College Student Success Tips

𝗕𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗟𝗮𝘄 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹, 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗕𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗢𝘂𝘁 Law school is already demanding. Add internships, studying, and personal life into the mix, and it becomes a never-ending cycle of work. I pushed myself to the limit until I ended up in the hospital a few months back. There were days when I had so much to do that I froze. I procrastinated the whole day out of sheer overwhelm. By the time it was 10:30 p.m., I realized I had done nothing, which only made things worse. I even missed family events and important moments because I thought, "𝐈 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞." But the truth is that we do have time *we’re just not managing it right.* So, here are some uncommon ways to stay productive without burning out. 1. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝟑-𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐃𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐑𝐮𝐥𝐞 Instead of trying to study the whole day, dedicate only three hours to deep, focused work. No distractions. No phone. No multitasking. Three hyper-productive hours are better than ten scattered ones. Works wonders trust me :) 2. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 ‘𝐎𝐧𝐞-𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐓𝐚𝐬𝐤’ 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤 If you’re overwhelmed, write the next step of your task in one sentence. Not "Draft a research paper" that’s too vague. Write: "Write the first 50 words of my research paper." Breaking things down like this makes it easier to start. 3. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 ‘𝟏𝟎-𝟏𝟎-𝟏𝟎’ 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐑𝐮𝐥𝐞 Before skipping a family event or social gathering for work, ask yourself: Will this matter in 10 days? 10 months? 10 years? Not everything is urgent. Some things can wait. 4. 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 Instead of "I’ll do this later," tell yourself, "I’ll procrastinate later." Start the task in just 5 minutes. Most of the time, you’ll end up doing more than 5 minutes. 6. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 ‘𝐎𝐧𝐞-𝐎𝐟𝐟’ 𝐑𝐮𝐥𝐞 If you’re burnt out, take a one-off break. Not every weekend, not every day just one guilt-free, planned day off to recharge. No work, no studies just rest. Because sometimes, doing nothing is the most productive thing you can do. Law school is tough. But we can be smart about how we manage it. What are some of your best productivity hacks? Let’s share and learn from each other.

2018-2021: You're a full-time student, preparing for FRM & CFA, AND building a startup? 2022-2024: How do you manage 2 businesses and keep up with content on 3 platforms? From networking events to family functions to friends reunions, almost everyone asks me the same question! It all comes down to one thing: effective time management.⏰ 18-year-old Ishaan didn’t know anything about it; just went with the flow; life disciplined me! Here are the time-management strategies that help me stay productive and avoid burnout! ⏳Apply the Eisenhower matrix: Sort tasks into four categories: urgent and important, important but not urgent, urgent but not important, and neither. This method helps you focus on tasks that add the most value while pushing aside distractions. ⏳Use the Pomodoro Technique: Work for 25 minutes, then take a 5-minute break. Repeat this cycle, and after completing four cycles, take a longer break (15–30 minutes). This method helps maintain focus and prevents burnout. ⏳Use the 2-Minute Rule for Small Tasks: If a task takes two minutes or less, do it immediately. This keeps minor tasks from piling up and clears your schedule for more significant work. ⏳Apply Time Blocking to High-Energy Periods: Instead of just blocking out time on your calendar, match your most demanding tasks to the times of day when you have the most energy. This makes difficult tasks easier and leaves less mentally taxing work for low-energy times. ⏳Apply Parkinson’s Law: Set tighter deadlines for tasks to force yourself to focus and complete them faster. Parkinson’s Law states that "work expands to fill the time available," so giving yourself less time can boost productivity. ⏳Follow the Rule of Three: At the start of each day, identify the three most important tasks you need to accomplish. By focusing on just three big things, you can keep your priorities clear and your workload manageable. Which techniques do you use? 💬

