The 20 Hidden Good Habits for Students That Teachers Never Share

Aug 28, 2025

By Will Moore

When it comes to thriving as a student, it's not just about how long you study—it's about how well you manage your energy, environment, emotions, and time. Most teachers focus on the syllabus, but real academic success often depends on the good habits you build outside the classroom.

As someone who struggled with attention issues throughout school, I know what it’s like to fall behind despite best intentions. But when I started layering the right habits into my day—habits that supported my well-being as much as my academics—everything changed. Better grades, lower stress, more energy.

This article outlines the good habits for students most aren’t taught—but need the most. Backed by research and proven strategies, they’re divided into key areas of student life. And yes, you’ll get free tools and science-backed methods to make them stick.

Upgrades You'll Receive from This Article:

Discover 20 powerful habits that build academic excellence and personal growth
Learn how to personalize the good study habits to fit your unique learning style and lifestyle
Explore science-backed strategies to make habit formation easier and more effective
Understand how to use technology and gamification to track your progress and stay motivated
Access a free habit tracker template to start implementing these habits immediately

Are you ready to transform your academic experience and learn how to be a good student? Let's dive in!

Daily Planning and Organization Habits

1. Start Each Day with Intentional Planning

Being proactive with your time is one of the core characteristics of a good student, and it starts with daily planning. Take 10 minutes each morning to review your calendar, prioritize assignments, and set specific goals for the day. Use a physical planner or digital tools like Google Calendar to visualize your schedule. Include all important events, deadlines, and reminders so nothing slips through the cracks.

Incorporate a task list that outlines your daily to-dos, from reviewing notes and reading from your textbook to solving problems with your calculator. As you organize your time, factor in your study plan with dedicated blocks for specific subjects and follow established timelines for larger projects.

Set up a clean study table stocked with essential stationery like pens, highlighters, and sticky notes. Having your textbooks, calculator, and other materials organized and accessible eliminates wasted time searching for what you need.

Research published in the Journal of Educational Psychology shows that students who plan their study time achieve significantly higher grades than those who study the same amount of time without planning.

Make It Personal: If you're a visual person, color-code your subjects or use a wall calendar to map out major timelines for exams and project submissions. If you're tech-savvy, set up automated reminders and sync your class schedule and assignments with Google Calendar. The key is finding a system that resonates with your natural tendencies and helps you stay consistent.

2. Create a Dedicated Study Environment

Designate a specific location as your study zone. Keep it organized, well-lit, and free from distractions. Personalize it with motivational quotes or items that inspire you to learn.

Students who work in organized spaces persist on challenging tasks 1.5 times longer than those in cluttered environments. Your study table should be comfortable but not too comfortable – you want to be alert and focused, not drowsy.

A study found that students who worked in an organized space persisted on challenging tasks 1.5 times longer than those in cluttered environments.

Make It Personal: If you get energized around others, your ideal study space might be a library. If you need absolute quiet, perhaps a corner of your bedroom works better. Experiment to find what helps you focus best. It will help overcome procrastination.

3. Implement a System for Managing Materials

One of the good study habits is to have a consistent filing system for notes, handouts, and assignments. For digital files, develop a logical folder structure. Review and update this system weekly to ensure everything stays organized.

Color-coding subjects, using dividers in binders, and creating digital backups of important notes can save hours of searching and reduce stress, especially before exams.

Make It Personal: If you're naturally disorganized, start simple with just a few folders labeled by subject. If you thrive on detail, create sub-categories within each subject for different types of materials.

Effective Study Techniques

4. Practice Active Recall Instead of Passive Re-reading

After reading a chapter or reviewing notes, close your materials and challenge yourself to write down or explain the key concepts from memory. Create flashcards or practice questions to test your understanding and improve recall.

This technique forces your brain to retrieve information, strengthening neural pathways and significantly improving retention.

A landmark study published in Science found that students who used active recall remembered 50% more information a week later compared to those who used traditional study methods.

Make It Personal: If you're an auditory learner, record yourself asking questions and answer them aloud. If you're more visual, create mind maps from memory, then check their accuracy against your notes.

5. Implement Spaced Repetition for Long-Term Retention

Schedule multiple review sessions spaced over days and weeks rather than cramming all at once. Use digital tools like Anki or Quizlet that automatically implement spaced repetition algorithms.

