As students, we're constantly striving to strike a balance among so many different things - schoolwork, friends, family, extracurriculars, sports - that we sometimes feel overwhelmed. It's true that we can't expect ourselves to do all these things perfectly, but there are a select few among us who have achieved a state of nirvana - time management is second nature to them, fun and frolic are as frequent as doing work, and this feeling of being overwhelmed that hits most of us most of the time rarely ever touches them. What are their secrets for success? What are they doing differently that we can learn from them and adapt to our own lifestyles? After talking to as many of them as I possibly could, I've compiled a list of the seven most important habits of these highly effective students in our midst.
That is, if you are a highly effective student:
1) You think of discouragement and failure as your greatest teachers on your route to success.
To you, discouragement and failure are essential stepping stones to later success. You find them to be incredibly helpful indicators telling you exactly what you're doing wrong and where you could improve. And most importantly, they don't disconcert you - Failure is your old friend from a bygone age coming to give you some great advice on how to reach the treasure trove of Success.
2) Whenever you hear of other people’s success, you rejoice and congratulate them heartily.
The success of other people is never a sticking point for you and it certainly does not arouse feelings of jealousy and envy. Rather, you're a team player, and when one of your friends/classmates does something particularly well, you're always there to give a hearty congrats. As a leader, you give praise lavishly and remain a steadfast supporter of everyone you happen to meet.
3) You aren’t ashamed of reaching out for help when you need it.
You don't ever really feel embarrassed for asking for help. In fact, you sometimes even laugh at yourself for asking what you feel are stupid questions. You know that help is an incredible resource and, in taking advantage of it often, you're only helping yourself grow as a person.
4) You know when to recharge and take breaks.
You're realistic. You're not in over your head and you're certainly not a workaholic. You know when to relax, chill, do absolutely nothing. Why? Because you strongly believe that adequate rest will always get more work done than trying to plow through the entire day on a few hours of sleep. And more than that, you believe that some time to yourself, some indulgence in solitude, is absolutely necessary to understand where you are, how you've been doing, and where you're headed. So, remember to recharge.
5) But when there’s work to be done, you are steadfastly concentrated on doing it.
More than anything, you take pride in your concentration. When there's work to be done, you don't fool around - you do your very best to get it done quickly and accurately. You might hit the library, stay in your room, or go to some favorite sweet spot where you feel most focused. You know that getting work done early means more time on your hands to do the things you really want to do - hang out with friends, go to parties, go to the gym, enjoy the weather, and just be yourself.
6) You never run out of motivation—there’s always something keeping you going.
If motivation fails to come from the outside - either from friends, family, or other sources of support - you become your greatest cheerleader. You always find something to keep you going; you might think of your goals, read some inspirational lore, or simply go outside and help others. At any rate, if you can't immediately get some motivation, you become your own version of an optimist and try hard to find it - either through fruitful action or profound thought.
7) You always remain grateful to those who have ever done you a service.
Most important of all, you never forget to thank those who have made you the person you are today. You are constantly giving thanks and always feeling a sense of deep gratitude for everyone who has taken pains to see you grow. As a highly effective student, you know that the giving you do should always outweigh the taking - and you make sure that that happens. Your line of growth today will define who you'll be in the immediate and far-off future, so you never forget to give a sincere "thank you" to everyone who offers you help.