Universities and colleges put enormous effort into welcoming new students. Orientation weeks are colourful, busy, and full of opportunities to connect, but research shows that the sense of belonging students gain in those early days often fades as the semester progresses. The challenge, and opportunity, is for practitioners to design approaches that sustain belonging beyond the first few weeks. A recent study (International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being, October 2024) examined how students navigate educational transitions and highlighted the importance of realistic preparation, sustained connection, and the role of educators in shaping belonging. Drawing on the study, here are five domains to guide practice: 1️⃣ Prepare by setting realistic expectations. Too often, students arrive with glossy images of university life, only to feel blindsided by the pace, workload, or challenges of forming new friendships. Providing honest, balanced information before arrival helps normalise difficulty and reduce the shock of transition. Examples could include current student or alumni-led Q&A sessions, “What I wish I’d known” videos and resources.   2️⃣ Connect by creating micro-moments not just big events. Large welcome events can spark initial excitement, but belonging is sustained through everyday micro-connections - someone to sit with in class, a lecturer remembering your name, a peer inviting you to coffee. Encourage tutors to use ice breakers beyond week one, support student leaders to facilitate ongoing low-barrier activities that foster peer and staff connection like weekly walks or shared study sessions. 3️⃣ Empower educations as ‘belonging builders.’ The research reinforces that educators play a critical role in student wellbeing. Approachability, empathy, and inclusivity from teaching staff often matter as much as peer friendships. Small practices like checking in, learning names, or acknowledging diverse perspectives can have outsized impact. 4️⃣ Integrate by addressing compounding transitions. Academic demands, social shifts, housing changes, and wellbeing challenges often overlap. Students rarely experience these in isolation, and when combined, they intensify stress and risk of disengagement. Consider integrated and holistic advising models where academic, wellbeing, and housing staff collaborate to support students. 5️⃣ Monitor, recognising loneliness as an early signal Finally, loneliness is often the first indicator of deeper wellbeing issues. Monitoring connection levels can provide an early warning system for support. Use pulse surveys, quick check-ins in tutorials, or digital tools to flag students at risk of isolation, paired with clear referral and early intervention pathways (e.g., peer connectors, student mentors, proactive outreach). 🔗 Read the full study: https://lnkd.in/gjvUH6sa

After 26 years of training high performers, I discovered their most overlooked superpower that allows them to outwork everyone else: It's sleep, but not in the way that you think. I used to try to out-hustle a tired brain and outperform a depleted body, but the fact is, I couldn't. If your sleep isn't replenishing you, it's becoming a danger to your goals. Succesful people don't win because they work when you're asleep, they succeeed because they work harder than you on the right things when you're awake. They're goals are clearer, they're schedule is optimized and they move without skipping a beat because their mind is always well rested. Since learning this I've worked with a sleep coach to optimize for one thing; performance when i'm awake. Here are the 8 habits that high performers use that I started copying: 1. Sleep at 67 degrees Cool environments trigger natural melatonin. You fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. 2. Block out light and sound Black out your room. Use white noise if needed. 3. Clear your mind before bed Use journaling or breath work. Quiet the mental loops that keep you awake. 4. Finish workouts at least 3 hours before bed Don't elevate cortisol late at night. Let your body unwind. 5. Same sleep and wake times daily Even on weekends to protect your natural rhythm. 6. Block 7 hours every night Sleep is non-negotiable. If you miss one night, don't miss two. 7. Cut stimulants by mid-afternoon No caffeine after 2 PM. These break up your sleep cycles. 8. Get up if you can't sleep after 20 minutes Reset and try again. Being successful is the result of how productive you are when you are awake, not the total hours you spend awake. Your day begins the night before. If you want to show up big tomorrow, start tonight. Protect your sleep like athletes do before game day. I treat my sleep like my most important bank account. Every bit of energy and focus you need during the day is a withdrawal. The deposits happen while you sleep.

Over the past couple of years, I've interviewed several sleep professors and physicians. They've shared a LOT of sleep tips with me. Being the lab rat psychologist I am, I tested them all. On myself. At this point, I have tried everything short of sleeping upside down like a bat. Many sleep tips failed to shift the dial. But three strategies genuinely transformed my sleep. Tip #1: Sleep LESS to sleep better This one surprised me. When I was struggling with insomnia, I was told: the worst thing you can do is spend more time in bed. Instead, less time in bed is the trick. Sleep restriction therapy (which I wrote about in The Health Habit) works like this: If you're only sleeping 6 hours but spending 9 hours in bed, restrict your bed time to 6 hours. Your sleep efficiency skyrockets. Then gradually increase it over the course of a few weeks. Tip #2: The 3-2-1 Rule 3 hours before bed: No more food 2 hours before bed: No more work 1 hour before bed: No screens (Kindle doesn't count) "But Amantha, I need to scroll the socials at 11pm!" (Said no well-rested person ever). Tip #3: Wake within the same 30-minute window every day Yes, even on weekends. I can hear you groaning. Let me explain. This is the cure to "social jetlag". Your circadian rhythm doesn't care that it's Saturday. When you sleep in for "just 2 more hours," you're essentially giving yourself jet lag. I wake between 6-6:30am every single day. No exceptions. The payoff? I fall asleep easily, wake naturally, and haven't needed an alarm in months (except when I have a ridiculously early How I Work podcast interview to get up for). What's your most effective sleep hack? Or are you still searching for the holy grail of good sleep? #SleepScience #ProductivityHacks #EvidenceBasedWellbeing

