andra.

Looks like this Christmas is going to be a cold one! Stay warm out there, y’all ☃️

2 days until finals!!

days of productivity 28/100

22/03/2022

im almost done with my final paper which is supposed to make me feel better but this is only the first of many stress inducing projects i have to do this year so it somehow makes me feel worse. it's not that I'm not motivated to work, because i am. i just feel really tired.

one big assignment nearly done, 4 more to go!!

"Teaching to Learn"

I worked with a doctor who was very open about her ADHD. She was fantastic to work with for a million different reasons, but what I loved the most in particular was that she was constantly teaching me. She'd explain the basis for and the science behind treatments she was doing, or how she came to a diagnosis, and even ask me questions to see what I've learned (in a good, non-intimidating way).

One day I told her that she was my favorite doctor to work with for this reason, and she said that although she does love teaching others about her passion, she mainly does it to retain the knowledge for herself.

Explain what you've learned out loud as if you were teaching it to somebody with no prior knowledge of the subject. It doesn't have to be to another person, it can be your cat, your reflection in the mirror, a stuffed animal, the wall, your fridge. (I personally pace back and forth in my apartment while my cat and bunnies stare at me like I'm a madman)

Additional tips for teaching to learn...

Try your best to refer to notes/other resources as little as possible. Your notes should be used as talking points, meaning they guide you in the direction of what you're supposed to be discussing, but you shouldn't just be reading off of them. (I like to use my prof's ppt slides just like they would in a real lecture)

Don't do this just one time. I suggest doing it right after you learn something/after lectures, then again a few days after you were introduced the material, then again a few days after that. Another good time to do it would be before an exam.

If one of your classmates is struggling with a topic, teach them. Even if you've got a good grasp on it, teaching them will really help solidify that information in your head. Also working through the material together if you're both struggling is really helpful.

Make sure what you're teaching is correct! After you're done, go back and make certain that you didn't say anything wrong. You don't want to get the wrong information stuck in your head.

1. the Event

have something scheduled for the day, be it a class, club meeting, shift at work, going to a friend’s, whatever. you must get shit done before the Event. i’ve also done it where the event is my roommates coming home, and I tell them to ask me what i did so i feel like I have to do shit. get creative.

2. exist in a space in which you can easily hyper-focus

pretty obvious, go to a cafe, library, friend’s house, whatever works for you, and do your thing. also! cleaning your house can really help with motivation and focusing, so that too. 

3. “multitask”

things to try making:

february productivity challenge, day 19: what's your go-to take out?

my two favourite take out orders in town are a burrito bowl with extra guac from a local mexican joint or sushi from my favourite sushi restaurant!!