintain proper hygiene
Just like that, you can invest in yourself and in your well-being, so that you can have the energy and mental capacity to invest in others and be effective in your endeavors as a student.