5 pieces of advice for anyone starting 1L ⚖️ (And if you survived 1L, please add anything I missed): 1️⃣ Give yourself time to adjust ⏱️ Be patient with yourself as you settle in to the semeste — especially true if you’ve been out of school for a few years. Try different outlining/studying techniques. Embrace what works. Eliminate what doesn’t work. Pro tip: study groups = a great way to get to know your classmates + talking out the material with help your understanding 2️⃣ Seek out mentors 🤝 Contacting alumni who work your “dream job” is a great place to start. Don’t sleep on your professors and “upperclassmen” (2Ls + 3Ls). Pro tip: reach out to 2L and 3L students who you share a common interest with (especially clubs + societies) 3️⃣ View your classmates as co-workers, not competition 👥 I struggled with this one the most. I viewed everyone else as competition. In reality, competition exists but everyone runs their own race. You never know which classmate will be a future co-worker or opposing counsel Pro tip: Kindness goes a long way. Check in on your classmates, especially as the semester progresses 4️⃣ Find your balance ☯️ Identify a hobby or activity that relieves stress for you (e.g. 30 min walk/yoga/painting). Participate in that hobby/activity at least once a week (and don’t stop during finals.) Pro tip: take at least one full day off for the first 4-5 weekends of the semester (Saturday for me) 5️⃣ Take a deep breath and enjoy the ride 🎢 I’m not going to sugarcoat — for me, 1L was a roller coaster ride… but the highs and lows allow you to see what you’re truly made of. Understand there will be ups and downs and that’s part of the experience. Enjoy it. Pro tip: a deep breath is also the best way to start a final exam Hope this helps a 1L out there and please comment what I missed! #lawstudent #lawschool #1L #dear1L #payitforward

I learned more about building a legal career from 75 one‑on‑one conversations than from any course outline or book. Last August I barely had a network in Toronto. So I set a personal challenge: speak with 75 lawyers and record what actually helps a career move forward. I stopped tracking job titles and started tracking sentences that changed how I work. Here are 9 that reshaped my habits. I grouped them so you can act on them right away. 1. Reputation “Reputation compounds. Protect it more than a single win.” If a tactic helps you win once but costs quiet trust, skip it. 2. Communication “Your emails are your reputation.” Write like the other side, a client, or a judge could read it tomorrow. 3. Initiative “Stop waiting to be invited to lead. Lead by organizing the next step.” Own loose ends. Summaries. Debriefs. Next-action lists. People remember who brings order. 4. Relationships “Law looks transactional from the outside. It is relational from the inside.” Track touches. Send follow ups. Remember small facts. That is how work finds you later. 5. Learning “Do a short 'post-mortem' after every file.” What went well. What went poorly. What will I do different next time. 90 seconds. Massive payoff. 6. Focus “Early in your career you think speed is value. Clarity is value.” Pause before you respond. Confirm the real question. Then answer it cleanly. 7. Boundaries “You teach people how to treat your time.” If you always reply in 2 minutes, that becomes the expectation. Set a sustainable rhythm now. 8. Resilience “If you feel like you are drowning, call someone who has already survived that wave.” Isolation makes problems bigger. One candid conversation shrinks them fast. 9. Courtesy “Say thank you to everyone. Even opponents. Especially opponents.” The profession is smaller than it looks. Courtesy is strategic endurance. These are not slogans. They became small daily filters I (try to) use before I hit send, say yes, or move on. Which one hits you hardest right now. Or drop the single best line of advice you have received so another student or junior lawyer can use it. Save this if you want a quick reset checklist later. Share it with someone starting out next month!

