How To Create A Self Study Schedule

The speaker discusses the struggle of maintaining a self-study schedule and the importance of creating a personalized plan that fits one's lifestyle. They emphasize that people have different types of days with varying schedules, and a one-size-fits-all approach to self-study doesn't work. The speaker shares their experience with trying to follow other people's schedules and the realization that a personalized approach is necessary. They introduce the concept of energy management over time management and suggest that the best way to study is when one has the most energy, which is usually in the morning. The speaker also hints at using dopamine to trick oneself out of a procrastination spiral, which will be explained in more detail later in the video.

This paragraph delves into the concept of energy management, explaining that after a day of work or school, one's energy levels are depleted, making it difficult to focus on self-study. The speaker references Dr. K Anders Ericson's research on expert performance, which found that top violinists practice in intense, short intervals in the morning. The speaker suggests that self-study should be scheduled during times of high energy and self-discipline. They also recommend finding a consistent time slot that matches one's energy levels to reduce decision fatigue and form a habit. Additionally, the speaker mentions that energy and motivation can be deliberately replenished and will discuss this in relation to dopamine theory later in the video.

The speaker addresses the issue of having an open schedule and the tendency for time to be wasted, referencing Parkinson's Law, which states that work expands to fill the time available for its completion. To combat this, they suggest creating artificial deadlines by scheduling commitments that force self-study to be completed by a certain time. The speaker also introduces the idea of dopamine and its role in motivation and anticipation, explaining that dopamine is not just a feel-good neurotransmitter but is more about the anticipation of reward. They discuss how dopamine works in the brain, using an analogy of waves in a tidal pool, and how maintaining a baseline level of dopamine is crucial for motivation. The speaker then introduces a strategy to increase dopamine levels and motivation by doing something one dislikes, which will be elaborated on in the next paragraph.

In this paragraph, the speaker explains a hack to boost dopamine levels and motivation, which can help break out of a procrastination spiral. They suggest doing something one really dislikes, which causes a dip in dopamine, followed by a spike when the task is completed. This spike in dopamine provides a burst of motivation. The speaker uses the example of taking a cold shower, which they dislike, and the resulting increase in motivation afterward. They also mention push-ups as an alternative activity for a quick dopamine boost. The speaker acknowledges that some people have naturally lower baseline dopamine levels, which can lead to procrastination spirals, and encourages those individuals to try the dopamine hack to maintain a habit of self-studying, even if it's for a short period of time.

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