#studyresources

by mindy @glowettee

let's talk about something that affects sooo many of us in school - the exhausting cycle of perfectionism. here's how to actually work through it while maintaining your academic success 🤍

understanding your perfectionism type:

the all-or-nothing scholar

signs: abandoning tasks that aren't perfect

impact: incomplete assignments pile up

solution: create "good enough" standards for each task

practice: deliberately submit b+ work sometimes

reflection: track how "imperfect" work still succeeds

the endless editor

signs: revising until exhaustion

impact: never feeling finished

solution: set concrete editing limits

practice: use time boundaries for revisions

reflection: note when extra editing didn't change grades

the preparation procrastinator

signs: over-preparing but never starting

impact: delayed work and missed deadlines

solution: create starting rituals

practice: begin with imperfect outlines

reflection: document when "unprepared" work succeeded

practical steps for recovery:

(don't mind the formatting <3)

grade requirement analysis

calculate minimum grades needed

identify where perfection isn't necessary

create realistic grade goals

develop subject-specific standards

track effort vs. grade correlation

time management reality

set maximum study times

include mandatory breaks

create firm stopping points

establish "good enough" timeframes

practice leaving work unfinished

submission strategies

develop personal rubrics

create completion checklists

establish revision limits

set realistic quality standards

practice timely submission

perfection pressure release

identify trigger assignments

create comfort with b+ work

develop release statements

practice "done is better than perfect"

celebrate imperfect submissions

sustainable study practices

implement 80/20 rule

create efficiency metrics

develop quality guidelines

establish effort limits

maintain energy balance

daily implementation:

morning:

set realistic daily goals

identify perfection triggers

establish time boundaries

create completion criteria

prepare acceptance statements

during work:

use timer limits

implement stopping points

practice leaving rough drafts

accept good enough

maintain progress over perfection

evening:

evaluate effort balance

celebrate task completion

acknowledge progress

release perfectionist thoughts

plan next day's boundaries

practical exercises:

the b+ experiment

choose one assignment monthly

deliberately aim for b+ quality

track actual vs. expected grades

note emotional responses

document learning outcomes

time boundary practice

set firm time limits

stop when timer ends

submit work as is

track grade results

build trust in efficiency

imperfection tolerance

start assignments roughly

resist immediate editing

maintain forward momentum

accept messy progress

focus on completion

measuring progress:

keep a recovery tracker:

time spent on assignments

stress levels during work

grade outcomes

emotional responses

energy preservation

weekly check-in questions:

did i maintain reasonable hours?

where did i release perfectionism?

how did i handle imperfect work?

what boundaries did i maintain?

where can i ease standards?

tip: you can maintain excellent grades without sacrificing your wellbeing to perfectionism 🤍

xo mindy

p.s. your worth as a student isn't measured by perfect scores, but by your growth and learning.

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Dear friends,

You did it! It's Finals Week and that means the end of another semester. 🎓🎉

For our final blog post of Fall 2021, we wanted to re-share the HSO Leadership Team's study tips from the midterms. You might, we hope, find a gem or two (or three or four) in there. ;)

Jana McCarthy, Director of Advising

My study routine is based on years of tweaking and learning what works for me and what doesn't. I found my study style and early routine with the help of an Academic Coach, which is a resource I recommend for ALL students, but especially Honors students.

I start with my readings. I read and annotate in a heading-to-heading format. I start with the top-level heading, read the info, highlighting main ideas and things to note along the way. Upon reaching the next heading (sub level or any heading), I pause, and concisely note the highlights I made in that section - usually in a doc or in a spiral. At the end of the chapter, I have then made an outline of what I felt was important, which serves as a reference moving forward.

If there are lectures or videos to watch, or assignments to complete - that comes next. I put the notes in the same doc or just after the reading notes, so that it's all in one spot. Importantly, I use symbols and notations to ensure that I can easily locate specific items that I may need again.

I usually study in 1-hour blocks, with a 15 minute, mindless, break in-between. Mindless means that I'm doing something that won't override the material I'm trying to absorb: walk the dog, do the dishes, take a catnap - avoiding mental stimulation that will distract me from encoding the new material. The time I spend works for me, but others need more or less time studying or breaking. Find what works for you.

Finally, I always work on the material asap after a lecture or class meeting. Google: The Forgetting Curve, to learn why.

Mars Medina, HSO President

Studying for me is definitely challenging (wooo ADHD!) but I’ve found some ways to circumvent that.

Overall, first things first: I turn my phone over and put it out of sight! That is definitely my biggest distraction. Next, I make a list for the assignments or projects I need to work on/complete for either the day or for the rest of the week if I somehow have little to work on.

Working with different studying techniques, especially the Pomodoro technique, has worked well for assignment-heavy weeks. For notes I try to write them down by hand, as I found that writing it down instead of typing it usually results in me retaining the information easier. I’ve also found that index cards (for things like memorizing quotes or definitions) are a huge help.

Music helps me out too, to kind of drown out the rest of my environment; hilariously enough, I usually study to metal music but lo-fi is my second go-to! My biggest advice for studying, however, is this: make sure to take breaks!

Aaron Turner, HSO Social Media Team Lead

I'm pretty flexible when it comes to studying. Since each course is unique, I structure my approach in a "flowchart" sorta way (something I didn't know until I actually wrote it out here, lol).

