The end of the year is always an enjoyable time. Not only are you on winter break between semesters, but there are New Year’s festivities to attend and lots of catching up to do with friends and family at home. It’s also a time when many people like to take stock of the year they’ve had, and see what they’d like to do better in the next one. 

Popular New Year’s resolutions typically revolve around bettering yourself, and setting goals to improve in certain aspects of your life. A lot of times this includes eating better, exercising more, and trying to make more time for family. But as a student, maybe your goals for the next year include better study habits. Setting study goals for yourself is a great way to not only improve your GPA, but to also get the most out of your classes while you’re in college. 

In this article we’re going to discuss:

• Our favorite study goals that you can set for yourself in the new year
• Tips for meeting (and even exceeding) your study goals next semester

What are Your Study Goals for the New Year?

First, set some goals for yourself before the next semester

Before the start of the new semester, take some time for yourself and lay out what goals you’d like to achieve in the next year. You can either do this at home, or when you return to campus. But make sure you start your semester off on the right foot as soon as you can. Putting goals down on paper makes them seem all the more real, plus you can keep coming back to them as the semester rolls along to see how well you’ve done. 

Here are some goals to get you started thinking about creating better study habits so you can ace those classes this semester. This list isn’t exhaustive, so make sure you add your own personal goals in as well.

Stop procrastinating!

The number one issue with a lot of students when it comes to studying is how easy it is to procrastinate. Even if you don’t consider yourself the type of person who procrastinates, you can still fall into this studying trap.

There are so many distractions around us, from phones, to friends, to campus activities—and this makes it super easy to put off your studying. This tends to happen even more when you’re in a class that isn’t a part of your major, or you’re just not that interested in the material. Carving out time and making yourself sit down and study or do the work can seem like such a task.

A good study goal for next semester is to try and catch yourself when you’re procrastinating, and put a stop to it. No one wants to do things at the last minute. When you’re rushed and under a tight deadline, your work may not always be your best. Instead of putting things off, try and make study time for all of your classes. That way you can digest and understand the material as you move along in the semester.

Show up on time to class

This may seem like a no-brainer, but in order to study better, you’ve got to show up to all your classes. Not only are you (or your parents) paying for your credits, but when you attend class, you get to hear your instructor explain the material to you. When you miss out on class, you’ll need to catch up and read the material anyway, but there’s no one there to explain it.

Also, by attending class you can take notes and reread them when you study. When you have the chance to review the information multiple times, chances are higher that you’ll understand the material and be able to remember it for the test.

Do the work and the reading

Doing the reading and the homework when assigned goes hand in hand with regularly attending your classes. You can’t expect to learn the material without doing the actual reading or homework assignments. When you fail to do these, you might have a hard time understanding what’s going on in the classroom. 

Homework and readings are designed to complement the lectures and discussions, and they allow you time to practice and learn the material. If you wait until the middle or the end of the semester to try and absorb all the written material, you’ll end up forgetting most of it.

Working the readings and homework assignments into your study sessions daily is a great way to consistently stay on top of your material. 

Review your notes weekly

Instead of cramming for an exam, or scrambling to write a paper, make it a point this semester to review your notes daily or weekly. When you set aside time each day to review and prepare for your classes, make sure to read over the notes you’ve taken in lectures and discussions. 

The more times you review material, the more likely you are to absorb and remember it.

Pro tip: Even though typing out your notes in class may be quicker, studies have shown that hand writing your notes improves your brain’s ability to retrieve information, because it also requires your brain to process the information before you write it down. The same does not occur when you type your notes. 

Set a goal for a grade

No matter if the class is a part of your major, or it is a gen ed requirement, before you start the semester, make sure to set a goal for the grade you want to achieve in that class. Although of course you want to do your best in every class, depending on a few factors, set a realistic course grade you’d like to achieve based on:

• The subject matter
• What level the course is (intros in the 100s or advanced in the 400s)
• Whether or not it’s necessary for your degree
  

Chances are the courses in your degree program will be a little more challenging than those that are electives or gen eds. Having a course grade goal for the semester will also help you follow through on your other study goals, like attending class, not procrastinating, doing the work, and reviewing your notes.