This approach leverages the psychological spacing effect, which shows that we learn better when we spread out our study sessions. Review material just as you're about to forget it to strengthen memory the most.

Research from the Journal of Memory and Language demonstrates that properly spaced review sessions can improve long-term retention by up to 200% compared to cramming. Building good habits for students like active recall and spaced repetition helps students retain information more effectively and feel less overwhelmed before exams.

Make It Personal: If certain subjects come easily to you, space those reviews further apart. For challenging topics, start with shorter intervals between review sessions.

6. Teach What You Learn

Explain concepts to others—classmates, family members, or even an imaginary student. Create videos, write explanations, or use diagrams to teach what you've learned.

Teaching requires you to organize information clearly, identify gaps in your understanding, and articulate concepts in simple terms—all of which reflect key characteristics of a good student in action.

According to a study in Contemporary Educational Psychology, students who expected to teach material remembered more central points and could better organize information than those who expected to be tested.

Make It Personal: If you're outgoing, form a study group where members take turns teaching concepts. If you're more introverted, try writing explanations or recording yourself teaching the material.

Time Management and Productivity

7. Use the Pomodoro Technique to Combat Procrastination

Study in 25-minute intervals with 5-minute breaks between them. This is one of the most underrated good study habits that works like magic. After completing four intervals, take a longer 15-30 minute break. Use a timer to maintain these intervals and stay on track during your study session.

This method works by making study time feel manageable and giving your brain regular recovery periods. It's particularly effective for reducing distractions and maintaining focus on challenging assignments.

Make It Personal: If 25 minutes feels too long, start with 15-minute work intervals. If you find yourself getting into flow states easily, try extending to 40-minute sessions. The key is finding a rhythm that works for your attention span.

8. Prioritize Tasks Using the Eisenhower Matrix

High-achieving students don't just work hard—they work smart by focusing on what matters most. The Eisenhower Matrix helps distinguish between what's urgent and what's important.

Categorize your tasks into four quadrants:

Important and Urgent: Do these immediately
Important but Not Urgent: Schedule time for these
Urgent but Not Important: Delegate if possible
Neither Urgent nor Important: Eliminate these

Make It Personal: If you tend to focus only on immediate deadlines, challenge yourself to dedicate time each week to "Important but Not Urgent" tasks like reviewing difficult concepts or starting on long-term projects. You can also try implementing Ivy Lee method for better productivity.

Healthy Lifestyle Habits for Academic Success

9. Prioritize Quality Sleep

Establish a consistent sleep routine with 7-9 hours per night. Create a wind-down routine before bedtime, free from screens and stimulating activities.

Sleep is when your brain consolidates memories and processes new information. Even one night of poor sleep can reduce cognitive function by up to 30%, making your study time less effective.

Make It Personal: If you're a night owl, try to arrange your schedule so your most challenging classes aren't early in the morning. If you're a morning person, leverage those alert hours for your most difficult studying.

Related: How to Become an Early Riser

10. Fuel Your Brain with Proper Nutrition and Hydration

Staying hydrated and eating balanced meals are often overlooked good habits for high school students, yet they play a huge role in concentration and mental clarity.

Try to incorporate healthy eating habits. Start each day by eating breakfast that includes protein. Carry a water bottle to stay hydrated, and pack nutritious snacks to maintain energy levels between meals.

Your brain uses about 20% of your body's energy, making proper nutrition crucial for cognitive performance. Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and complex carbohydrates are particularly beneficial for learning and memory.

Make It Personal: If you're always rushing in the morning, prepare breakfast items the night before. If you forget to hydrate, set water reminders on your phone or use a marked water bottle to track intake.

11. Incorporate Regular Physical Activity

Aim for at least 30 minutes of daily exercise most days. This could be a brisk walk, yoga session, or bike ride. Even short movement breaks during study sessions can boost brain function.

Exercise increases blood flow to the brain, stimulates the growth of new neurons, and releases chemicals that enhance mood and cognitive function. Going outside for physical activity provides additional benefits from fresh air and natural light.

Make It Personal: Find activities you genuinely enjoy. If you dislike running, try dancing or basketball instead. Schedule workouts when you have the most energy—morning, afternoon, or evening.

