Week 3 - Procrastination and memory

Question 1

How are procrastination and memory linked?

Answer 1

• Building chunks and transferring them to long-term memory takes time.
• Starting early and not procrastinating allows more time for concepts to sink into long-term memory.
• Cramming (after procrastinating) does not build solid neural structures, so concepts will not go into long-term memory.
• Good learning is a bit-by-bit activity, when learning is spaced out.

Question 2

Which components do habits have?

Answer 2

• Cue: a trigger that launches the routine
• Routine: a habitual response to a cue
• Reward: immediate positive feedback from the routine
• Belief: underlies the habit and powers it. Changing habits also requires changing the underlying belief.

Question 3

How can you reframe studying (if you tend to procrastinate)?

Answer 3

• Focus your attention on the process, not on the product.
• Focussing on the final result or product causes the „mental pain“ that can trigger procrastination.
• Pomodoro helps focussing on the process because it facilitates putting forward an effort for a limited period of time.
• Allow distractions to flow by and relax in the flow of the work.

Question 4

How can you change habits?

Answer 4

Related to cue:

• Recognize the cue for a habit. Specifically look for locations, times, feelings and habitual reactions.
• Awareness is key, because you can be unaware of the cues.
• Shut yourself off from cues for a period of time.

Related to routine:

• Have a plan for what you will do instead of the current routine. Form a new ritual.

Related to reward

• Set a specific time for reward, e.g. work on a new topic, have lunch or coffee

Related to belief

• Change the underlying belief, e.g. by joining a new community

Question 5

What methods can help you juggle life and learning?

Answer 5

• Put a limited number (3-5) of your most important tasks for the next day in writing.
• Mix „focussed“ and „diffuse“ type tasks, e.g. studying with cleaning.
• Plan your rewards and leisure time.
• Tackle your unpleasant tasks first.
• Schedule a quitting time.

Question 6

What can you do to deal with procrastination better?

Answer 6

• Keep a task / planning journal
• Do the pomodoro
• Focus on flow and process, less on achievements / products
• Plan the most important tasks for the week
• Plan the most important tasks for the day the night before
• Eat your frogs first: do the hard stuff in the morning.
• Reward yourself, but delay rewards until the task at hand is finished.
• Change environments to a low procrastination environment.
• Make a backup plan if the first plan does not work.
• Have fun
• Mix tasks: focus and diffuse
• Gain trust in the new system
• Commit yourself to routines and tasks each day

Question 7

How can you make use of your spacial and visual memory?

Answer 7

• Create a strong visual metaphor.
• Imagine using all of your senses (audio, smell, touch) to experience the metaphor.
• Repeat the metaphor for solidity.

Question 8

How can you make use of flashcards effectively?

Answer 8

• Handwrite and draw on your flashcards, which creates stronger neural links than typing.
• Use recall to test yourself on the card a few times, then let rest.
• Space the repetition of your flashcards.

Question 9

What other techniques are there for memorization?

Answer 9

• Use acronyms and images to memorize lists.
• To memorize numbers, connect them to meaningful events.
• Create memorable sentences to remember lists.
• The memory palace technique.

Question 10

How can you use the memory palace technique for memorization?

Answer 10

• Think of a space or place you know well, creating the empty memory palace.
• Add memorizable images of what you want to remember to locations within the space.
• Walk through the space to solidify.
• If you want to store different information, go around the memory palace in your mind and remove the memorizable images.