Before I get into talking about study habits, I want to cover one more thing.
A lot of the study books we’ve read spend a lot of time talking about self-discipline, motivation, dedication, and having a good attitude — and we certainly believe in the importance of all of these things. But we also realize that those are all things that you feel, and one thing we’ve both learned is that we cannot tell students how to feel. That is always going to fail.
One of the big problems students face is that they get down on themselves. They’re away from home, the work is hard, and they get overwhelmed. You’re not going to be dedicated, motivated, or have a good attitude if nothing is going right for you.
That said, we also know that the opposite is true. Good attitudes come from good outcomes. And what are those outcomes? Doing well, not being overwhelmed, not being stressed out, getting perfect grades, having fun, and making friends. But you don’t achieve good outcomes by just willing them to happen.
You cause them to happen by taking specific actions. That’s why at Shovel we focus on things that you actually do, not how you feel. Specific, concrete actions. You either do them or you don’t. Creating your plan so you have the information you need to be in control. Studying in ways that you know will get you good outcomes.
But we also realize that you’re just getting started. College is hard, and you may be arriving with some self-doubts. Don’t worry. It’s common. In fact, it’s so common that all of these books talk about it in one way or another. It’s called mindset, and there’s actually a full book about it called Mindset.
The only reason I want to talk about it is because I sincerely believe that Shovel is a great way to help you achieve a positive mindset. I’ll explain how, but first, what is mindset?
The authors say that every student has one of two types of mindsets, which they call fixed and growth. If you have a fixed mindset, you believe that you have a certain innate level of intelligence and ability. You believe you cannot do anything about it. It is what it is. It’s fixed.
So if you have a fixed mindset, you’re likely going to say things like, “I don’t test well,” “I’m not a good writer,” “I was never good at math.” It’s anything that you think or say that’s self-limiting. Why bother trying to do better? Because you won’t be able to. It’s not your fault — you’re wired that way. You aren’t smart enough. You just can’t.
Students with a fixed mindset tend to give up easily. They drop classes, change majors, accept less-than-perfect grades, or even drop out of school completely. Not exactly positive outcomes.
The second mindset is growth. When you have a growth mindset, you believe that effort determines outcomes. If you’re not good at something, no problem. It’s only because you didn’t have the foundation yet.
If you have a growth mindset, you love challenges. Something looks hard? No problem. You think, “Let’s roll. I just need to figure it out.”
Students with a growth mindset stick with it. They don’t drop classes. If they change their major, it’s to a harder one. And they don’t accept anything less than their best.
All of this is just a fancy way of saying that being positive and self-confident isn’t something you’ve even thought much about — it’s just part of your personality. It may come from your parents, your friends, or your own personal experiences over many years.
My goal here is simple: become self-aware of your own mindset. From this moment on, try to be aware of it. Which mindset describes you? What is your attitude? Are you positive, confident, and self-motivated, or are you negative and self-limiting?
Remember, we cannot tell you to change it. What we can tell you is that good outcomes create good attitudes, and taking specific actions creates good outcomes.
Doing well, not being overwhelmed, not being stressed out, getting perfect grades, having fun, making friends — all of these things will give you a good attitude, self-confidence, and motivation.
Next time you start getting down on yourself because you’re struggling, don’t try to wish yourself into the right mindset. Open up Shovel and make a plan. Start taking specific actions that create success. When you do, it’s no surprise that a growth mindset follows.
Again, let us know if you need any help.