For Aron: Increasing Efficiency
>> Saturday, January 2, 2010
Aron told me: My first semester didn't go that well. I got a B- in all my classes. My parents where happy with the scores, but I'm not. I made stupid mistakes on my tests and I could have understood the material better. If it was a real engineering project, I could have killed someone. I need to get better at training for my profession to be an effective engineer. It's not a matter of time, I spend every moment I can in the library and I use to program called leechblock to block all the sites that can waste my time. I can only get more efficient. After reviewing the material with some of my professors, most of my mistakes where misunderstandings. I made a list of things I could do to be more efficient. Do you think this will be effective? They are in order from most important to lest important. Lecture day procedure -Hand write a copy of lecture notes -Complete Gantt chart activities {I break down my problem sets and reading into bit sized chunks on a Gantt chart, I find it very effective} -Write down how I completed each question on problem set -Type copy of lecture notes in Onenote -Review lecture recordings and type in material uncover by personal notes -Read relevant Wikipedia articles and type in material uncovered by personal notes -Review references used in textbook -Create relevant flash cards based on material reviewed that day -Create practice questions based on material reviewed that day -Watch relevant Youtube videos {There are some real great lessons on the topics I cover on Youtube, I feel I need to make time to watch them} -Get one day ahead on Gantt chart actives -Complete club responsibilities -Submit end of day actives Email {I have a friend who will let me send the a report with the things I planned to get done during that day and the things that I actually got done during that day. He said he would get on my tail if I don't keep up with my schedule} -Check all emails ------------------------------- Non-lecture day procedure -Complete Gantt chart actives -Spend 5 hours on lab actives -Compile lecture notes for Youtube lecture -Record myself lecturing on the material in class and post on youtube -Create relevant flash cards based on material reviewed that day -Create practice questions based on material reviewed that day -Compile a practice test -Get one day ahead on Gantt chart actives -Complete club responsibilities -Submit end of day actives Email -Check all emails
Aron, darling, when you're struggling with a full plate, there are several potential problems.
One is a lack of organization. I don't think that's your problem. Clearly you take your education seriously and want to do your best. And you make sacrifices to accomplish your goals.
Another is having more than one can fit in a day in your day. That could be part of your problem. There are so many hours in the day and filling each and every day with an endless litany of repeating activities that may or may not stimulate your mind can not only be disheartening and exhausting, but also can turn off the useful/creative parts of your brain, the very pieces you want to stimulate.
With just so many hours in the day, what should you do? My thought is to (a) find a creative outlet or something that give you pleasure, preferably something that doesn't directly deal with school, or (b) find a physical activity that you can do without too many restrictions (like facilities, cost or time available). The goal is to find something to relieve stress, something that you enjoy that you can use to preclude burnout (which is all but a given with the all-work, no-play itinerary you've given). This is not just to keep from going crazy, but also to help you focus. When it comes to learning, too much can make it harder to focus, rather than helping you learn.
Give yourself the time you need to do each of your necessary tasks and add repetition judiciously. Piling it on can become counterproductive. If there's something you struggle with, practice those, but not everything indiscriminately. The feeling of being overwhelmed is hardly conducive to learning or good work.
Take a break once in a while. See a movie, go to dinner with a friend, read a book that takes you away from your work instead of adds to it. Those mindbreaks can do wonders for giving it the rest it needs before absorbing more.
I have complete faith in your abilities, Aron. Good luck!
