#pomodoro technique

[lupusmaxima]

2024/09/10

september’s going by so quickly already. my exam date will be here in no time… ahhhh!

[bitchesgetriches]

Help! I’m Procrastinating and I Can’t Get Up! • Bitches Get Riches

Why hello there, loyal readers, on this, a random day of the week that is definitely not when we regularly schedule a new article! Did you m

Help! I’m Procrastinating and I Can’t Get Up!

Now it’s time we talked about productivity and how to fucking force it even when you’re not in the mood. Because you know what procrastination really is? Besides a completely average and not-humiliating dysfunction, that is?

It’s a waste of money.

Keep reading

[tenanciouslearner]

i finally figured out why i was studying wrong for literally my entire life and i'm MAD

okay so. storytime.

i spent ALL of last year studying like 6-7 hours a day for boards. i'm talking full dedication. highlighters in every color. notes so aesthetic they could be on studyblr. i was COMMITTED.

and you know what i got? mid scores. like perfectly average. nothing terrible but nothing great either.

meanwhile my friend? studied maybe 3-4 hours a day MAX. didn't even make pretty notes. and she TOPPED our entire class.

i was so confused and honestly kind of salty about it lmao like what was she doing that i wasn't??? was she just naturally smarter? did she make a deal with the devil? WHAT.

so i finally asked her and she introduced me to these study techniques that basically changed my entire life and i'm actually MAD that nobody taught us this earlier because we're really out here studying the wrong way for YEARS.

technique 1: the feynman technique (aka the "explain it to a kid" method)

this one BLEW MY MIND. here's how it works:

pick any topic. let's say photosynthesis or the french revolution or whatever. now imagine you have to explain it to a 10 year old using only simple words. no fancy jargon. no complex terms.

try it right now with something you studied recently.

notice how you keep getting stuck? yeah. those are the parts you don't actually understand. you just memorized them.

i tried this with organic chemistry and realized i'd been fooling myself for MONTHS. i could recite definitions but i couldn't actually explain WHY reactions happened.

so now whenever i get stuck explaining something simply, i go back and relearn that specific part. and suddenly everything makes sense??? like ACTUAL sense not just "i memorized this sentence" sense.

this technique is literally perfect for boards because cbse LOVES asking application questions where you need to actually understand concepts, not just vomit memorized facts.

technique 2: active recall (or as i call it, the "close the damn book" method)

here's what i used to do: read chapter. highlight important parts. read again. maybe make notes. done.

here's what actually works: read chapter. close book. write down EVERYTHING you remember without looking.

the difference is WILD.

when you force your brain to retrieve information instead of just passively reading it, you create stronger memory pathways. it's literally science. your brain has to work harder so it remembers better.

i started making flashcards for everything. formulas. dates. definitions. concepts. and i test myself constantly. even the stuff i think i know.

especially the stuff i think i know tbh because that's usually where i'm overconfident and wrong lmao

technique 3: spaced repetition (the "review before you forget" method)

okay this one sounds boring but it's MAGIC.

instead of cramming everything the night before (we've all been there), you review material at specific intervals. study something today. review tomorrow. then after 3 days. then after a week. then after two weeks.

each time you review it gets easier because you're reinforcing the memory right before it fades.

i use a simple calendar for this. nothing fancy. just reminders for when to review each chapter.

the result? when board exams came around, i remembered stuff i studied in JUNE. effortlessly. no last minute panic cramming needed.

technique 4: pomodoro (aka "25 minutes of actual focus is better than 3 hours of distraction")

i cannot stress this enough: those 6-7 hour study sessions i was doing? maybe 2 hours were actual focused studying. the rest was me on instagram, checking messages, getting distracted, daydreaming, etc.

