#alternative learning

can you give me the best studying techniques?

hi angel!! @mythicalmarion tysm for asking about study techniques 🤍 i'm so excited to share my secret methods that helped me maintain perfect grades while still having a dreamy lifestyle + time for self-care!! and thank you for being a fan of my blog, it means everything to me. <3

~ ♡ my non-basic study secrets that actually work ♡ ~

(don't mind the number formatting)

the neural bridging technique this is literally my favorite discovery!! instead of traditional note-taking, i create what i call "neural bridges" between different subjects. for example, when studying both literature + history, i connect historical events with the literature written during that time. i use a special notebook divided into sections where each page has two columns - one for each subject. the connections help you understand both subjects deeper + create stronger memory patterns!!

here's how i do it:

example:

left column: historical event

right column: literary connection

middle: draw connecting lines + add small insights

bottom: write how they influenced each other

the shadow expert method this changed everything for me!! i pretend i'm going to be interviewed as an expert on the topic i'm studying. i create potential interview questions + prepare detailed answers. but here's the twist - i record myself answering these questions in three different ways:

basic explanation (like i'm talking to a friend)

detailed analysis (like i'm teaching a class)

complex discussion (like i'm at a conference)

this forces you to understand the topic from multiple angles + helps you explain concepts in different ways!!

the reverse engineering study system instead of starting with the basics, i begin with the most complex example i can find and work backwards to understand the fundamentals. for example, in calculus, i start with a complicated equation + break it down into smaller parts until i reach the basic concepts.

my process looks like:

find the hardest example in the textbook

list every concept needed to understand it

create a concept map working backwards

study each component separately

rebuild the complex example step by step

the sensory anchoring technique this is seriously game-changing!! i associate different types of information with specific sensory experiences:

theoretical concepts - study while standing

factual information - sitting at my desk

problem-solving - walking slowly

memorization - gentle swaying

review - lying down

your body literally creates muscle memory associated with different types of learning!!

the metacognition mapping strategy i created this method where i track my understanding using what i call "clarity scores":

level 1: can recognize it

level 2: can explain it simply

level 3: can teach it

level 4: can apply it to new situations

level 5: can connect it to other topics

i keep a spreadsheet tracking my clarity levels for each topic + focus my study time on moving everything to level 5!!

the information architecture method instead of linear notes, i create what i call "knowledge buildings":

foundation: basic principles

first floor: key concepts

second floor: applications

top floor: advanced ideas

roof: real-world connections

each "floor" must be solid before moving up + i review from top to bottom weekly!!

the cognitive stamina training this is my absolute secret weapon!! i use a special interval system based on brain wave patterns:

32 minutes of focused study

8 minutes of active recall

16 minutes of teaching the material to my plushies

4 minutes of complete rest

the specific timing helps maintain peak mental performance + prevents study fatigue!!

the synthesis spiral evolution this method literally transformed how i retain information:

create main concept spirals

add branch spirals for subtopics

connect related concepts with colored lines

review by tracing the spiral paths

add new connections each study session

your notes evolve into a beautiful web of knowledge that grows with your understanding!!

these methods might seem different from typical study advice, but they're based on how our brains actually process + store information!! i developed these through lots of research + personal experimentation, and they've helped me maintain perfect grades while still having time for self-care, hobbies + fun!!

sending you the biggest hug + all my good study vibes!! remember that effective studying is about working with your brain, not against it <3

p.s. if you try any of these methods, please let me know how they work for you!! i love hearing about your study journeys!!

xoxo, mindy 🤍

glowettee hotline is still open, drop your dilemmas before the next advice post 💌: https://bit.ly/glowetteehotline

The contemporary discourse of mindfulness is plagued by a profound reductionism, one that has transmuted ancient practices of radical presence into commodified self-help techniques designed to make workers more productive within the very structures that exhaust them. The term “McMindfulness” has come to symbolise this degradation, the emptying out of depth and transformative power in favour of…

Tarot games: an alternative teaching tool.

At Neon Dream we use RWS tarot by Pamela Coleman Smith. I will be writing about this soon enough. There are many reasons why we are using this deck. For now, just trust me….

Game #1

Building connection and confidence using tarot games!

Ok. Your work here is to…

Watch TV.

Yeah, you heard me right. 

Any show or movie that makes you feel warm inside. 

Something you have previously watched might be easier when you are starting this game. 

Hold your cards loosely. Try not to put an expectation on them or on yourself. This is an important step and must not be missed. 

As the show is unfolding, play with the cards but don't look at them except when you feel like…you want to. 

Choose one at a time. 

I find it easiest to split the deck in two and look at the revealed card. 

How you choose your card is up to you. 

Choose a card. 

Can you see how that card resembles the situation or character(s) from the show?

Pause the show for a minute or so to reflect and study the card and how they match. 

Write down what you get, because it's fun to reflect later. 

How many can you match in one program? 

Adaption 2

This game is also fun when you are having a conversation. 

Just hold the cards and look at them. You will notice the cards that come up correspond to the energy in the room. 

Adaption 3

I find this technique helpful when I am in a busy place and there is a lot going on like a party or busy restaurant. It gives me something to do that isnt stress out. It’s also fun to talk to the cards about the emotions and people in the room. 

A very brief overview of what this technique will do that wasn’t included in the article above

*Deepen our internal knowledge about the cards

*Help our human brains to shut off 

*Allow for our higher selves to connect with our everyday experience on earth

*Builds spiritual confidence

*Makes you look cool at parties 

Thanks for playing today!

There is sooo much more to come.

Don’t forget to sign up on our Patreon for

Neon Dream Tarot class!

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When I was little, I couldn't pronounce da "th" sound. I'd replace it wif somefing different dat made sense to me, usually a "f" or "d" as exampled here.

As I was learning speech, several adults tried to correct me, but it just didn't click. I couldn't hear the difference between their words and mine.

Until one day, after years of such speech, someone actually helped me. She told me and showed me the way you position your mouth to make the "th" sound, said it's the only sound where you get to stick your tongue out at people, and coached me to say the "th" sound and then had me put it in place with my sentences, being patient with me.

And I said my sentence perfectly. I started practicing at home speaking with the proper "th" sound until it became pretty natural to me, and I got the hang of it.

All it took was one person patiently guiding me through it, and understanding where my error was and how to navigate it. It took one session with her to improve my speech forever. Because I just needed it explained in a way I understood.

Me: *raises hand*

Teacher: why is it boring for you?

Me: I read this last week.

Teacher: 100% today. Read ahead. Check in with me if you have questions.

Me: okay, but what about (complicated theory for a 6yo)?

Teachers Aid: let me answer that. Let’s go someplace else with the others who have similar questions. Teacher will work with the others and TA2 will help those feeling confused. LETS GO LEARN!

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The reason I am writing to you today is there seems to be a loss of perspective when it comes to Donald Trump, the newest President of the United States of America. Yes, he does have a bold, brash, and sometimes caustic way of dealing with things. This tends to polarize people to be for or against him. What I am offering to you today is to look at things from a different perspective. The lesson here is, “things are not always what they seem”. In the end. It is still up to you to decide what you believe is right for you.

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People often forget in the past, the United States of America has had plenty of controversial leaders. However, today, we are more connected than ever before.  This lends availability to antagonists to be heard when they would never have been heard in the past. News no longer takes days. It is immediate and caustic. Rebuttals, Protests, and angry people paint the picture of dire consequences through Social Media and the Internet.