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Working on my thesis in the (very quiet) library. Trying to get some work done on it before classes start next week and start demanding my attention.

you are so much more important than your grades

you are so much more important than your to do list

you have a value that can’t be measured by any rubric or numerical system that’s been created to determine your worth

your peers are struggling too, you aren’t uniquely horrible

it’s ok to be average. it’s ok to be below average. you’re carrying a lot on your shoulders and you’re doing your fucking best.

The 3 Minute Rule

When you have a task that you don't want to complete, just get started and keep going for 3 minutes. If you still don't want to complete the task after 3 minutes, stop and start another task

This method can be very challenging during the initial stages of trying it

When you procrastinate, you tend to find something else to do first to dodge the main task at hand

This rule forces you to immediately avoid any deviation from completing the task for 3 solid minutes with the option to stop after those 3 minutes

Discipline plays a crucial role in this motivation technique as starting the 3 minutes requires you to overcome procrastination

Something that helps in this process is trying to slightly mentally detach yourself from the situation to have an objective view on it

You need to look at the situation and acknowledge that you have the freedom to stop the task after 3 minutes if you truly cannot complete it and that you absolutely must start the task immediately

Often times, I keep going once I start which results in significantly improved productivity

Flexibile Schedules

Often times, I plan out the perfect study and work session with my tasks and times detailed to the second

However, sometimes, life gets in the way of these plans and I'm forced to reschedule everything

Something like this can be extremely demotivating, especially if your day revolved around your very detailed plan

To help solve such issues, there are 2 options for 2 different scenarios

The first option is to prevent the situation from occurring at all

Extremely rigid and detailed plans are very easy to disrupt

Preventing the situation would be done by outlining more flexible study and work plans that can be done at most times and don't rely on strict timings (I will post another article on creating a flexible and functional study schedule)

The second option is how to move forward if you do find yourself in a situation where your study plans have been disrupted and you're demotivated

In this instance, the first step is to list the topics you need to cover and sort them from most important to least important

Estimate how much time each topic will take and look at how much time you have available

Evaluate if the time you have available is adequate to completely cover all of your listed topics

If not, choose as many topics with the greatest priority that will be able to be completed within your available time

Remember, these steps should be completed within 5 minutes at most to prevent you from losing any more time

There's always a plan for every situation. It just needs to be found.

Justify It

If you truly feel like there's no reason to compete the task, find a reason

If the task is important enough for you to lament over it, it's certainly important enough for you to complete it as soon as possible

Clear your mind of any frustration and just relax

Think of what the purpose of the task is

Do you need to complete an assignment that will be a part of your final grade?

Do you need to complete a report for your job?

Will this benefit you in the future - near or far?

If you need to study, what is your end goal?

When I hesitate with my studying, I always remind myself that what I'm learning now will one day help me improve as a doctor

Once you identify a reason, act on it and complete the task

The reason will help you sense that what you're doing has meaning and purpose, making the task less of an inconvenience and more of a duty

Knowledge is always valuable.

Making websites easier to digest:

Dark Reader - Changes any webpage to dark mode.

Mercury Reader - Simplifies the layout of any webpage to eliminate distractions and irritating formatting.

Podcastle AI - Turns any article into a podcast. This is a lifesaver for being able to process what I’m reading, to be honest.

Spelling/grammar:

LanguageTool - Spelling and grammar check for those of us who regularly type in more than one language.

Grammarly - Spelling and grammar check for those of us who only type in English. Can be used with LanguageTool installed, which is what I do.

Google Dictionary - Define any word on the webpage with a double-click.

Google Translate - Translate an entire webpage or even just a short segment.

Misc:

AdGuard Adblocker - After trying quite a few adblocker options, this is the one I find the best.

The Great Suspender - Automatically suspend inactive tabs to help with performance. <- as an edit, I don’t believe this is available anymore

Honey - Try coupon codes automatically to save money on online purchases.

1.24.22

Unknown (via marijuanamodels)

Hi,