Emotional Well-being and Mindfulness

12. Practice Daily Mindfulness or Meditation

Dedicate 5-10 minutes daily to clear your mind for meditation. This could be focused breathing, guided meditation using apps like Headspace or Calm, or mindful walking between classes.

Regular mindfulness practice has been shown to improve attention, reduce test anxiety, and enhance emotional regulation. Deep breathing exercises are particularly effective before exams or presentations to calm nerves and improve performance.

Make It Personal: If sitting meditation feels challenging, try movement-based mindfulness like walking meditation or yoga. If you're busy, integrate mini-mindfulness moments throughout your day, like taking three deep breaths before starting homework.

Learn more: Fun Activities to Improve Mental Health You Wish You Knew Sooner

13. Cultivate a Growth Mindset

Reframe challenges and setbacks as opportunities for growth. Replace thoughts like "I'm bad at math" with "I haven't mastered this concept yet." Celebrate effort and process rather than just outcomes.

Students with a growth mindset view intelligence as something that can be developed through dedication and hard work. This learning mindset, combined with curiosity and resilience, reflects the deeper characteristics of a good student.

Make It Personal: Notice when you use fixed mindset language in your self-talk. Create personalized growth mindset statements for your challenging subjects. For example: "My persistence in chemistry is helping me develop problem-solving skills that will serve me in many areas."

14. Build a Strategic Study Network

Take a few minutes each day to reflect on things you're grateful for, whether related to your education or life in general. Write these reflections in a journal or share them with someone else.

Living in gratitude shifts your focus from what's lacking to what's going well, reducing stress and increasing satisfaction.

Make It Personal: If you're extroverted, you might thrive in larger, more social study groups. If you're introverted, consider one-on-one study partnerships or online collaboration. Set clear expectations about meeting frequency and goals based on your preferences. For more info read: 10 Proven Gratitude Exercises to Boost Well-Being

15. Develop a Relationship with Mentors and Teachers

Form a small study group with classmates who share your academic goals. Meet regularly to review material, teach concepts to each other, and prepare for exams.

Studying with like-minded people provides alternative explanations, diverse perspectives, and mutual accountability. The most effective study groups have clear objectives and maintain a balance between social interaction and productive work.

Make It Personal: If approaching teachers feels intimidating, start by emailing a specific question or commenting thoughtfully in class before approaching them in person. If you're naturally outgoing, leverage that strength by initiating conversations about course content beyond required assignments.

16. Practice Digital Detox Periods

In a world full of constant notifications, endless scrolling, and screen distractions, practicing digital detox periods is one of the smartest habits students can build. Regularly disconnecting from devices improves focus, reduces stress, and allows your brain to fully recharge.

During study sessions, set clear boundaries by silencing notifications, putting your phone in another room, or using focus apps like Forest or Freedom. Outside of studying, schedule device-free time blocks during meals, walks, or before bedtime to protect your mental clarity and emotional health.

Make It Personal: If complete disconnection feels overwhelming, start small—maybe just 30 minutes of screen-free time while working on assignments. If you’re motivated by accountability, organize “phone-free study sessions” with friends, where everyone agrees to stay off their devices until work is complete. You’ll be amazed at how much more you can get done.

17. Develop a Personal Knowledge Management System

Take time each week to help a classmate, support a friend, or contribute positively to your school community. This could be as simple as sharing notes with someone who missed class or offering encouragement to a struggling peer.

Acts of kindness benefit both the giver and receiver. They strengthen social connections, provide perspective, and release positive neurochemicals that improve mood and cognitive function—creating a more positive learning environment for everyone.

Make It Personal: If you're creative, incorporate visual elements like mind maps and sketches into your system. If you're more analytical, try organizing information in tables or flowcharts.

Self-Improvement and Continuous Learning

18. Engage in Deliberate Practice

Never hesitate to clarify your doubts or ask for help when needed. Raise your hand in class, visit office hours, or use online resources to find answers.

The most successful students are often those who ask the most questions. When you ask for help, you're not showing weakness but demonstrating a commitment to understanding.

