Module 1 - Planning - How To Set Up Your Path To Success

The most fundamental skill for effective studying, and having success in any area of life
is proper planning and sticking to that plan.

Why Is Planning So Important?

 Planning gives you a model of what exactly it is you need to do, all the things you
need to learn and all the required steps that are necessary, in order to achieve
your goal.
 When crafting your plan, you will be analyzing all the material you need to
internalize and you will be partitioning it into small, manageable chunks.

Without A Plan, You Are Lost Whatever You Do!

 A popular saying with conscious procrastinators:

“I have a motivation problem until I have a time problem”.
You do not want panic as the deadline approaches to be your motivator. That is
not how you study efficiently.

 Instead, you want the excitement of learning a new subject, the thrill of a new
challenge to be your motivator.

 What you need to do instead is plan everything ahead, do your tasks in time and
stay motivated. This is much easier done than most people think (more on the
subject of motivation in Module 5).

Why Else Is Planning Important?

 The key to spending less time studying while retaining much more information is
reviewing correctly. You can’t do that, if you don’t have a plan in place.
 Writing down your study goals and checking them off after you’ve achieved them
will give you a confidence boost and confidence is extremely important for
motivation and concentration.

How Do You Make A Plan?

1. Pick a subject that you want or that you need to learn.

2. Make a commitment to learn your chosen subject within a set timeframe.
3. Take some sheets of paper and a pen. Write down your goal and the timeframe,
in which you want to achieve it, this will be the outline of your plan.
4. Every time you start a studying session, first take out your plan and when you are
done, put the papers in a folder or in a safe place.
5. Determine how many days you have available for studying. (E.g. you have a
textbook with 40 chapters, write down the numbers one to forty and set a date for
each session you want study.

Exercise: Pick a subject that you think you can realistically learn within the course of a
semester. Write the outline of your plan. Set a timeframe in which you want to complete
your project and partition it into small, manageable chunks and determine on which days
you want to study.
Module 2 - Spaced Repetition - Reviewing The Right Way

Reviewing is a key element in memorizing new material, yet few people do it very
efficiently.

The Right Way Of Reviewing Material.

 Repetitio mater memoriae. (Repetition is the mother of memory.) The only way to
truly remember any material for good is to regularly review it. The key lies in
knowing at what intervals to do so.
 The technique of spaced repetition is a well-researched effective learning
technique (cf. “Principles of learning and memory” by Robert Crowder of the
University of Oxford).

 Most people’s reviewing style is arbitrary and ineffective.

 The best method of review is to review the material exactly 1 hour after you’ve
first read it, then after 24 hours, then again after 1 week, once more after one
month, and finally, after 6 months.
 If you review only at these intervals, you will see that you spend far less time
studying while retaining about 90% of the studied information.
 People who don’t use this method, forget about 70% of what they studied soon
after they’ve learned it.

 It does mean reviewing at regular intervals, but it doesn’t take more time than any
of the “gut-methods” of studying do.
 Every time you review a subject, you will be able to better recall it.
 Some subjects you will only have to review 3 times because after you’ve taken
the test you don’t need to review them again.

Spaced Repetition

 Step one: Separate your studying tasks into chunks. Most textbooks are divided
into chapters that are already designed to be easily digestible portions, other
subjects you will have to separate into chapters yourself.
 Do this first with the studying project you have chosen in Module 1.
 Take out your studying plan and write down the different chunks into which you
have separated the material.

Example: A Biology Textbook

 The book is separated into 40 chapters including the introduction.

 First skim through the book, read the headlines and sub-headlines of the book, if
there are chapter summaries, read them as well and get an overview of the
material.
 Write down the names of all forty chapters on your studying plan.
 Set yourself times for when you will tackle reading each chapter.
 Anticipate periods in your schedule where you will be stressed and have little time
and try to do most of your reading when you have ample time on your hands.

 Step two: After every completed studying session, set an alarm for one hour. After
an hour come back and review the material.
 Write down the dates on which you are going to make your next four reviews.
  Use the review calendar spreadsheet, I am providing you (video tutorial).
 Check the review calendar every day before you start studying, and it will tell you
what subjects you need to review
 Should you lack the time some days to review the materials, simply do it the day
before or the day after, it’s not so important that you review the material at the
exact same time or day you planned, but it is important that you do it.

