Efficient Strategies to Improve Academic Responsibility

Five key strategies statistically essential in building a successful and productive academic reputation, summarized and applied to the lives of high school students.

Authored by Janeysi Echeverria

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There is no arguing the way we as individuals choose to organize and fuel our lives directly impacts our drive to work hard, focus, and ability to produce admirable results in anything and everything we do. Ultimately, every person invests their time in a distinctive style of life, beneficial or detrimental. Some lifestyles may look similar on the surface when, in reality, each one is unique to goals, passions, personality, socioeconomic status, and more. Despite the ongoing social frenzy on the importance of finding an adequate lifestyle and using it to reach prosperity and peace, how can we be sure it correlates to academic success? What are the key strategies worth investing in regarding living style to unlock one's full academic potential?

In a cross-sectional research study on the correlation between distinctive lifestyle habits and academic achievement in Norwegian adolescents, habits such as maintaining a stable and nutritious diet plan, partaking in high levels of physical activity, and abstaining from the consumption of substances like tobacco and alcohol, increased the probability of academic achievement amongst participants. Additionally, research displays that students who obtain at least eight hours of sleep a night are exponentially more likely to have good grades as opposed to those who struggle to maintain a healthy sleep schedule. Thus far, research has shown that fundamental habits, namely eating nutritiously, being physically active, and investing in several other patterns meant to improve one’s quality of life, directly impact academic performance; however, each strategy does so in a disparate way.

1. Establishing & Maintaining a Nutritious Diet

First and foremost, it is important to recognize that the things we nutrify our bodies with and our ability to be consistent with a healthy diet are portrayed outwardly through our performance levels and ability to retain information. Simply, a healthy diet is one in which fruits, vegetables, protein, and whole-grain foods are consumed instead of heavily processed foods. According to the 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 41 percent of US high students with primarily "A's" claimed to have rarely consumed high-sugar drinks, such as heavily artificial juices and sodas, compared to 21 percent of students with mostly "D's" and "F's". In connection, the regular consumption of non-nutritious foods tends to result in fatigue, temporary hyperactivity, and an inability to concentrate. Although it may not be a scholarly change in a routine, what you eat has the power to completely alter your academic, physical, and mental health.

2. Regularly Engaging in Physical Activities

Engaging in physical activity does not only signify directing all of one’s energy and attention toward a sport. Instead, physical activity is individual to each person and also includes scheduling daily runs or walks, constructing private or group workouts to customize results, or participating in community sports or hobbies. But why is this so important concerning one's academic success? Again, the 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey reports that 66 percent of US high school students surveyed claimed to have participated in at least one school or community sports team and still managed to receive top grades, compared to only 42 percent of students who, while partaking in sports teams, received failing grades. Attempting to build and maintain a prestigious and productive academic life requires immense mental, physical, and emotional stability, which, if students lack, they are bound to suffer from academic burnout. Fortunately, being physically active for at least a few hours a week builds the physical stability of students, in turn positively contributing to their overall health and allowing them to engage in an activity other than academics, even if it is for a short amount of time, to prevent breakdowns and exhaustion.

3. Constructing a Convenient & Beneficial Bedtime Routine

Along with nutrition and physical exercise, rest is a pivotal factor in academic success. As previously stated by the CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, students who obtain at least eight hours of sleep a night are proven to function more adequately and to their fullest potential than those who lack rest. It is known that the stress brought on to students by academic activities, such as classes, internships, scholarship applications, and others can lead to uneasiness and restlessness. To foster adequate sleep practices in accordance with each student's unique schedule, students must construct a rigid bedtime routine which includes directing their attention to something other than school work for at least a couple of hours before bed, eliminating screen time at least an hour before bed, and waking up at a time where they can prepare their materials and daily schedule without feeling weary or rushed. Consequently, students can go about their day well-rested and still contribute to their academic goals, which already require responsibility and alertness.

4. Participating in Social Settings

Students’ ability to socialize is another example of a strategy that intends to veer one’s attention off of their academics for a specific amount of time, thus allowing them to reset their minds and ideas. An applied research study titled, “Assessing loneliness in UAE populations: the relationship with age, gender, marital status, and academic performance,” found that camaraderie and socialization significantly impacted the performance of students through cultivating honest connections, motivation, and higher grade-point averages (GPA). Directing all of one’s attention toward academic validation is challenging and leaves no time for socializing or networking. Establishing time for socializing does not only consist of hanging out with your friends or family but also meeting new people who motivate you to be better, introduce you to new opportunities, and lead to future connections. Students can even join clubs and participate in school-hosted social events, which promote the necessary balance of academic interests and maintenance of social relationships. 

5. Reserving Time for Self-Care

Last but not least, self-care is a vital strategy for academic success and, essentially, can be described as all of the strategies combined into one. Nutrition, exercise, rest, and networking are all examples of self-care and investing in your quality of life and scholarly success. Still, self-care also includes taking breaks between academic assignments or tasks, perhaps dedicating one night a week to watching one’s favorite show or going to a new restaurant. No matter the activity, this strategy promotes the restoration of one’s mind and body and allows for a healthy balance between work and enjoyment.

In conclusion, all five strategies presented contribute to the improvement of student lifestyle, academics, relationships, and set up habits essential in succeeding in the future. When instilled together, these strategies will assist high school students in succeeding through college, adequately presenting themselves at job interviews and opportunities, and forming a healthy lifestyle that compliments the career they choose to pursue. Of course, these are only a few of the most important factors of a successful academic life; nonetheless, it is important that, as a society, we put these strategies to use and implement them into the minds of future generations so academically responsible individuals with a strong work ethic are always present.

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1|   Stea, T.H., Torsveit, M. (2014,August) Association of lifestyle habits and academic achievement in Norwegian adolescents: A cross-sectional study, BMC Public Health. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/264712493_Association_of_lifestyle_habits_and_academic_achievement_in_Norwegian_adolescents_A_cross-sectional_study 

2|  Other Health Behaviors and Academic Grades | Healthy Schools | CDC. (2021, February 1). Www.cdc.gov. https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/health_and_academics/other_health_behaviors.htm 

3|Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, February 1). Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviors and Academic Grades. Www.cdc.gov. https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/health_and_academics/physical-activity-and-sedentary-behaviors-and-academic-grades.htm 

4| Dodeen, H., & Hassan, A. (2021). Assessing loneliness in UAE populations: the relationship with age, gender, marital status, and academic performance. Applied Research in Quality of Life, 16, 775-786.