Orientation programs are vital for universities and colleges because they serve as a critical bridge for new students transitioning into higher education. They aren't just about showing students where the library is; they are designed to ease anxiety, foster a sense of belonging, and provide the essential tools for academic and social success. A well-executed orientation program can have a significant impact on student retention and graduation rates. The main goals of orientation are to: Acclimatize Students: Introduce students to the campus environment, including its layout, resources, and administrative processes. Build Community: Create opportunities for new students to meet their peers, faculty, and staff, which helps combat feelings of isolation and fosters a supportive network from day one. Clearly communicate the academic rigor, behavioral standards, and responsibilities expected in a college environment. Promote Well-being: Provide information on critical support services like mental health counseling, academic advising, and career services. The Power of Industry Leaders and Academicians To truly make an orientation program impactful, universities must move beyond just logistical information and provide students with a deeper, more inspiring perspective. This is where inviting industry leaders and strong academics becomes crucial. They elevate the program from a simple tour to a transformative experience. Industry Leaders: Bringing in professionals from various industries gives students a glimpse into the real-world application of their studies. They can share personal career journeys, discuss current market trends, and highlight the skills that are most in demand. This connection bridges the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application, helping students see the value in their education and motivating them to pursue their goals with clarity and purpose. It also provides valuable networking opportunities and mentorship for the future. Strong Academicians: When accomplished faculty members, especially those known for their research and teaching, participate in orientation, they set a powerful academic tone. They can speak about the institution's commitment to research and innovation, inspire students to engage in critical thinking, and ignite a passion for learning beyond the classroom. Their presence shows students they are joining a community of scholars and provides a direct connection to the intellectual heartbeat of the university. This interaction can make complex subjects seem more accessible and exciting. By combining the practical insights of industry leaders with the intellectual inspiration of strong academics, universities can create an orientation program that not only helps students settle in but also empowers them to envision a successful future. This powerful combination can be the catalyst that transforms a new student into a confident, engaged, and goal-oriented member of the academic community.

Common myths about gaining a career in law. You must have family or other connections. I didn’t - I come from a family of coal miners. You must have undertaken stellar placements with blue chip companies. I didn’t. I worked in bars, shops and factories. You can’t have an accent. I did. I still do! You have to be privileged and have money behind you. I grew up in a council house and had nothing but my parents’ best wishes. So what do you need? Determination Resilience The ability to talk with strangers The ability to be independent Self belief - not arrogance The ability to look things up rather than ask someone else to do it The ability to listen more than you speak Attention to detail in oral and written work A desire to learn about many different things An ability to withstand probing challenges to your views without taking it personally

Your Law School Result is a Moment, not a Destiny! In recent weeks, my feed has been filled with posts from graduates of the Nigerian Law School. Some celebrated a 1st-class degree, while those with a 2nd-class Upper shared theirs also. There were fewer posts from those with 2nd-class Lower or Pass grades, often starting with regret, followed by a soft note of gratitude.   Out of a class of about 7,000, only 260 made 1st-class. That’s 3.6%. These numbers are humbling. While we must applaud the brilliant minds who achieved this distinction, we must also pause to reflect.   A 1st-class is a wonderful achievement. But it does not define you. It is not a prophecy of greatness. Nor is a lower grade a sentence to mediocrity.   I say this as someone who has spent decades in the profession, from early practice to leading a firm. I’ve watched brilliant legal careers unfold in unexpected ways. Some of the finest lawyers I know didn’t top their class. They outworked, outgrew, and outlasted others. Yes, firms like mine use a minimum of a 2nd-class Upper as an initial screening criterion; to be clear, it is not a verdict on your future.   If you didn’t make the grade you hoped for or didn’t pass, feel the weight of disappointment, then lift your head. That result sheet is not the end of your story.   Your career is not made in a day or defined by a single result. It’s built on character, mindset, and grit. Shaped in the quiet moments when no one is watching, when you show initiative, show up with consistency, and choose growth consistently.   Wherever you’re starting from, know this: you can build a career you’re deeply proud of. Here are a few tips: 1. Stay Humble Whether you earned a 1st Class or a Pass, approach the next phase with a learner’s heart. The law is vast. There is always more to know.   2. Show Up Ready to Serve Excellence in law is service-driven. Be the person your team can count on. Integrity, reliability, and kindness go further than you imagine.   3. Embrace Feedback Growth comes from correction. Don’t take it personally. Let it sharpen your skills and deepen your wisdom.   4. Master Your Craft Writing, research, critical thinking, and commercial awareness are your daily tools. Sharpen them relentlessly, and develop depth and breadth.   5. Be Curious, Not Entitled Stay curious. The world owes you nothing, but it is open to those who ask, seek, and knock.   6. Be Resilient You will face setbacks. Everyone does. What counts is your bounce-back. Keep going. Keep growing.   7. Remember Your “Why” Law is more than a job. It’s a calling to justice, advocacy, and societal impact. Keep your purpose in view.   8. Believe in the Long Game Great careers are marathons, not sprints. Your start may be slow, but your finish can still be glorious.   To every graduate reading this: Well done. You’ve crossed an important threshold. Now, build. Grow. Serve. Lead. And wherever you stand on the grading scale, never stop believing in what you can become.