Example: learning the 1000 most common words in the French language within 6 months

 The so-called basic vocabulary of 1000 words, are the thousand most common
words in a language.
 This basic vocabulary is enough to understand more than 70% of any text in any
language, and it is essential to hold basic conversations.

 First, get yourself a vocabulary book or a list off the internet containing the basic
vocabulary of a thousand words including their English translations.
 Next separate them into small chunks that are easily manageable.
 Let’s say that you want to have read all of these at least once after 3 months.
 3 months have about 60 days excluding weekends.
 1000 divided by 60 is about 17.
 So you’ll need to learn 17 new words a day.
 Let’s make it 20 for good measure.
 So you would need to learn 20 new words a day and review them 5 times over the
next six months.
 That means studying 100 vocabulary entries a day.
 Learning new word will take you about 20 seconds, and reviewing a learned word
about 10 seconds.
 You will have to spend about 7 minutes learning new words and about 13 minutes
reviewing learned words
 With a time investment of about 20 minutes a day you will be able to perfectly
learn 1000 new words in six months, not including studying on weekends.

 Most people who are proficient in a foreign language know less than 5000 words.
 You could have a vocabulary like the top foreign speakers within two-and a half
years! And these 20 minute sessions can be done in dead time, for example in
public transportation while waiting at the doctor’s office, etc. so it will not even
cost you that much extra time!

 There are different methods of learning vocabulary; you can either use old-
fashioned flash cards or use some of the free technology that is out there on the
internet.
 I will point you towards the best methods in the bonus-resources-section

Exercise: Start implementing the power reviewing techniques I taught you. Take the first
chunk of the project you set for yourself and learn it – you might want to watch the next
two Modules before doing that – then set a timer for one hour and review it. Enter it in
your review calendar spreadsheet and review it again the next day, the next week, the
next month and again after six months.
Module 3 - Reading Techniques - Instantly Become A Better Reader

The different ways of reading

 There are different ways of reading a text

 There are different methods and styles of reading.
 There are different kinds of texts
 There are different goals you wish to achieve by reading a text.
 For each and every goal and text a different reading method is necessary.

1. Skimming

 Skimming is just rapidly looking over the page in the hope of finding what you’re
looking for.
 When skimming, you might just spend five seconds reading each page.
 Looking to find a certain passage in a book that you’ve already read, is an
application of skimming.

 This is neither a good nor a bad way of reading. It is a way of reading that has
appropriate and inappropriate applications.

 It is inappropriate for reading dense material.

 Appropriate applications of skimming, are reading newspaper headlines and

getting a global overview of a textbook.

2. Reading For Leisure

 When reading literature, meaning a novel or short story, you sometimes forget
that you are reading this is called leisure reading.

 Reading for leisure has its appropriate place in reading literature: novels and short
stories.

 It is very inappropriate when you are studying material for a test or need it for
practical application in your career.

 If you use this reading style when you are studying, you are using a technique
called rote memorization which is very ineffective.

 Don’t read textbooks as if they were novels.

3. Close Reading

Dense academic texts, textbooks, and basically all subjects that you need to be able to
recall on a later date require a specific method of reading called close reading.

Close reading is a skill that takes time to develop. But as you develop it, you will soon
notice increases in your ability to learn quickly and retain the information much faster,
longer and easier.

3.1 The teaching technique

The first close reading technique is called the teaching technique.
 All you have to do is imagine you are a teacher and have to explain the material
you’re learning to a group of imaginary students.
 After each paragraph, every point you read make sure you understand that point
and then rephrase it in your own words and explain it to a fictional person or
audience.
 The best way to learn is to teach somebody else.
 As a guiding principle, try to spend 20% of the time reading it and 80% of the time
teaching it.
 You can do this quietly in your mind, but what is even more powerful is saying it
out loud or even really teaching it to somebody.
 When you read, think about, and explain something, it will be imprinted into your
mind far stronger than if you just read and think about it or even only read it.