pomodoro technique is stupidly simple:

set timer for 25 minutes

study with COMPLETE focus (phone in another room level focus)

when timer rings, take 5 min break

repeat 4 times then take longer break

i get more done in 6 pomodoros (3 hours) now than i used to in entire days of "studying"

technique 5: mind mapping (the "visual brain dump" method)

linear notes never worked for me. i'd write pages and pages and remember nothing.

mind maps changed everything. you put the main topic in the center and branch out with related ideas, using colors and little drawings and connecting related stuff.

one good mind map can fit an entire chapter on one page AND you'll actually remember it because visual memory is powerful.

before exams i just review my mind maps and everything comes flooding back.

the real tea:

i wish someone had taught me this in like class 6 instead of letting me waste YEARS doing ineffective studying. but better late than never i guess?

since learning these techniques my scores have literally jumped 20+ percentage points. but more importantly? studying doesn't feel like torture anymore. it actually feels... productive? satisfying even?

wild concept i know.

oh and i found this platform called Cubegon that actually builds some of these techniques into their study modules which is pretty cool. like they structure content in a way that forces active recall and spaced repetition, so you're using effective methods even if you don't realize it. wish more educational apps did that tbh.

anyway if you're still studying the way we were taught in school (read, highlight, repeat, cry), maybe try these techniques for like two weeks?

your future self will thank you.

trust me.

[ariologie]

my version of the five-minute rule

you guys know that when you struggle to start something, you put a timer for five minutes and then decide if the thing is worth continuing after

well

i found out my version of that is the pomodoro timer see i was using the crap out of the pomodoro timer as a grade schooler and now i'm realizing its value now

i seldom use the pomodoro timer as an adult but i have been STRUGGLING to finish an assignment (#mentallyillthings), but with the website I've been using, there's a goal setting feature that i FINALLY can properly use (i'll explain in another post) but pomodoro for me WORKS especially if i have been struggling to start something.

thank u pomodoro and since i'm not a gatekeeper, here is the website i use

Pomodoro Kitty - A Cat Themed Pomodoro Timer

A cat themed pomodoro timer with multiple themes. Pomodoro is a time management method used to break work into manageable chunks of time.

[cornusbooks]

Looking for playlists on YouTube that you can listen to while studying and that are also made for the Pomodoro technique? Here are some YouTube channels that will help you study with music! Happy learning!

@gusniac

@ShirotheHotot

@MeliStudio.0

[yarensdiary]

How Hardworking Students Should Rest: A Guide to Staying Productive and Balanced:🎀

As students, we often find ourselves buried under a mountain of assignments, exams, and extracurricular activities. While it’s important to work hard and stay dedicated, it’s equally important to give your mind and body the rest they deserve. In this blog post, we’ll explore why rest is crucial and how to balance work and relaxation effectively.

Why is Rest Important?

Rest isn’t just about sleeping or being lazy; it’s an essential part of maintaining mental and physical well-being. Continuous study sessions without breaks can lead to burnout, stress, and decreased productivity. Taking regular breaks helps to:

• Refresh your mind: Breaks improve focus and retention of information.

• Boost creativity: Rest allows your brain to form new ideas and solutions.

• Reduce stress: Taking time off helps in managing anxiety and maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

How Often Should You Rest?

The key to effective studying is incorporating regular breaks into your schedule. Here’s a general guideline on how often to rest:

1.The Pomodoro Technique: Study for 25 minutes and then take a 5-minute break. After four cycles, take a longer break of 15-30 minutes.

2.Hourly Breaks: If you prefer longer study sessions, try studying for 50 minutes and then taking a 10-minute break.

3.Daily Rest: Make sure you have time each day to unwind and do something you enjoy—whether it’s exercising, reading, or spending time with friends.

4.Weekly Rest: Dedicate at least one day a week where you limit your study time and focus on relaxing and recharging.

Thank you!

[chronolabeing]

Calm even with many pending tasks.

[goose-the-corvid]

What app do you use for pomodoro?

I’m so sorry i didn’t see this! I use FocusPomo— it’s on the App Store, but I think it may be on android too!