6 Strategies for Developing Good Habits in Students

Good habits can influence academic success, enhance personal growth and support career ambitions. They help students achieve goals more efficiently and effectively while building a more productive, resilient and joyful lifestyle. Teachers can guide students in developing positive habits that transform the educational experience and foster a growth mindset. This guide explores five healthy habits for students and six ways to help students develop them. 

Importance of Good Habits in Students 

Positive habits can help students make responsible decisions and become more successful in their studies. Good habits provide many benefits:

• Boosts confidence: As students build good habits, they may enjoy more achievements. Accomplishments boost their confidence, helping them believe in their capabilities and take on challenges. 
• Enhances reliability and trust: Good habits help students improve consistency, take responsibility and manage their time better. These qualities can earn students a reputation for being reliable and trustworthy, which can be valuable in school, life and work. 
• Improves mental well-being: Consistent habits and routines help reduce stress and improve mental health. Predictable schedules give them more control and a feeling of security. 
• Creates structure: Good habits bring order to a student's life. Daily routines feel more manageable and offer stability, even when students are juggling their social life and extracurricular activities with schoolwork. 

What Good Habits Students Should Have? 

Here are five healthy habits successful students have: 

• Staying organized: Successful students know how to make a plan to stay organized. This involves knowing what to do and when to do it to ensure the daily routine stays in order. Staying organized can include knowing how to study for an upcoming test and how to follow a morning routine. It also involves ensuring learning materials are accessible and well-organized. 
• Creating a schedule: Another good habit for students is knowing when and how to create a schedule that matches their unique needs. For example, they might choose to study after dinner instead of straight after school because that is when they are most productive. They may also be smart with their time by scheduling a more enjoyable task to fill this gap and improve their energy levels before they begin studying. 
• Asking questions: Successful students know to ask for help when they need it, whether from teachers, friends or tutors. They know it is especially beneficial when tackling complex concepts. Students also join study groups to learn about different perspectives and have insightful discussions. 
• Studying: Studying involves a combination of practices that ensure students retain information. Students who master studying practices understand the learning methods that work best for them, take notes, review their materials regularly and take practice tests to build their skills and knowledge. 
• Taking time to relax: Successful students understand they need breaks from studying to prevent burnout and maintain a positive mindset. They get eight hours of sleep, make time for friends, eat healthy food, exercise, enjoy hobbies and take breaks from studying. 

How to Help Students Develop Positive Habits 

Here are six strategies teachers can use to help students develop good habits. 

1. Create Small, Achievable Goals 

When teaching your students to build good learning habits, encourage them to start with small, achievable goals. Set one study goal for your students to work on during every study session during the month. For example, you can develop a reading habit in students by encouraging them to review one textbook chapter for 10 minutes each day. Another example is encouraging students to ask the teacher a question about schoolwork at least once a week for the entire term.

2. Develop a Schedule and Routine 

If your students have multiple habits they want to practice daily, it helps to establish a routine or schedule. Routines and schedules help students implement multiple habits so that they become natural parts of their lives. 

For example, if students want to improve their study habits and get a job to save for college, you can encourage them to create an afterschool schedule. They might study for one or two hours on weekdays and reserve weekends for work. Or, they might work Mondays and Wednesdays from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. and limit studying on these days to half an hour. Try to work with students individually to create a routine specific to their growth areas and encourage them to follow it consistently. 

3. Reward Them as They Learn 

Keep students motivated to build good habits with rewards. Rewards ensure students feel valued and appreciated for their efforts. It also creates a positive and supportive classroom environment. Rewards can come in various forms, including in-class shoutouts, an extra few minutes of break time or a treat. Rewards give students the motivation to do something challenging and work toward earning something they want.

However, this system is most effective for younger kids. It's important to help older students build intrinsic motivation — the drive to achieve success because it's satisfying and not to receive external rewards. You can help students build intrinsic motivation by offering constructive feedback, increasing their autonomy in the classroom and reinforcing why learning certain skills is worthwhile. 

4. Encourage Group Study Sessions 

Allow students to form in-class study groups to practice studying together. Studying with a group encourages students to work through complex topics together, hold one another accountable, offer unique perspectives and provide encouragement. Study groups offer a great way for students to stay engaged and enjoy the learning process. 

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