Are you a struggling college student? Let’s see what we can do to change that! You probably already know that mindset, attitude, belief & learning skills can have a huge impact on what you get out of your college experience.
NLP offers ways to make the most of your college experience so you don’t look back in 5 years and see wasted time, money & opportunity. In this article we’ll cover 4 major areas of impact for college students.
1. Set Effective Goals
It’s very important to know your reason for being at college. NLP teaches that in everything you do, you need to know your outcome. Do you know what you want to get from being at college? Why do you want to be there?
If your answer to this question is ‘I don’t know’ or ‘its just something to do’ or worse still ‘because my parents want me to’ then you might be setting yourself up for failure.
Being clear about what YOU want is the key to connecting with your true motivation for being at college. And strong motivation = better results.
So what do you want to get from your college experience? What are your long-term goals & what are your short-term goals? Why do you want to achieve those goals? What would be the direct benefits to you of achieving what you want?
Answering these questions will help you get motivated and focus on what you really want.
2. Check Your Beliefs About Learning
Do your beliefs about learning empower you or disempower you? Do you expect college to be fun or boring? What do you expect your grades to be?
Limiting beliefs can get in the way of your ability to focus & be involved in your studies. On the other hand, empowering beliefs can instill a sense of deep motivation, confidence & focus.
Beliefs can sometimes be hard to identify in yourself for the reason that they seem true. You might not think something is a limitation because it just seems like reality.
The important thing to remember is that All Experience Is Subjective.
It’s possible for a brilliant student to believe that they will fail. It’s possible for a dull student to believe that they will succeed.
What seems true to you has nothing to do with reality. It does however, impact your behavior. If you believe you can succeed then you’re more likely to try. If you believe you will fail then you’re more likely to quit before you even get started.
Here are some common beliefs that will sabotage your energy & motivation for learning:
"Learning is hard" "I’m not a good learner" "School is boring" "Everyone else is better than me" "I’m too shy" Etc.
What are some beliefs that might be limiting you from being your best? How would you be different if you could get beyond these ideas? What do you want to believe instead? How would you be different if you went through life with better beliefs?
3. Masterful State Control
How well do you think you can you learn if you’re stressed out, sleep deprived, anxious & malnourished? The answer… not very well.
NLP teaches state control. How to take a conscious role in the mental & emotional attitude you bring to every moment of your life.
Here are four mind states that promote creativity, learning & memory retention:
If you can get yourself into these internal states before you study, listen to lectures, etc. Then you will dramatically improve your enjoyment and results.
Relaxation can be easily created by tuning into your body. Take a few deep breaths & let go of tension. Smile to yourself & think of a relaxing scene. One minute is all it takes to reset your brain and get ready to learn.
Curiosity brings a feeling of passion & excitement to the learning process. To elicit curiosity in yourself simply ask, ‘what gets me curious about this assignment, subject or reading material?’
Create a short list of things you’re curious about before doing a reading and it will dramatically increase your level of engagement with the material.
Practice putting yourself into these states and over time you will find it easier to access deep levels of relaxation, curiosity and focus. This will help you in your studies, and in all of life.
4. Know Your Learning Style
Everyone has different ways of thinking & learning. The three primary ways that people acquire information are visual, auditory & kinesthetic (feeling).
Teachers & textbooks tend to present information in very specific ways that don’t translate into the learning styles of every person. The more you’re able to translate class material between these three styles the easier it will be for you to learn.
Here are some simple suggestions for how to incorporate the three learning styles in your study process.
Many people find it helpful to create diagrams that display relationships between concepts.
Visual learners will benefit from posting big picture diagrams in your study area where you can have easy reference.
In class, sit where you can clearly see the teacher.
Notice whether you have a clear idea of what the teacher is saying or whether it seems fuzzy. You may need to ask clarifying questions.
Auditory learners might find it easiest to retain a subject when they discuss it with other people.
You can also try working with soft music in the background (as long as it’s not distracting).
Ask yourself questions that drive you deeper into the material.
Remember to move your body while you learn.
Go for a walk with your study partner & talk about what you’re getting from the topic.
Wear comfortable clothing to class and while studying.
Make sure you eat well & comfortably rested.
Carry a lucky charm with you and hold it in your fingers anytime you do activities that require focus.
Whenever possible it’s best to include active learning strategies in your studies. Don’t just listen & read mindlessly. If you participate in class by contributing ideas, asking questions then you will get immediate feedback about how well you are understanding.
NLP has way too many tips, tricks & strategies to mention here, but I hope you’re started to see how these tools can have an incredible impact on your college success.
Following the suggestions on this page can dramatically improve the results and enjoyment you get from your college experience. Get out there and create your life!
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