how to ALWAYS get straight A's WITHOUT BURNING OUT (study + time management tips)

tonianne

20 Oct 202320:59

EducationalLearning

32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRIn this educational video, the speaker, Tonia, shares her personal strategies for academic success without burnout. With a background of high school excellence and being in the top 10% of her university program, she offers 18 actionable tips. These range from finding a productive environment to setting reasonable goals, utilizing outside resources, and maintaining the right mindset. Tonia emphasizes the importance of active recall over passive note-taking, prioritizing assignments based on their weight, and balancing grades with mental health and enjoyment of life.

Takeaways

🔍 Find a productive environment: Avoid working from your bed to keep it a stress-free space for sleeping.
🎧 Listen, don't copy: Focus on understanding the lecture instead of just copying notes if slides are provided later.
💡 Practice active recall: Instead of rewriting or rereading notes, use practice questions and flashcards to reinforce learning.
🚫 Skip non-beneficial classes: If a class is unhelpful and provides all content online, it might be more efficient to skip it.
📝 Know what to focus on: Pay attention to what teachers say is important and mark notes accordingly to avoid wasting time on unnecessary details.
⏰ Set reasonable goals: Don't overcommit; adjust your goals to be attainable to avoid burnout.
🕑 Use time management strategies: Experiment with techniques like time blocking, the Pomodoro technique, or the Eisenhower Matrix to manage your time effectively.
📅 Track assessment weights: Prioritize studying for assessments that have a higher impact on your overall grade.
📚 Utilize external resources: If your professor isn't helpful, look for online tutorials, peers, or mentors to aid your learning.
🧠 Maintain a positive mindset: Believe in your ability to improve in subjects you're struggling with by using positive affirmations.

Q & A

What was Tonyan's academic performance like in high school?
-Tonyan maintained a high average, ranging from 92% to 95%, while taking heavier courses such as mathematics, sciences, physics, biochemistry, and chemistry. She graduated with 36 credits, which is higher than the typical 30 credits.
How did Tonyan manage her time during high school while juggling academics, a part-time job, and extracurricular activities?
-The script does not provide specific details on how Tonyan managed her time, but it emphasizes her involvement in various activities while maintaining her grades, suggesting she had effective time management strategies.
What is Tonyan's current academic status in university?
-Tonyan is in her second year of university and was in the top 10% of her program in her previous year. She was also placed on the Dean's List.
What is the main purpose of Tonyan's video?
-The main purpose of the video is to share Tonyan's personal tips for achieving good grades, which she developed over her years of academic experience, rather than generic advice found online.
Why does Tonyan suggest not copying notes during lectures if the slides are provided afterwards?
-Tonyan suggests not copying notes during lectures to be fully present and engaged with the lecture content. This allows for better understanding, the opportunity to ask questions, and avoids the redundancy of rewriting notes that are already accessible online.
What is Tonyan's stance on rewriting or rereading notes for effective studying?
-Tonyan advises against spending too much time rewriting or rereading notes. Instead, she recommends practicing active recall through methods like flashcards or quizzes to better assess and reinforce knowledge.
How does Tonyan view the importance of attending every class in university?
-Tonyan believes that attending every class may not always be beneficial, especially if the professor is not effective. She suggests that it might be more advantageous to skip certain classes and focus on studying the material independently if the lectures are not valuable.
What does Tonyan recommend for understanding the content and assessment criteria in a course?
-Tonyan recommends paying close attention to what the professor emphasizes during lectures, such as what to memorize and what is not necessary to know. She also advises reading any provided rubrics thoroughly to understand how to excel in assignments and exams.
Why does Tonyan advocate for taking naps as part of her study routine?
-Tonyan finds that taking full sleep cycle naps helps her to be more productive upon waking. She argues that napping can save time in the long run by preventing the fatigue and inefficiency that can come from working while tired.
What is Tonyan's advice on using outside resources to supplement learning?
-Tonyan encourages students to utilize available outside resources, such as YouTube tutorials, websites, peers, upperclassmen, mentors, and other teachers or professors, to enhance their understanding of the course material.
How does Tonyan suggest setting academic goals during high school?
-Tonyan advises setting reasonable academic goals that are attainable given one's extracurriculars and commitments. She emphasizes the importance of not setting expectations so high that they lead to burnout and a negative impact on mental health.
What time management strategies does Tonyan mention in the script?
-Tonyan mentions several time management strategies, including 'Eat the Frog', which involves tackling the most daunting task first, 'Pomodoro Technique' for studying in intervals, and the 'Eisenhower Priority Matrix' for organizing tasks by priority.
Why is it important to understand the weighting of each assessment according to Tonyan?
-Understanding the weighting of each assessment is crucial because it allows students to allocate their time and effort effectively. Tonyan suggests focusing more on assignments and exams that contribute significantly to the overall grade.
What does Tonyan suggest for making studying more enjoyable?
-Tonyan suggests several ways to make studying more enjoyable, such as creating a pleasant study environment with ambient lighting or studying in a park, using Quizlet for flashcards, and turning memorization into a game with friends.
How does Tonyan recommend students approach studying for tests they are not good at?
-Tonyan recommends that if time is limited, students should focus on studying for the test in the subject area they are least confident in. She emphasizes the importance of investing more time in areas of weakness to improve overall performance.
What is Tonyan's advice on staying organized with due dates?
-Tonyan advises using an organizational system, such as Google Calendars or a physical agenda, to keep track of all due dates. This allows for planning ahead and completing assignments well before they are due, reducing stress.
How does Tonyan suggest students improve their performance based on feedback?
-Tonyan suggests that students should actively seek feedback on their work, reflect on it, and use it to improve their performance in future assignments or assessments.
What is the final piece of advice Tonyan gives regarding mindset and self-perception?
-Tonyan's final advice is to have the right mindset and to challenge negative self-perceptions. She encourages students to practice positive affirmations and shift their perspective to see themselves as capable and improving, which can contribute to success in school and life.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Top Study Tips from a High Achiever