Visit your instructor

Although it may not seem so, your time at school is brief. Each semester you’re learning in classes taught by instructors who are experts in their fields, so why not take the time to visit some of them throughout your term? 

Getting to know an instructor can make it easier to ask for help when you need it, or to write you a letter of recommendation down the road. 

Check out tutoring 

Another great goal to set for the semester is to check out the tutoring resources that your school offers. If you know ahead of time that this semester is going to be particularly difficult, or you need to take a class that you’re afraid you may need some extra help with, consider contacting the student tutors. 

Most schools have programs set up that offer assistance for students who need a little extra one on one time in subjects. Don’t let yourself start slipping because you don’t understand the material, reach out and get help when you need it. 

How to Meet your Study Goals for the New Year

You can meet your study goals when you follow these tips!

Now that you’ve got a list of some of the study goals you have for the next semester, now it’s time to discuss how you can meet those goals head on. Here are some of our tips and tricks for meeting, and even exceeding, your goals.

Create a functional study space 

First and foremost, in order to set yourself up for greatness this semester, you’ve got to create a functional study space. We know dorm rooms are small, and most likely you need to share the space with a roommate (or two), but that doesn’t mean you can’t carve out a great space to study in. Afterall, this is one of the most crucial aspects of achieving your study goals for the semester.

Chances are you have your basic needs met, such as a desk and a chair. But consider picking up a few of these items in order to really optimize your study time and reach those goals you’ve set.

Circa Message Board

When you’re serious about success, you’ve got to make sure you’re organized. What better way to stay on top of all your assignments and classes than with a message board? This board will look good in any dorm decor, and you can attach it to the wall near your desk easily. It’s perfect for writing down assignments, keeping track of deadlines, and even for writing encouraging or inspirational quotes.

No study area is complete without a place where you can quickly and visibly jot down important information.

Easy Clip LED Lamp

This lamp is designed to sit exactly where you need it. Whether that’s at your desk, or in your bed. No matter where you choose to study, you’ll always have plenty of light to do so. It’s sturdy clip is designed to fit almost anywhere in your dorm where you’d like to get studying done, including on your couch or even on a floor pillow. 

The LED is bright enough to make sure when you’re reviewing your notes, or reading the day’s assignments, your eyes are never strained. 

Cube Storage Ottoman

Because you might not always be at your desk when you’re studying, you can take your functional study space with you. This ottoman is a must-have for any small space such as a dorm room. You can store items in, you can put the top on and create an instant seat for friends, and you can remove the lid and create a lapdesk perfect for your computer or textbooks. 

This three-in-one ottoman allows you to take your studying away from your desk chair, so you can get cozy and comfortable while you work on homework.

Lay out how to achieve your goals

In addition to having a great spot to study, in order to achieve your goals, you should create strategies for reaching them. Whether this means you make it a point to get up early so you attend every class, learn office hours so you can reach out to your instructor, or just make sure your phone is away from you when you study, these are all concrete ways to reach your study goals.

Be flexible and expect challenges

The path to achieving goals is never easy, so just make sure you’re flexible when challenges do arise. If you need to adjust your schedule to ensure you’re getting in an hour of studying, rearrange your extracurricular activities. Or if you know you have a couple of papers due the same week, plan on getting one done early. When you’re organized and prepared, meeting challenges becomes much easier. 

Work towards a reward

In addition to your goals, make sure to set a reward for yourself! If you reach your grade goals, keep up with your readings and homework, and ace those tests and papers, make sure you reward yourself. You can choose to have one big reward at the end of the semester, or give yourself little rewards each time you follow through with the strategies to achieve your goal.

Yes you can reach your study goals this year! Make sure to create a plan and follow through, and you’ll be celebrating with your reward in no time.