Overview
This lecture covers three key strategies to help students prepare effectively for exams: using testing as a study tool, focusing intensely like a lion, and addressing mental blocks that lead to procrastination.
Effective Study Techniques: Testing
- The most effective study technique is testing yourself, not just rereading or highlighting material.
- A study showed students who tested themselves more learned better, even if they reviewed the material less.
- Start doing past papers or practice questions as early as possible, even if you don't know all the content.
- Testing is where real learning happens, even when you get answers wrong.
- Feeling less confident after testing is normal; overconfidence from just reviewing is misleading.
- If past papers aren't available, walk around and quiz yourself out loud or in your head on the content.
Intense Focus: Focus Like a Lion
- Focus tells your brain the material is important, helping you remember it better.
- Work in intense, distraction-free periods, similar to how a lion hunts in short, focused bursts.
- Two hours of deep, undistracted focus is more effective than ten hours of unfocused studying.
- Set aside the same time each day (a "lion block") for deep work; eliminate all distractions during this period.
- Rest is equally important—after intense work, allow yourself proper breaks to recover, just like a lion.
Overcoming Procrastination: Mental Blocks
- Procrastination and lack of focus stem from unmet unconscious needs, not laziness.
- Often, past negative experiences (like fear of failure) unconsciously cause avoidance of study.
- To resolve internal conflicts, use "morning pages": write freely for 5–10 minutes each day with pen and paper.
- Writing down thoughts helps surface unconscious worries, making it easier to focus and reduce procrastination.
- Journaling is a skill; results improve with consistent practice.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Testing — Actively quizzing yourself on material, including practice questions and past papers, to enhance learning.
- Active Recall — The process of actively bringing information to mind, rather than passively reviewing notes.
- Deep Work — Focusing intensely on a task for a set period without any distractions.
- Morning Pages — A mental health practice of writing continuously for a few minutes to clear the mind and reduce unconscious blocks.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Begin practicing testing as your main study method (use past papers or self-quizzing).
- Set a daily "lion block" for deep, focused study—remove all distractions during this time.
- Start the morning pages habit: write 5–10 minutes daily to address unconscious barriers to focus.