Although feeling like we are falling behind others is common for students to experience, it’s never a pleasant feeling. The conventional saying of “don’t compete with others, only with yourself” is often easier said than done. Especially in a competitive and fast-paced country like Singapore, many students can feel overwhelmed trying to balance their academics, extra-curricular activities and a healthy social and family life.
However, while your feelings are completely valid, it is important to prevent the gap from widening any further by helping yourself catch up. To help you out, we have compiled some of the best ways you can get yourself back on track for academic excellence and an improved mental well-being.
Get organised with a study schedule
Often, feeling like you are lagging behind is coupled with not knowing where to begin. You might have a bunch of tasks and topics that you need to catch up on but just the thought of it is making you feel overwhelmed.
Take a deep breath, and start off with a to-do list and schedule. Note down all the tasks you have on your to-do list. Next, organise them onto your schedule. You could even spread out your tasks across a week or two. Whether you choose to physically write them down with the traditional pen and paper or use an app, having everything noted down in an organised fashion helps to declutter your brain. Essentially, getting organised with a schedule allows you to create a game plan on how you are going to tackle the tasks at hand.
Consistency is key
Now that you have created a study schedule, it is vital that you stick to it. Of course, some days might feel more productive than others, but trying to work on your tasks every day helps avoid them piling up. And because you are trying to catch up with your peers, consistent efforts every day ensure you don’t fall behind any further.
However, while it is important to stay on top of your game when trying to catch up in your studies, ensuring you get enough rest at the end of every day is just as, if not, more important. After all, should you fall sick whilst burning the midnight oil and are unable to work on your tasks for a couple of days, you’d have more to catch up on!
Speak to your peers and form study groups
If you are struggling to keep up, it is likely that you are not the only one. Speaking to students in your class can help make you feel less isolated and alone in your catch up journey. You could even consider forming study groups with peers who are stronger in subjects you might be struggling in. This is beneficial not only to you, as you are able to receive help on concepts you are unfamiliar with, but also to your peers helping you out as it is an opportunity for them to reinforce their learning.
Approach your teachers
Your teachers are there to support you in your learning, so you should never feel embarrassed to approach them for help. Most teachers in Singapore are responsible for at least a class of approximately 30 students, thus, they might not notice that you are starting to struggle. Letting your teacher know about your situation early allows them ample time to help you out. They might be able to offer consultations, supplementary lessons and extra materials that allow you to clarify your doubts and gain extra practice outside of normal class time.
Engage a private tutor
In school settings, it is inevitable that students are all taught at the same pace. While your teachers would be more than happy to help you out with additional lessons, it is highly unlikely that they would be able to tweak the lesson plan to your learning needs.
Private tuition can provide you with personalised guidance outside of school. Unlike the fast-paced syllabus in schools, your private tutor can tweak their lesson plan to suit your learning needs and pace. You can focus on topics or areas that you require extra assistance in, as opposed to following a fixed curriculum. Private tuition is a great opportunity to get instant clarification on any doubts you may have and eliminate all learning gaps, allowing you to catch up with your peers quickly!
Conclusion
Feeling like you are falling behind in your studies can be nerve-racking. However, it is crucial to realise that everyone is on their own journey and no one is perfect. Whether you are creating a study schedule or searching for the best effective tutor, taking the first step in helping yourself catch up is worth applauding in itself.
If you are looking to engage a private tutor to help you catch up on your studies, look no further. Here at Premium Tutors, we are a leading home tuition agency in Singapore offering quality private tuition from the comfort of your own home. Our dedicated and experienced tutors can not only help you catch up with your peers, but also reach new academic heights.
Contact us today to engage a private home tutor and arrange for lessons tailored specifically to your learning needs!