5 things you should do to be successful this academic year

For a lot of people in education, September marks the start of the new school year, or at the very least a new school term/semester. Just in case you want a helping hand, here's 5 ways to be successful this academic year, broken down with 5 easy quotes.

1 "The secret of your future is hidden in your daily routine." - Mike Murdock

Essentially, your brain isn't going to absorb and retain information unless you familiarising yourself with the information you receive. That means, planning and scheduling your day to make sure you go over your notes, getting some revision done and making your workload manageable. Create a weekly routine and stick to it, so you can become accustomed to being productive outside of the classroom.

2 "Do what works for you, because there will always be someone who thinks differently." - Michelle Obama

It's important to find out what works best for you. Understand there are different kinds of learners; there are visual, auditory and kinaesthetic learners. Find out which one you are and work and revise using techniques that work best for your style. For example, if you're an auditory learner, if possible, record audio of the class and play it back in your free time or write notes and record yourself reading out the notes and/or answering questions. This will help you to learn, study and revise far more efficiently.

3 "Asking for other’s guidance helps you see what you may not be able to see. It’s always important to check your ego and ask for help." - Kenneth H. Blanchard

There is absolutely nothing wrong with asking for help. It's imperative that you utilise the resources around you and that means the people too. Get your work checked by your teachers and lecturers and ask them for further assistance if you need it. Don't be afraid to put your hand up in class and ask a question. Here's a secret, often you're not the only one in the class that has the same question, so there's nothing wrong with asking for help. Work with people in your class whose knowledge you trust, create study groups and share different ideas with each other. Asking for help is just another means to an end and often it can reduce the time you spend suffering in silence.

4 "Show me a worrying person and I will show you a person who does not know how to relax." - Albert E. Cliffe

It's good to work hard, but there's also something called overworking yourself. The brain as well as the body needs rest, as I'm sure you know. Take time to relax your mind, have fun; everything in life is about timing, there's a time to work and there's a time to play - make sure you do both.

5 "The early bird catches the worm." - William Camden

A quote you've probably heard loads of times; in one form or another. What we mean here is, start early so you don't leave things too late. Some people start their revision at the last minute and still manage to pass the test, but in order to have some peace of mind and increase your chances of success, start early. Start your preparation, start asking questions and start working hard early, so in essence, you stay ready, so you don't have to get ready - Will Smith.