First, I read each syllabus and compile all due dates from all courses into a single calendar. For each course, I then:

1. Get info on tests (Note: If there are no tests, I skip to Step 2)

1.a. Will test questions come from multiple sources or a single source?

If the professor confirms only one source (i.e. from lectures), I double down and study from just that source. That said, I always follow the professor’s lead.

1.b. If I'm studying from a textbook: I try to read ahead of the lectures; I highlight key concepts and say/write out my own explanations; I conduct multiple reviews leading up to the test.

1.c. If I'm studying from lectures: When attending the initial lecture, I listen to get acquainted and usually take few notes; I rewatch the recording and write down key concepts and info; I conduct multiple reviews.

2. For reading, writing, and researching (i.e. for a paper, presentation, homework, etc.)

2.a. I start EARLY and do a little every day.

For research, I use the ACC Library and other reputable websites; I highlight and save passages; I take notes while reading or watching videos; I keep track of my sources.

2.b. I ask questions; I go to office hours and seek tutoring when needed.

Amber Traylor, HSO Treasurer

Like many students, I can struggle to manage my time when trying to study or complete homework. What I’ve found works for me is a combination of two strategies:

1. I maintain an accurate calendar reflecting when assignments are due, when exams are, and what other activities I have planned on certain days. This helps to remind me what needs to be done on a given day and allows me to focus based on the order of importance, this is often called the Covey technique and involves ranking things from urgent, to not urgent, to not important.

2. I also use a variation of the Pomodoro technique when studying or doing work. I often find that around the 1-hour mark of working, my brain starts to lose focus and I seek out distractions. To maintain my productivity, I work straight through for 45 minutes and then take a 10-to-15-minute break. By breaking up my work, I can stay on task for several hours at a time. I also alternate my types of work between sessions; I may start on math, then rotate to science, and then switch to English before going back to math.

At the end of the day, you must make studying a priority while in college. Develop techniques that work best for you but look over these ideas to see if you like them!

We wish you all the best in all you do and look forward to seeing you again this spring! 🌷 💜

Your friends,

[Video]: Barbara Oakley: “Learning How to Learn”. 

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Test yourself on everything, all the time. 

Use flashcards for all subjects (stem and the arts). Flashcards are not just for language learners. Great poets often say, “memorize the poem, because you will feel the passion and the power of the poem much more deeply”. Memorize equations and think about what it really means; this will help bring out the richness of what you are learning.

Do homework problems more than once. You don’t have to do all of the problems over again, pick some of the key ones and see if you can do it again. Go through all the steps, and if you can, play it almost like a song in your mind. 

Recall. Resist the urge to over underline or over highlight when reading. It is more effective to write, because it is neurally encoding the ideas you are learning. Then after reading, simply look away and see what you can recall.

Study judiciously with classmates or colleagues.

hi guys! here are my first ever printables ((: they’re super simple + minimalistic because i’ve just started and have dabbled a bit with the set-up of them

i also realised that the header w/ my tumblr url in it was cut-off )))): i’ll def fix it up in my next set of printables.

other than that - here’s some info on them!! was planning out an essay for english and i decided to create some planning sheets to print out and write my info in !! they come in two versions - 2 body paragraphs + 3 body paragraphs

essay planning sheet with 2 body paragraphs: x

Learning How to Learn Seminar Series - 2017

Obtaining Higher Learning

Obtaining Higher Learning: Thu Jan 5 (mp4 video) 

https://cityinmars.tumblr.com/post/183123839891/learning-resources

https://cityinmars.tumblr.com/post/183123839891/obtaining-higher-learning-2017

Enhance your performance and become a better learner by attending the Learning how to Learn Seminar Series. Learn how to engage with course material at a university level and improve your thinking and learning skills.

Thinking About Your Thinking: Thu Jan 19 (mp4 video)

The ability to think about one's own thinking, called metacognition, is considered to be one of the most important skill sets. In this seminar you will be introduced to metacognition and learn how to apply it to your studies and beyond.

Embracing Failure: Thu Feb 2 (mp4 video)

A fear of failure can be extremely paralyzing. It can lead to stress, anxiety, and procrastination. In this seminar, we will discuss how to view failure, and, in particular, how to develop a growth mindset.

Learning in Lectures: Thu Feb 16 (mp4 video)

Do you find that lectures are mostly a scramble between trying to listen to the professor and take notes? In this session, I will show you how to improve your efficiency and comprehension during lectures.

The Neuroscience of Memory: Thu Mar 2 (mp4 video)

Using fMRI scans, neuroscientists have discovered a great deal about the brain. In this seminar, we will see how to use these discoveries to make learning more efficient and long lasting.

Effective Study: Thu Mar 16 (mp4 video)

There is much to accomplish in your school life and your time is a precious and limited resource. In this seminar you will learn to recognize the signs of ineffective study habits and how to redirect your efforts to study smarter, not longer.

Recommended viewing:

Learning how to learn by Barbara Oakley, Oakland University. TED talk, 2014, 17 minutes.

Learning how to learn by Barbara Oakley, Oakland University. Learning Technologies Symposium 2016 keynote lecture, Learning technology Symposium, McMaster University, 2016, 65 minutes.

Grit: the power of passion and perseverance by Angela Lee Duckworth, University of Pennsylvania. TED talk, 2013, 6 minutes.