Make It Personal: If you're struggling with math problem-solving, don't just do more problems—identify the specific types of problems that challenge you and focus intensively on those. If writing is your weakness, practice crafting specific elements like introductions or analyses with focused feedback.

19. Read Beyond Required Materials

Set aside time each week to explore topics beyond your required coursework. Take an online course in a subject that interests you, read a book on a new topic, or develop a new skill related to your academic interests.

This habit fosters intellectual curiosity and can lead to discovering new passions. It also helps contextualizing your formal education by connecting it to broader knowledge areas and real-world applications.

Make It Personal: If traditional reading isn't your preference, explore podcasts, educational YouTube channels, or audiobooks.

20. Regularly Reflect on and Adjust Your Learning Strategies

Create a structured system that rewards your academic achievements and study consistency. Set clear milestones and associate meaningful rewards with each one.

A well-designed reward system leverages the psychology of motivation to maintain consistent effort. Small, frequent rewards for daily habits paired with larger rewards for significant achievements create a sustainable motivation framework.

Make It Personal: If you're data-driven, track your study efficiency by noting how long you studied versus how well you performed. If you're more intuitive, focus on how engaged and energized you felt using different strategies. Use whichever feedback mechanism resonates with you to guide adjustments.

Momentum Boosting Methods: Making Your Habits Stick

Knowing which habits to develop is only half the battle—the real challenge is making them stick. Here are three science-backed methods to reduce friction and make your new study habits almost automatic:

Method 1: Make It Obvious/Attractive

Our environment shapes our behavior more than we realize. By designing your surroundings to make good habits obvious and appealing, you significantly increase your chances of success.

Strategies to Make Habits Obvious:

Use Visual Cues: Place study materials where you'll see them first thing in the morning
Habit Stacking: Link new habits to existing ones (e.g., "After I brush my teeth, I'll review flashcards for 5 minutes")
Implementation Intentions: Create specific plans using the format "When X happens, I will do Y" (e.g., "When I finish dinner, I will work on math problems for 30 minutes")

Example Application: To make daily planning more obvious, place your planner on top of your phone before bed. Since checking your phone is likely the first thing you do in the morning, you'll be prompted to plan your day first.

Method 2: Make It Easy

The easier a habit is to do, the more likely you'll do it consistently. Reducing friction is key to sustainable behavior change.

Strategies to Make Habits Easy:

The Two-Minute Rule: Scale down habits to take less than two minutes initially (e.g., "Just open the textbook and read one paragraph")
Prepare Your Environment: Set up everything you need for studying before you need it
Eliminate Friction: Remove obstacles that make good habits difficult (e.g., blocking distracting websites during study time)

Example Application: To make reading beyond required materials easier, download a reading app on your phone and save interesting articles to read offline. This way, you can read during unexpected downtime (like waiting for a bus) without needing Wi-Fi or having to carry books.

Method 3: Make It Fun/Rewarding

Habits that feel rewarding get repeated. By making studying and learning more enjoyable, you can transform "have to" into "want to."

Strategies to Make Habits Rewarding:

Temptation Bundling: Pair "want to" activities with "need to" activities (e.g., only listening to your favorite podcast while exercising)
Immediate Rewards: Create small, immediate rewards for completing study sessions
Habit Tracking: Use a habit tracker app to track your consistency and avoid breaking the chain.

Example Application: To make studying more rewarding, create a points system where you earn "credits" for completing study sessions. These credits can be exchanged for guilt-free leisure activities, small treats, or items that support your academic goals.

Implementing These Habits in Your Life

Now that you've learned about these 20 powerful habits and the 3 momentum boosting methods, you might be wondering how to implement them effectively in your own life. The key is personalization and gradual integration.

Use AI to Create a Personalized Implementation Plan

The most effective habit plans are tailored to your unique personality, strengths, and lifestyle. Here's how to create yours:

Assess Your Current Personalized Factors:

Create the following lists, focusing on information relevant to the study habits you want to build:

LIFESTYLE: Your general lifestyle factors (e.g., class schedule, living situation, commute time)

STRENGTHS: Your top 3-5 strengths (e.g., organization, focus, communication)

PASSIONS: Your top 3-5 passions (e.g., music, sports, technology)

Craft Your AI Prompt:

Use this template exactly as written: I'm looking to build better study habits as a student. The following habits from the list of 20 resonate most with me:

[Insert Habit #1]
[Insert Habit #2]
[Insert Habit #3]
[Insert Habit #4] (optional)
[Insert Habit #5] (optional)

To help personalize these habits to my situation, here's some information about me:

Lifestyle factors: [Insert your class schedule, study load, part-time job, living situation, etc.]