3.2 The critical approach

The second technique is called the critical approach. It consists of constantly asking
questions and doubting what you read. After every paragraph ask yourself and try to
answer one or more of these questions:

 How does the author prove his claims?

 Is what the author writes logically consistent?
 How may the subject be applied practically?

And the most important question:

 How does the new information fit into what I already know?

The biggest challenge in close reading is knowing when to close read and what methods
to apply. The only way of finding out what techniques suit you best is to constantly
practice close reading until you notice what works better for you.
Close reading is very time consuming and sometimes unnecessary.

As you practice, close reading will eventually become an unconscious habit

Exercise: Apply the teaching technique and the critical approach the next time you are
studying and keep doing it until it becomes a habit.
Module 4 - Memory Techniques

You always remember material better, when you can put it in relation to things you
already know.

 It is much easier for the brain to position new information within the context of
things it has already saved, than to form completely new contexts.
 Most seemingly superhuman memory skills can be acquired by anyone who
consistently trains their mind doing the right exercises.

Two Critical Aspects Of Memory:

1. Impressing facts and concepts into your mind – there are specific techniques for
this such as mnemonics, exploration and visualization.

2. Reviewing – you already know how to do that. Review what you have learned in
regular intervals of 1 hour, 1 day, 1 week, 1 month and 6 months.

 The teaching technique will help you understand and form concepts in your mind,
memory techniques will help you fill these contexts with facts.
 As always, for different subjects different techniques are appropriate.

Conceptualization

 There is no use in learning facts if you can’t put them into context.
 It makes no sense to learn the names of all of the countries in Europe if you can’t
point them out on a map. It is much easier to learn and remember them when
you are picturing a map in your mind. It is also way more useful.
 In order to understand concepts, you must be able to explain them in your own
words. After you’ve understood the concepts, you can then fill in the facts.

Mnemonics

 Mnemonics help you memorize new facts that might seem random to you, by
creating an artificial context, solely for the sake of remembering and positioning
them within that context.
 A mnemonic is a memory aid of one sort or another.
 Mnemonics are not an admission of weakness, but a sign of strength.
 Use mnemonics as much as you want.
 Use time tested mnemonics and come up with your own as well

Example 1, Remembering Pi

In order to recall the numbers of Pi anytime, just remember this sentence:

How I like a drink, alcoholic of course,

after the heavy lectures involving quantum mechanics.

The number of letters in each word is one digit of pie.

Example 2, Remembering The Colors Of The Rainbow:

Remember the name: Roy G. Biv.

Each letter in this name represents the first letter of one of the colors, or hues of the
rainbow: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, and Violet.

Example 3, Determining The Number Of Days In A Month: One you probably know is
counting knuckles on your hand to determine how many days each month has.

Another mnemonic to remember this is the commonly known poem:

Thirty days have September,

April, June, and November;
February has 28 alone,
All the rest have 31;
Except leap year, that's the time,
When February's days are 29.

 In every subject you are learning, search for helpful mnemonics.

 Use Google, it will help you find appropriate mnemonics.
 Invent your own.
 Create an account on Memrise.

Study groups

 You get to know smart people when joining or founding studying groups.
 You get the chance to teach the material you have learned to someone else.
 You can also get your study buddies to explain subjects to you that you might not
have understood in class or have missed.
 Study groups can be a great motivation to learn your subjects thoroughly, for you
are not only accountable to yourself, but also to your study buddies.

Visualization

 Vividly picture everything you learn in your mind.

 Paint your mental pictures in color, and add sounds and smells to them.
 In order to remember the position of all the states of the USA, or all the countries
of Europe on a map, visualize each state or country with a typical landmark on
top.

Exploration

 Just another application of the critical approach

 When you are learning a subject you feel might be hard to remember, just think of
something in your experiences that might have a connection with it and visualize
the two items together; this will help form strong neural pathways in your brain
that aid in recall.
 Also, think of how the material might be usefully applied in future situations and
then imagine yourself applying them.
Remembering lists

 This technique enables you to remember long lists of random objects and the
exact order in which they were presented to you.
 For every position in the list pick one object that has a phonetic similarity with the
number. These objects are your “number objects” and they will stay with you
forever, so choose them wisely.

