How To Excel In College Without Dropping The Rest of Your Life

By Nate Desmond

Books College should be an exciting time of growth and exploration, but, without care, it can quickly become a difficult time of overwhelming schedules. Thankfully, that does not have to be the case.

In a 1990 study of violin students attending Universität der Künste, a liberal arts academy in West Berlin, a group of researchers compared the study habits of two groups of students: the “elite” students and the average students.

According to their report, the two groups spent about the same amount of time practicing, yet the elite group was generally less stressed and slept an hour more per night. What made this possible? Although their overall practice time matched, the elite students accumulated about three times the number of focused, deliberate practice hours.

By maintaining a balanced lifestyle and deliberate practice plans, the elite students were able to excel in this competitive environment.

1. Plan For Breathing Time

As you plan your schedule, allow for downtime. While it may seem like a waste, time spent away from school or work will help “reset” your mind and enable you to focus more clearly when you return to your studies.

Just remember to use even this time effectively. If you spend your leisure time browsing Facebook or watching television, the beneficial effect can be reversed.

2. “Fire Quickly; Hire Slowly”

This advice is not just for business owners. As a student, you must manage the time God has given you.

When opportunities come up, it can be easy to keep saying “yes” until your plate is overflowing. At this point, you will be doing many things, but nothing well. Instead, avoid this danger by focusing on a few things at once. Be particularly wary of projects that have no clear end time.

3. Maximize Study Time

Just as the elite students in the music school study, find ways to maximize your study time. By applying larger scale techniques, like dynamic memory or speed reading, you can experience vast improvements, but don’t forget about the smaller things.

Create the best study environment you can in a quiet area removed from distractions. You will probably find that you study best in either the morning or the evening, so experiment and find what works best for you.

4. Take Up A Hobby (Or Two)

In your spare time, try to find a flexible hobby to pursue. As long as it is a secondary interest and doesn’t steal from your study hours, a hobby or two can help you gain a new perspective on your school topics and give you a chance to learn some useful skills.

The possibilities are virtually endless, but some of the best I’ve heard include reading history, playing chess, bicycling, and playing hockey.

5. “Experience Required”

If at all possible, try to find a chance to work a few internships into your schedule. While this might force you to slow down on school for awhile, the real-life experience gained in internships becomes invaluable when you finish college. Theory is great, but employers really want someone who can get things done.

6. Maintain Good Health

Although it can be tempting to finish college in one sleepless caffeine-high, you will be much better off in both the long- and short-term if you take care of the body God has given you.

Keeping a good sleep schedule, eating healthfully, and exercising regularly will actually improve your mental abilities.

Conclusion

College can be a difficult and stressful time, but it doesn’t have to be. Take a few simple steps to lead a balanced life, and you will be amazed by the results.
Nate Desmond I'm a Christian young man working on my BSBA in Accounting and writing blog posts in my spare time. I enjoy learning how to do things faster and better... whether through new keyboard shortcuts, world record holding shoelace knots, or motion study.

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