Study Prof

I’ve mentioned Gopingme.com before. I’ve been using it lo these many years now to set up reminders for myself. Reminders can be emailed or texted to you on any interval you choose.

For example, I can set it to text me, “Don’t forget The King’s birthday,” once a year at 12AM on January 8th, or “Pick up more hemorrhoid cream,” every second Tuesday at 8AM. You can even configure it to keep bugging you, say every five minutes, until you respond to the text or email. It’s dead simple and way powerful, so go get an account NOW (totally free, by the by).

Now you have a procrastination assassin on call! Set up (more…)

Another random family photo. I wanna party with these guys!

I recently received an email from one of my students with several great questions. I thought these issues, and their answers, might benefit everyone.

Hi Cody,

Some study issues that I have noticed that I have is not in how I study but when I study.  I have a horrible habit of procrastinating and only studying a minimal amount at the last minute…. Now, I will not say I have made bad grades by doing this, and actually much to the chagrin of my peers I always am one of the top scores in the class and normally manage an A in the course….

I’m with ya’. I used the same technique when I was an undergrad, back when the earth’s crust was still hardening. But–Danger Will Robinson!!!–The procrastinate and cram technique has several killer flaws, which (more…)

One very effective way to keep yourself from giving in to temptation (whether that temptation is to eat that last piece of pecan pie or to watch that last episode of The Office) is to procrastinate–just keep putting it off. And you can do that by distracting yourself.

Check out this great article on how some 4-year-olds (yes, 4-year-olds) were able to effectively delay gratification by distracting themselves.

Remember, getting to work when we don’t want to is a learned skill. We have to train ourselves to get motivated on command.

Here are the final three motivation busters. Make sure to check out the first two articles in the series if you haven’t already.

1. Blow up the little problems - Sometimes a little problem can cause more motivation frustration than a big problem. That little issue of (more…)

Part two in the series…

1. Shake it up – Get pumped up by acting like you’re really stoked. Think Dwight Schrute, from The Office. He psyches himself up for an upcoming sales call by doing some heavy metal air guitar kicks and jumps, and talking about how he’ll DOMINATE! Sounds silly, I know. But it works (although it does make my downstairs neighbors mad.)
2. Just take the next step – You don’t have to read (for example) all seven volumes of the Giant Compendium of Skin Diseases, like the prof assigned. All you have to read is that next page. Once your finished with that, pat yourself on the back, and then tackle the page after that. One step at a time.
3. Plan to prevail – Map out how you’ll get started and what each step will be. Get up early, lay out your tools, turn off all distractions, provide yourself with food and drink, and get crackin’. It’s much harder to shirk when you’re all prepped and ready to go.
4. Inspire yourself - Please log in or sign up to read the rest of this content. Find out more.

Lacking the uuumph to bust out that text book on, The Fascinating History of Colloids? Fear not, grasshopper. Here are 13 slick tips to overcome your motivational malaise (this is part one).

1. Consider why you are doing it – Step back to get the broad perspective. Where does this fit into your life goals? Example: “I’m studying this to get an A on that next exam so I can become the world’s greatest puppeteer and avenge Jim Henson’s nasty comments about my father’s ventriloquism talents. Curse you, Jim Henson! Curse you!”
2. Commit to 5 minutes – Promise yourself you’ll (more…)

“Aarrrgh! I so don’t want to study tonight.”

I understand, and I’ve been there. Here are some basic steps to get you going…

Ugly site. Powerful rules. Take a look.

Just do it!

Sound too simple?

This is powerful stuff. Next time you catch yourself thinking of all the reasons why you can’t get started on that paper/project/study session, tell yourself to cut the whining and just get started.

The truth? All of us have a little inner voice that tells us how we are performing, what we should be doing. A voice that evaluates, analyzes, criticizes, and justifi…zes(?). But sometimes that little voice isn’t doing us any favors.

Imagine your inner voice as a poorly behaved child that must be brought into line for it’s own good. Tell it to stop giving excuses and get to work.

Simple? Yes. Effective? Definitely.

Please log in or sign up to read the rest of this content. Find out more.