5 habits students should establish
(in the first month of school)
The first month of a new school year can really set the tone for the months that follow.
As well as getting used to a new timetable, September is an opportunity to establish routines, build confidence and develop habits that can make academic life considerably easier later in the year.
This is particularly important for students starting Year 7, beginning GCSEs, moving into sixth form or simply entering a new academic year with the goal of achieving more.
So here are five habits students should establish during the first month of school - and why they matter.
1. Get organised before you need to be
One of the easiest ways for schoolwork to become stressful is to allow small organisational problems to accumulate.
One forgotten homework deadline or a missing book might not seem that important, but when these things happen repeatedly, they create unnecessary pressure.
The habit: Have a daily organisation check
At the end of each school day, spend five minutes checking:
What homework do I have?
When is it due?
Do I have any upcoming tests?
What lessons do I have tomorrow?
What equipment will I need?
Is there anything I need to prepare?
Then pack your bag before going to bed. It sounds simple - because it is!
Why this matters
Good organisation reduces the amount of information students have to keep in their heads. Instead of waking up thinking"What am I supposed to do today?" they can start the day knowing exactly what is ahead.
Top tip: Use whichever system you'll actually maintain - a school planner, notebook, calendar or digital organisation tool. The best system is the one you consistently use.
2. Review what you learn - don't just move on
One of the biggest mistakes students make is treating lessons as isolated events. They attend a lesson, complete the work and then move onto the next subject, but learning becomes much stronger when students revisit information after the lesson.
The habit: Spend 10-15 minutes reviewing key learning
This doesn't mean spending hours revising every evening. Instead, ask:
What did I learn today?
What are the three most important things I need to remember?
Could I explain the topic without looking at my notes?
Is there anything I still don't understand?
For example, after a Biology lesson about cells, a student might close their book and try to name the main cell structures from memory.
That's retrieval practice - actively recalling information rather than simply rereading it.
Why this matters
Memory is strengthened when students retrieve and use what they have learned. Building this habit in September means revision is less likely to become a frantic process when exams eventually approach.
3. Ask for help early
If something doesn't make sense, students should:
Try to identify exactly what they don't understand.
Review their notes or resources.
Attempt the problem again.
Ask their teacher if they're still stuck.
They can also speak to a parent, tutor or another trusted adult.
Why this matters
Knowledge often builds cumulatively. This is particularly true in subjects such as maths, science and languages, where later topics can depend heavily on earlier understanding.
A student who doesn't understand fractions may eventually struggle with algebra. A student who doesn't understand basic grammar may find more advanced language work difficult.
Addressing gaps early is considerably easier than trying to repair them months later.
4. Protect your sleep and downtime
Sleep, exercise, hobbies, friendships and downtime all contribute to wellbeing and the ability to concentrate effectively.
The habit: Establish a realistic evening routine
A good school-night routine might include:
Homework → preparation for tomorrow → relaxation → bedtime
Rather than working until exhaustion, students should aim to create a sustainable routine that allows them to switch off.
This also means being thoughtful about screen use before bed - constant notifications, social media and late-night scrolling can make it much harder to properly wind down.
Why this matters
A tired student may spend twice as long completing something that could have taken half the time when rested.
5. Set one goal that isn't about grades
Academic goals are useful - a student might want to achieve:
A particular GCSE grade
Better marks in maths or history
More consistent homework
Improved essay writing
But grades shouldn't be the only measure of progress.
The habit: Set a process goal
Instead of saying "I want to get 80% in my next test" try"I'm going to complete two practice questions every evening."
Instead of "I want to become better at English” try "I'm going to read for 20 minutes three times a week."
Instead of "I want to be more confident" try "I'm going to contribute at least once in every lesson where I have something useful to say."
These are habits that students can control, and when good processes become consistent, better outcomes often follow!
Why the first month matters
The first month of school is an ideal time to establish habits because routines haven't yet become entrenched.
Students are learning new timetables, new expectations, new subjects, new teachers, and new workloads.
Instead of waiting until things become difficult, September can be used to build a foundation.
And don’t expect to nail all five habits perfectly from day one - start small.
A simple first-month routine for students
Here's what these habits might look like in practice each day:
After school:
Check homework and deadlines.
Complete the most important tasks.
Review something you've learned.
Before bed:
Check tomorrow's timetable.
Pack your bag.
Prepare equipment.
Switch off from school.
When you're stuck:
Identify the problem.
Try again.
Ask for help.
And every week ask yourself:
What worked this week?
What didn't?
What could I change next week?
This creates a habit of reflection, which becomes increasingly valuable as students progress through secondary school.
Parents: How can you help?
Parents can play an important role in helping students establish routines, but there is a balance between supporting a child and managing everything for them.
Rather than constantly reminding a student about their homework, try asking "what do you have coming up this week?" - this encourages students to take ownership of their responsibilities.
Parents can also help by providing a consistent environment for studying, encouraging healthy routines and celebrating improvements in effort, independence and confidence, rather than focusing exclusively on grades.
Motivation comes and goes, but strong habits are more reliable.
A student doesn't need to wake up every morning feeling incredibly motivated to study, they need a routine that makes studying a normal part of their week - that's why establishing good habits in the first month can have such a powerful effect.
Small actions, repeated consistently, become significant results over time!
And those qualities become increasingly valuable as school becomes more demanding, from Year 7 through to GCSEs and A-Levels.
The best time to build a good habit is before you need it.
Make September the month you start.
