How to Increase Productivity and Improve Grades

I’m a lazy but ambitious and greedy person.

I've always tried to achieve the most with the least amount of time and effort.

In my quest to find efficient study methods, I've tried various strategies to improve my grades—some successful, some not.

In this post, I'll share the methods that have significantly increased my productivity and improved my grades.

🤨 What is Productivity in the First Place?

Productivity, in the context of academics, refers to the efficient and effective use of time and resources to achieve desired educational outcomes.

It involves not just the amount of work done but also the quality and relevance of that work to achieving academic goals.

High productivity means accomplishing more significant tasks in less time with optimal effort, leading to better grades and overall academic success.

🌟 Why Productivity Matters

1. Efficient Use of Time: Have you ever seen a peer or upperclassman who got perfect grades, participated in over 10 extracurricular activities, and held leadership roles in several major organizations? They must be exceptionally efficient with their time, a finite resource for anyone in the world. Being productive enables students to maximize their time effectively.

2. Improved Academic Performance: Increased productivity directly correlates with better grades. Efficient study habits and time management lead to a deeper understanding of the material and higher test scores.

3. Reduced Stress: Procrastination and last-minute cramming can cause significant stress. By being productive, students can avoid this stress and maintain a healthier balance.

4. Skill Development: Productivity fosters the development of essential life skills such as time management, goal setting, and prioritization, which are valuable beyond the classroom.

5. Greater Opportunities: Higher grades and better performance can open doors to scholarships, advanced academic programs, and career opportunities.

🤔 Strategies to Increase Productivity and Improve Grades

1. Set Clear, Achievable Goals

Before you even begin studying, it's crucial to set a detailed goal. This will motivate you and guide you to your destination as efficiently as possible.

Example

In 7th grade, I set a goal to become the top student in my entire grade. I aimed for an average of at least 98.5/100 in all subjects to achieve this. This required starting exam preparations at least three weeks in advance, allowing me to review each subject thoroughly twice.

I followed this routine for both midterm and final exams. In the first semester of 7th grade, I achieved 7th place out of approximately 500 students in my class. Although I didn't reach my goal to become the top, I came pretty close.

2. Create a Structured Study Schedule

A study schedule helps you recognize that there aren't many hours available each day for focused studying, enabling you to manage your time more efficiently.

Tips:

• Try switching subjects every 30 minutes to an hour to keep things interesting and avoid getting bored.

• Include 10-15 minute breaks between study sessions to avoid burnout.

• Prioritize challenging subjects when you are most alert.

Example

When doing my homework at Harvard, I always tackled the challenging assignments first (like hardcore coding) and then moved on to the ones I enjoyed (like data analytics). This approach ensured that I devoted enough energy to my weaker areas and improved them.

3. Optimize Your Study Environment

A cluttered environment overwhelms the brain and impairs its ability to process information, contributing to heightened stress levels (Source). Find a quiet, well-lit place, free from distractions.

Tips:

• Consider changing study locations from time to time to keep things fresh and make studying less boring.

• Clean your study area – it's usually easier to focus when your study space is tidy and organized.

Example

When I got bored studying in my dorm room, I would bike to the library, grab a coffee along the way, and enjoy the fresh air to make studying less monotonous.

4. Teach Yourself Out Loud

Teaching yourself out loud is one of the best ways to ensure you thoroughly understand a concept before moving on to the next one.

Example

Linear regression is one of the fundamental concepts in data science. I would teach myself out loud what linear regression is, when to use it, and its pros and cons before moving on to another concept.

5. Use ChatGPT

I highly recommend adopting the latest technology when studying. Not using tools like ChatGPT is like trying to find directions without Google Maps or communicating without a phone.

Example

• Understanding concept: Ask ChatGPT, “Why do we care about trigonometry, and why does the sine function look s-shaped? Explain like I’m 10”

• Satisfy your curiosity: Ask ChatGPT, “Why were Egyptians one of the first civilizations in the world?”

• Take quizzes: Ask ChatGPT, “I'm a high school student. Ask me anything about ancient Egypt and its agriculture. Quiz me on it”

Follow your curiosity down the rabbit hole with ChatGPT, and you'll understand the concept much better without even realizing it.

🚨 Don’t use it to write an entire essay or complete your homework. Use it primarily for educational purposes. Also, for the facts ChatGPT provides, make sure to verify them with other sources.

6. Seek Help When Needed

Don’t hesitate to ask for help if you’re struggling with a subject. You'll find that people are often nicer and more willing to help than you might think. It’s also better than getting stuck on one problem for hours on your own.

Tips:

• Ask for help only after you’ve spent some time trying to understand the concept on your own.

• It’s usually better to ask a TA or teacher rather than discuss the problem with peers, as the TA or teacher is more likely to know the answer and better address your question.

• If you share what you learned with your peers, you'll gain a better understanding while helping others learn.

Example

When I first started at Harvard, I was really behind in all subjects. I attended office hours nearly every week to ask questions and catch up with my peers.

7. Never Compromise Sleep

Your body and brain need to feel good and healthy when studying to maximize productivity. Getting enough sleep is arguably the most important factor for maintaining health and feeling great every day.

Example

Since I moved to the US for college, I’ve tried to get at least 7 hours of sleep every day on a regular schedule, either from 11 pm to 6 am or from 12 am to 7 am.

Chasing Productivity is Often Not Enough

It’s sad news but I achieved my biggest goal by not only being productive but also pushing myself even further beyond that.

While this approach might not have been the most efficient, it has yielded the best results: to prepare extensively and go above and beyond the standard requirements.

To this day, it's challenging for me to go beyond being productive and put in extra effort to achieve my goals, often sacrificing time I could spend with my friends. I prefer staying in my comfort zone and focusing on productivity.

However, I believe that making sacrifices is essential to achieving what you want, whether getting good grades, getting into your dream college, or landing the desired job.

Michael Phelps, who won 23 gold medals in Olympic swimming, famously practiced swimming every single day for three years without a day off. He wasn't even aware of what day it was.

This level of dedication and sacrifice might not be possible for everyone, but the bottom line is that we need to give up something—whether it's time spent on social media, gaming, or hanging out with friends—to achieve something significant.

Conclusion

Boosting your productivity is crucial for efficiently accomplishing tasks and ultimately improving your grades.

In this post, we discussed seven methods to enhance your productivity:

1. Set Clear, Achievable Goals

2. Create a Structured Study Schedule

3. Optimize Your Study Environment

4. Teach Yourself Out Loud

5. Use ChatGPT

6. Seek Help When Needed

7. Never Compromise Sleep

In addition, achieving your big goals often requires more than just being productive—you must be willing to go above and beyond, putting in extra hours and effort. This often means making sacrifices along the way.

If you understand productivity, apply it in your life, and make extra effort beyond it, you will be able to achieve your big goals in your student life.

Let’s go! 🚀