Strengths: [Insert your top 3–5 personal strengths, e.g., creativity, discipline, curiosity, verbal communication, etc.]

Passions: [Insert your top 3–5 passions, e.g., reading, technology, fitness, helping others, gaming, etc.]

Please provide personalized suggestions for implementing these habits in a way that leverages my strengths and fits my lifestyle. For each habit, I would like:

Make it Obvious How can I create clear visual or environmental cues to remind myself to do this habit?

Make it Easy How can I break down this habit into smaller, more manageable steps so I don’t feel overwhelmed?

Make it Fun/Rewarding How can I either pair this habit with an activity I already enjoy or create a simple reward system to stay motivated?

Please be specific and practical in your suggestions based on the information I’ve provided above.

Analyze AI Recommendations: Review the AI-generated suggestions and identify the most applicable and achievable recommendations for your lifestyle. Start with just 1-3 habits to avoid becoming overwhelmed.

Michael's Transformation

Meet Michael, a high school junior who was struggling with procrastination, disorganization, and test anxiety. Despite being intelligent, his grades didn't reflect his potential, and he was concerned about college applications.

Michael decided to implement three key habits from this list:

Morning planning sessions (10 minutes daily)
The Pomodoro Technique for focused studying
Regular physical activity (30-minute walks before starting homework)

He personalized these habits by applying the 3 momentum boosting methods:

Making it Obvious:

Placed his planner next to his bed so it was the first thing he saw each morning
Set calendar alerts for study sessions and exercise times
Used sticky notes on his laptop with specific study goals

Making it Easy:

Prepared his study materials the night before
Started with just 15-minute Pomodoro sessions to build confidence
Laid out walking clothes and shoes by the door

Making it Fun/Rewarding:

Created a video game-inspired level system for completing study tasks
Allowed himself to listen to his favorite podcasts only during walks
Used a visual tracker to "level up" his character with each completed habit

After three months, Michael saw significant improvements:

His assignment completion rate went from 70% to 98%
Test scores improved by an average of 12%
His stress levels decreased, and he reported feeling more confident

Michael’s progress shows how developing good habits for high school students—like planning, focus techniques, and daily movement—can create a major shift in both performance and mindset.

Conclusion: How to be a good student

The 20 good habits for students that we've explored can transform your academic experience, but remember that lasting change happens gradually.

Start by selecting 1-3 habits that address your most pressing challenges. Personalize them to align with your strengths and preferences. Use the 3 momentum boosting methods we've discussed to make implementation easier, more obvious, and more rewarding.

Most importantly, be patient with yourself. There will be setbacks along the way, but each day offers a new opportunity to reinforce positive patterns.

With consistency and the right mindset, these good study habits can lead to better grades, reduced stress, and a more balanced academic life.

Take Your Student Journey to the Next Level

You've learned about powerful habits, personalized strategies, and science-backed methods to transform your academic experience. But what if there was a comprehensive system that brought all these elements together in one seamless, engaging package?

Introducing the Moore Momentum System - your all-in-one solution for building the momentum necessary to level-up in school and life.

The Moore Momentum System offers:

AI-Powered Personalization: Get tailored advice and strategies based on your unique lifestyle, strengths, and goals across all 5 Core Areas of Life.
Science-Backed Habit Formation: Leverage cutting-edge behavioral science to make habit-building easier and more effective than ever before.
Gamified Progress Tracking: Turn your personal growth journey into an engaging game, complete with rewards, challenges, and visual progress indicators.
Community Support: Connect with like-minded individuals on the same journey, share insights, and stay motivated together.
Continuous Growth: As you evolve, so does the system. Receive new challenges and strategies tailored to your progress and changing goals.

Start Your Journey To Academic Excellence TODAY:

Take our free Core Values Quiz to get a personalized assessment of your current habits and mindset.

Download our Habit Tracker app to start monitoring your progress on the habits we've discussed.