The speaker, Tonyan, introduces her academic credentials, having maintained high grades in high school and being in the top 10% of her university program. She emphasizes that the tips she shares are personal and not generic advice found online. Tonyan promises that her 18 study tips will be actionable and save viewers time in the long run, encouraging them to watch the entire video for the best results.

05:00

🛌 Productive Environment and Active Learning

Tonyan advises against working from bed due to the negative association it can create with sleep. She shares her personal experience working in cafes and suggests finding alternative productive spaces like libraries. Tonyan also recommends listening attentively during lectures instead of copying notes, and practicing active recall by creating flashcards or doing quizzes, rather than just rewriting or rereading notes.

10:01

🚫 Avoid Unnecessary Class Attendance and Memorization

The speaker discusses the strategy of skipping classes when the professor's teaching is not beneficial, using her own experience with a math class as an example. She also advises students to identify which information is not necessary to memorize by paying attention to professors' hints during lectures. Tonyan suggests using abbreviations or symbols in notes to mark non-essential information and focusing on what will be assessed.

15:03

🎯 Prioritize and Manage Study Time Effectively

Tonyan emphasizes the importance of understanding the weight of each assessment and allocating study time accordingly. She also talks about the benefits of napping to improve productivity and stresses the importance of asking questions in class. The speaker encourages using outside resources, such as YouTube tutorials and mentors, to supplement learning, especially when the professor is not effective.

20:04

🎯 Setting Realistic Goals and Time Management

The speaker shares her regret of setting extremely high expectations for herself in high school, which led to burnout. Tonyan advises setting reasonable goals that align with one's capabilities and commitments. She also discusses various time management strategies, such as 'Eat the Frog' and time blocking, and encourages finding the one that works best for the individual.

🌟 Balancing Academics with Enjoyment and Self-Care

Tonyan stresses the importance of making studying enjoyable by creating a pleasant study environment or playing educational games with friends. She also advises focusing on weaker subjects to improve overall performance. The speaker encourages staying on top of due dates and constantly self-assessing to improve. Lastly, she emphasizes the importance of having the right mindset and not sacrificing mental health for grades.