Your list might go something like this:

 One - Sun
 Two - Shoe
 Three - Knee
 Four - Door
 Five - Knife
 Six - Kicks
 Seven - Heaven
 Eight - Grate
 Nine - Wine
 Ten - Hen

Now, practice remembering these ten objects, until every time someone tells you a
random number, you can almost automatically associate it with the object in question.
They say four, you immediately picture a door, they say eight, you see a grate, etc.

Next, practice associating random objects with your personal number objects.

Understanding Difficult Subjects

If you’re studying a complex, abstract subject like metaphysics, math or engineering and
you seem to be stuck, don’t worry, simply read your entire studying portion, even if you
don’t understand it and come back to it after you’ve slept on it.

SQ3R

 This mnemonic device summarizes the main aspects of successful studying

 SQ3R Stands for survey, question, read, recite, review.
 Before studying a chapter in a textbook, always survey the entire chapter, skim it,
and ask questions (they will automatically arise, and the fact that you do this, will
cause you to look for answers, which is very powerful), then you read it, then you
apply the teaching technique and finally you review it.
 The next time you are not sure if you have covered all the necessary steps when
studying, just remember SQ3R.

Exercises: Get a Memrise account (You can find a link in the Bonus-Module on
Resources) and play around with it. Also, whenever you have to learn facts that seem
arbitrary to you, try to build a context around them using mnemonics to make these facts
fit into your brain and make them stick.
Module 5 - How To Stay Focused And Motivated

The ability to motivate yourself to study is an essential prerequisite to success in

academia, in your career and in your personal life.

Preparing To Study

 It is very important that you won’t be distracted when you try to concentrate.
 Find a quiet workstation; if you have a study at home, this is perfect, if not, there
is probably a library somewhere where you can study. Have all the proper
materials you’ll need ready as you start your session
 Turn off your cellphone, so no one will disturb you. Make it clear to your family,
spouse, roommates etc. you don’t want to be disturbed.

Visualization Of Success:

 Part 1: Write a list of all the good things, all the positive consequences that will
happen when you proceed with your studying goals (good grades, a good job,
praise, recognition, pride in your abilities etc.) Go over this list a couple of times
and vividly imagine yourself enjoying these benefits.

 Part 2: Think about a time in your past when you had a big success. Close your
eyes and revive that feeling of pride and satisfaction. Imagine you entering the
body of the former successful you. See through the eyes of the former you, hear
the noises you heard and feel the feelings you felt. Take deep breaths and notice
as with every breath you take, these good feelings get stronger and stronger.
Take ten deep breaths minimum until you feel content and confident.

 Part 3: Think of all the good things that you’ve written on your list in part 1.
Associate them with the strong positive feeling you have, this can be done simply
by imagining them. See yourself completing all the necessary tasks that will lead
you to these rewards, feel the urge of wanting to complete them in order for the
good feeling of success to become stronger and manifest.

 Do this mental exercise for five minutes every time before you start studying and
you will soon enjoy every studying session. The real positive consequences that
follow from your efforts, i.e. the good grades, good jobs, good feelings, etc., will
reinforce this even further, until you become unstoppable and procrastination will
now longer even seem to be an option.

Affirmations

 Affirmations are little sentences or mantras that describe a change that you want
to happen in your personality. An example for an affirmation would be “I am
motivated to study." Repeat this sentence, or mantra to yourself, until it takes
hold in your subconscious and causes you to be motivated.

 Affirmations should be formulated in the present tense, i.e. “I am motivated," not “I

will be motivated." And affirmations should always be formulated in the positive
i.e. “I am diligent," not “I am not lazy."
  To do the affirmations get to a quiet and comfortable place. Take a couple of deep
breaths and then say your affirmation to yourself 25 times. D this twice a day, for
a week, and see what it does for you

Timed Studying And Breaks

When your brain feels tired it cannot function properly; it needs to regenerate.

