The benefits of actively working toward a desired outcome were presented as the first tip in part 1 of this series: six tips for success in school and life.  In this installment, the focus is on the benefit of asking questions.  Let’s revisit two characters from an earlier post, “the first step.”  You may recall that Benito wants to get an A+ in honors chemistry, and Kendra wants to quit smoking.

Tip #2: Ask questions

I recently made my first visit to the quaint town of Warrenton, VA.  As I drove to my intended destination, I missed turns and made some others prematurely.  I arrived at my appointment on time thanks to the GPS that loudly (and frequently) corrected my erroneous driving. 

Just as I lost my way driving somewhere new, it is possible for students to unknowingly lose their way when they are learning something new.  Unfortunately, they do not have the luxury of a clairvoyant, talking GPS to correct misunderstandings.  The onus is on Benito, for instance, to seek clarification as he studies chemistry, and one way this is accomplished is by asking questions.  Rather than mindlessly copy what his teacher puts on the board, Benito should ask himself, “do I understand why this net ionic equation is balanced?”  This simple question could reveal points of confusion.  “Could you explain how you balanced that equation one more time, please?” is certainly a reasonable request if Benito asks in a timely manner.  Asking questions like this during lecture improves the quality of his notes, and this leads to more efficient and enjoyable studying.  When he reviews his notes, he could ask himself, “can I predict a test item from this material?”  or even, “am I allocating enough time to study?”  Thinking back to tip #1, asking questions is certainly a way to actively engage his brain both in and out of class; this improves outcomes and increases the overall effectiveness of Benito’s studying. 

Breaking an addictive habit such as cigarette smoking requires tremendous effort and energy.  Regularly asking herself questions about her cigarette consumption could help Kendra’s successful cessation.  Some questions could break patterns of automatic thinking and stop her in the moments when she is about to light up; others could help her see the bigger picture and boost her motivation in general.  As she goes to light a cigarette, Kendra could ask, “could I wait ten minutes before smoking?”  Another helpful question might be, “do I need to hydrate before smoking?”  Stopping to think and forcing herself to drink a healthy beverage prior to smoking may prevent or delay cigarette consumption.  Adopting this mindful habit of pausing to ask a question breaks the cycle of mindlessly consuming more nicotine.  Even if these questions only help Kendra cut down her smoking by a few cigarettes a day, this moves her closer to her goal of quitting altogether.  Other questions such as, “what could I do with the money I spend on cigarettes each month?” could help her visualize rewards that result from extra savings. 

Whether we are looking to excel academically or improve our overall health and wellness, asking questions fosters awareness of our thoughts and behaviors.  Increased awareness helps us make choices that boost our self-esteem and move us closer to reaching our goals.