How to be more effective and less stressed in an age of distractions:

The age of Distractions

When you think you multi-task, you are actually just switching from one task to another.
And there is a cognitive and emotional cost in doing so!

In order to be more effective and less stressed: 

Focus on NOW

Plan:

                         

You need to know where you are heading, so prioritise according to when you are writing the test and what you need to know for it. Plan on your To Do Today (see picture).

Manage time:

Set your timer for 30 min for your first session and GO!

During the 25 min you can't be interrupted!

 "Learning information while multi-tasking causes the new information to go to the wrong part of the brain. If students study and watch TV at the same time, for example, the information from their schoolwork goes into the striatum, a region specialised for storing new procedures and skills, not facts and ideas. Without the distraction of TV, the information goes into the hippocampus, where it is organised and categorised in a variety of ways, making it easier to retrieve.

Cell phones too, are a distraction. Stop and know it is a recipe for addiction: you receive a text, and that activates your novelty centres. You respond and feel rewarded for having completed a task (even though that task was entirely unknown to you 15 seconds earlier). Each of those delivers a shot of dopamine as your limbic system cries out “More! More! Give me more!”

 

Sustain your focus on your learning material until the last 5 min before your timer rings - use the 5 min. for relaxation. Sustaining diffusing your brain...

The timer's ring calls you back and activates your next session.

For more information on related matters see Betterhelp.com/advice/stress/

Letter to parents/students

The Complete Study Course

Dear Parents,

The Study Course is meant to give you and/or your children practical insight on how to learn more deeply and with less frustration. The lessons in this course can help in learning many different subjects and skills. Whether you love language or math, music or physics or history, you'll have a lot of fun, and learn a LOT about how to learn! 

The Complete Study Individual Course normally takes 6 weeks, but a small group course, "Study Course for 4", can be specially arranged, where they get a good look into the most important parts of good study habits.

We shall focus on
·         Focused versus Diffuse Thinking
·         Procrastination
·        Goal setting
·        Techniques to summarise
·        Planning
·         Time management
·         Memory techniques
·        Test-day itself
and Stress Management with
relaxation (breathing) exercises etc.

These are done in accordance with the person’s unique intelligence profile (My clients receive a report about their strengths) in order to realise your full potential.

Kind regards,
    Lucia Brand
    082 782 4747
luciabrand@cybersmart.co.za
     M Ed (Study Counsellor)
Unlock your mind!
        
        and Nia teacher
www.niastellenbosch.com 

   Fitness for life!

Time Management and Planning

It is exams soon and time management is important
...it is never too late to learn how to study more effectively

 

Do a Complete Study Course (contact Lucia @ 082 782 4747):

 

                     The course includes Time Management and Planning

                                           For many people, time is an enemy.

                             Let's see time differently and enhance your effectiveness:

Imagine you are the captain of a ship, and the journey for today has 4 stop-overs (Your breaks are your "stops", when you'll be resting - stretching or listening to your favourite song).

You need to know where you are heading, so prioritise according to when you are writing the test and what you need to know for it. Plan on your To Do Today (see picture).

Set your timer for 30 min for the first voyage and GO! (During the first 25 min you can't be interrupted, as you are on the open sea. Sustain your focus until the last 5 min before your timer rings - those are your stops).

The timer's ring calls you back and sets you on the next voyage.

Bon Voyage!