Have you ever tried a “fun” study technique only to feel hours later like you’ve accomplished nothing?

Rewarding yourself with treats for every paragraph you read might seem motivating, but it often wastes more time than it saves.

Instead of spending your energy making things fun and pleasant and colorful, focus on reflecting on what study methods actually WORK.

• Which study methods actually help you remember those flashcard terms?

• What kind of an environment is actually best for you to sit and read in?

• What outline process gets your essays done the fastest?

When you pay attention as you study, you will quickly learn the most effective methods for reading, writing, and retaining information. You can’t always force yourself to love the topic, but you can use your brain to make your study sessions as effective as possible.

This doesn’t mean you can’t make your notes pretty, it just means that by making function your top priority, you’ll build smarter, more efficient study routines which means higher grades and more time for the fund stuff.

Take control of your time this term:

  August 13th - Study what's effective when you study

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Do you desperately need some quick motivation to get started on a project or bust through a stuck spot? Try a sprint.

A sprint is a short, intense burst of focused work with a clearly defined start and end time. During a sprint, you give your FULL attention to a specific task, pushing yourself to make as much progress as possible without overthinking or getting stuck on perfection.

Sprints are similar to practicing focused time, but there you’re building up a skill set over time. Sprints are for fast and furious accomplishments when you need to break through procrastination and build momentum quickly.

Sprints can be used for anything, from drafting a messy outline for a paper, to sketching paragraph ideas, to gathering all the resources you need for a project. You can even try them for chores. 

Take control of your time and efficiency this term:

  August 12th - Use sprints to jump-start your motivation

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Have you noticed how we’re told to say “no” while being socialized to always say yes?

From sharing our toys to attending events, we’re taught that most invites aren’t really questions and saying “no” isn’t actually an option.

And that’s bullshit.

The first thing you must master in order to live your life on your own terms is to say “yes” to what YOU want most in life, which necessarily means saying “no” to outside requests.

Learning to say “no” can be uncomfortable, but when you know your priorities, it’s easier to say no clearly, concisely, and kindly. How?

Learn how to say "no" and take control of your time and attention:

  August 11th - Say "no" with confidence

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Do you struggle to stay focused when you have important deadlines?

The skill of doing focused work time - true and deep focus - is not a skill most people are ever taught, despite constantly being told to “focus” throughout our childhood.

The good news is that in just 20 minutes at a time you can learn how to increase your ability to focus on a single task, use short bursts of time to build up your focus muscle, and accomplish more work in less time.

Take control of your time and attention this term:

  August 10th - Practice "focus time"

Go back to the August is for Education homepage.