💪 Mindset and Balance for Academic Success

In the final paragraph, Tonyan discusses the importance of mindset in achieving academic success. She suggests using positive affirmations to change one's self-perception and improve in areas of weakness. The speaker ends with a reminder that grades are not more important than mental health and encourages enjoying the present while also striving for academic excellence.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Productive Environment

A productive environment refers to a space where an individual can focus and efficiently complete tasks. In the video's context, the speaker mentions that working from bed can negatively impact sleep due to the association of the bed with work, emphasizing the importance of finding a separate, comfortable space for studying and work. The speaker also shares personal preferences, such as working in cafes, to illustrate the concept.

💡Active Recall

Active recall is a learning technique where one actively tries to remember information without looking at the material, as opposed to passively rereading or rewriting notes. The speaker in the video suggests using active recall over rewriting or rereading notes to better assess what one knows and what needs improvement, which is crucial for effective studying and knowledge retention.

💡Skippable Classes

The term 'skippable classes' is used in the video to describe certain classes or lectures that may not be necessary to attend in person if the information provided is available elsewhere or if the class does not contribute significantly to learning. The speaker shares personal experiences of skipping classes where the professor was not effective, thereby saving time that could be better spent on self-study or other productive activities.

💡Assessment Criteria

Assessment criteria are the standards or guidelines used to evaluate student performance. The video emphasizes the importance of understanding these criteria to focus study efforts effectively. The speaker advises students to pay attention to what professors say about what will be assessed and to use this information to prioritize study time and efforts.

💡Naps

In the context of the video, 'naps' are presented as a counterintuitive productivity tool. The speaker argues that taking full sleep cycles during naps can actually save time by increasing productivity upon waking. This is an example of how rest and self-care can be integrated into a study routine to enhance overall performance.

💡Asking Questions

Asking questions is highlighted as a critical component of learning in the video. The speaker encourages students to overcome social anxiety and ask questions in class to clarify understanding and to gain insights into what is expected for success. This practice is essential for grasping complex concepts and for performing well on assessments.

💡Outside Resources

Outside resources refer to any materials or individuals outside of the immediate classroom setting that can aid in learning. The video mentions using resources such as YouTube tutorials, classmates, mentors, and other teachers to supplement learning. This concept underscores the idea that students should be proactive in seeking help and information to enhance their understanding.

💡Time Management

Time management is a crucial skill discussed in the video, which involves organizing and planning how to spend time effectively. The speaker introduces different strategies like 'Eat the Frog' and 'Pomodoro Technique' to help students manage their time better. Effective time management is key to balancing academic responsibilities with other life aspects.

💡Self-Assessment

Self-assessment in the video refers to the process of reflecting on one's performance and identifying areas for improvement. The speaker suggests using feedback from assessments to improve future performance. This concept is vital for personal growth and academic success, as it promotes continuous learning and adaptation.

💡Mindset

Mindset, in the context of the video, pertains to an individual's perspective and attitude towards their abilities and challenges. The speaker advises viewers to adopt a positive mindset, using affirmations to overcome self-doubt and to enhance their capabilities. A proper mindset is portrayed as essential for success in both academics and life.

Highlights

Importance of finding a productive environment for studying, avoiding working from bed.

Listening attentively during lectures instead of copying notes to be fully present.

Practicing active recall over rewriting or rereading notes for better retention.

Deciding which classes are skippable based on the value provided by the professor.

Identifying key points from lectures to focus on and avoid memorizing unnecessary information.

Reading rubrics carefully to understand how to excel in assignments.

Benefits of taking full sleep cycles for naps to enhance productivity.

Encouragement to ask questions in class to ensure understanding.

Utilizing outside resources like tutors, peers, and online tutorials for learning.

Setting reasonable academic goals that align with personal commitments.

Finding a time management strategy that works best for individual needs.

Understanding the weighting of each assessment to prioritize study efforts.

Evaluating personal preferences to make informed decisions about how to spend time.

Making studying enjoyable by creating a pleasant environment or with friends.

Focusing on areas of weakness in studies to improve overall performance.

Staying on top of due dates and planning ahead to avoid last-minute stress.

Performing constant self-assessments to identify and improve weaknesses.

Maintaining the right mindset and self-perception to foster success.

Balancing academic excellence with mental health and enjoying the present.

Transcripts

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Study Tips Academic Success Productivity Time Management Mental Health Self Improvement Educational Content Student Life Exam Strategies Life Advice