 As soon as you feel tired mentally, take a short break, get up from your seat, walk
around, take deep breaths, have a coffee or listen to some relaxing music.
 Don’t think of yourself as lazy when you take breaks.
 Breaks make you effective and thus should be viewed as a time investment that
pays off multiple times later on. Breaks are very important!

Stay Hydrated

 If you are not hydrated, your body cannot unfold its full potential.
 So in order to achieve the best performance, you should drink ample amounts
water

Reward Yourself

 We are creatures of habit that can be conditioned by positive reinforcement.

 When you reward yourself after a successful studying session, your mind will be
conditioned to regard studying as a pleasurable and desirable activity.

 If you ritually enjoy your reward, being mindful that you’ve earned it because you
did your chores, doing your chores will eventually become more and more
desirable to you.
 It will trigger a positive feedback spiral and soon the idea of procrastinating will
seem unpleasant to you.

Control Fear Of Tests

 If you faithfully observe the techniques I have taught you, you will most likely ace
any test.

 There are certain things you can do to alleviate fear of tests. The most powerful is
concentration meditation. It helps you to relax and stay calm and collected in
stressful situations.
 Being afraid of a test will not help your outcome. You should be completely
indifferent about your results. This sounds paradoxical but the less you care, the
better you will do. Your mind won’t be trapped in a fight or flight response and
black out. Instead, it will be resourceful and provide you with the necessary
information you need to do well on the test.
 If you are still fearful of tests to the point where you can’t focus, even though you
are perfectly prepared and you have practiced meditation and do breathing
exercises, you might have to seek out professional help from a psychotherapist.

Exercises: Do the visualization exercise or the affirmations every time you start studying
for two weeks. Observe any changes that might happen and write them down.
Module 6 - Nutrition, Exercise And Drugs

I am not a doctor; nothing I say in this module or this course should be construed as
medical advice. These are personal opinions. Before you start doing something with your
body that is potentially dangerous, consult a doctor.

Nutrition

Proper Nutrition is one of the most important things that you can do to positively
influence your ability to focus and absorb the material.

 Don’t overeat
 Drink sufficient water
 Eat healthy food.

Rewards that don’t grow your waistline:

 Having a cup of tea or coffee

 Going for a walk
 Listening to music

Exercise

It is very important for your ability to focus, motivate yourself and for your well-being in
general that you use your muscles and get your circulation going. If you’re not already
doing some form of exercise, start and observe the progress you’ll be making

Sleep

 Get enough sleep! 7-9 hours a day is crucial to your memory, your wits, and your
physical health.
 You can screw up a lot of the progress you are making when you fail to get
sufficient sleep.

I managed to cure my insomnia by implementing three changes in my routine:

 I started going to bed at the same time every day.

 I started meditating in the morning
 As I was lying in bed I repeated the affirmation “I am asleep” until I was asleep.

Alcohol

If you try to study when you’re drunk, you won’t make much progress. So, if you know
you’ll be drinking, do your studying beforehand.

Know and respect your limits. Do yourself a favor and stop drinking when you transition
from comfortably inebriated to shitfaced.

Three important factors to cure a hangover:

1. Drink lots of water, the main uncomfortable side-effect of a hangover is

dehydration.
 2. Eat before you go to bed, it will slow the absorption of alcohol into your
bloodstream, vomit if necessary.
3. Get enough sleep. The longer you sleep, the less painful your hangover will be.
Often, ten hours of sleep and an ibuprofen will dramatically speed up your
recovery.

Performance enhancing drugs

 They are not necessary. You can be incredibly successful without taking any
stimulants, even caffeine.
 I don’t use them; the techniques in this course don’t require them.
 If you abstain from them, you won’t get into conflict with the law, and won’t have
to spend your money on dubious substances from dubious drug dealers.

Meditation

My meditation routine that you can copy and experiment with yourself:

 I meditate 20 minutes every morning.

 I set myself an alarm for 21 minutes, sit in a position where my spine is straight,
and focus on my breath.
 When thoughts arise that distract me, I acknowledge them but shift my focus
again to my breath.

Exercise: Try out my meditation routine and see what it does for you. If you experience
benefits, read up on meditation and try to find out more about it. Also, eat healthy and
exercise regularly.

Do good!