COMO ESTUDAR MELHOR (Segundo a Neurociência)

Summary

The speaker emphasizes the challenge of maintaining motivation for long periods, like studying for a year for the ENEM exam. They compare 'concurseiros' to superheroes of motivation, highlighting the need to gamify the process to stay driven. The speaker shares their personal strategy of breaking down study goals into weekly targets, using a calendar to track progress, and incorporating rest and physical activity like running. They also discuss the importance of rest between study sessions and the concept of spaced repetition for effective learning.

Takeaways

• 😀 Maintaining motivation over a long period, like studying for a year for the ENEM, requires treating oneself as a 'superhero of motivation'.
• 🕒 The challenge of long-term motivation is that the reward is distant and uncertain, which is the opposite of what our reward system prefers.
• 📈 Public exams like the ENEM have seen a decline in popularity over the past 10-15 years, with entrepreneurship becoming a more attractive goal for Brazilians.
• 🗓️ To stay motivated, the speaker suggests breaking down the reward schedule and gamifying the process, which was key to their success in studying for a master's degree.
• 📆 The speaker used a calendar to plan their study sessions, marking what to study each weekend, which helped in visualizing progress and maintaining motivation.
• 🏃‍♂️ Incorporating physical activities like running into the routine can be beneficial, as it was for the speaker when they quit smoking and started running.
• ⏰ The speaker followed a strict study schedule with specific intervals for study and rest, emphasizing the importance of active rest rather than just scrolling through social media.
• 📚 On Saturdays, the speaker focused on studying new material, while on Sundays, they revised what they had learned the previous day, a technique known as spaced repetition.
• 📝 Spaced repetition and summarizing are scientifically proven methods to enhance memory and learning, which the speaker found effective in their study routine.
• 🚀 The speaker's strategy was to have a study session one day and a review session the next, which helped in reinforcing the learned material and keeping them motivated.

Q & A

What does the speaker refer to when they mention 'concurseiros'?

The speaker refers to those who prepare for competitive exams, like the Brazilian ENEM (National High School Exam), as 'concurseiros'. They are considered 'super heroes of motivation' due to the long-term dedication and discipline required for such exams.

Why does the speaker say the preparation for competitive exams is the 'opposite' of what our reward system likes?

The speaker claims that the preparation for competitive exams is the 'opposite' of what our reward system likes because the reward is distant, uncertain, and requires a significant amount of effort, which is contrary to the immediate gratification our reward system typically seeks.

How does the speaker suggest maintaining motivation over a long period?

The speaker suggests breaking down the reward system and gamifying the process. They share their personal experience of studying for a master's degree by setting weekly goals and visualizing their progress on a calendar.

What was the speaker's strategy for studying over a weekend?

The speaker's strategy involved dedicating an entire weekend to studying, planning what to study in advance, and visualizing their progress on a calendar. They would study intensively on Saturday and review on Sunday.

Why did the speaker stop studying during the weekdays and focus on weekends?

The speaker did not have time to study during the weekdays due to other commitments like work and school. Therefore, they focused on weekends to ensure they had dedicated, uninterrupted time for studying.

What is the significance of the 'long run' or 'longão' mentioned by the speaker?

The 'longão' refers to the longest running session of the week for the speaker, which was about 8-9 km. It was a significant part of their weekend routine and a way to maintain physical health alongside their studies.

How does the speaker describe the importance of rest during study breaks?

The speaker emphasizes that rest during study breaks should be active and involve doing something different from studying, such as household chores or going for a walk, rather than passive activities like scrolling through social media.

What is 'spaced repetition' as mentioned by the speaker?

Spaced repetition is a learning technique where you review information at increasing intervals over time, which the speaker finds effective for remembering what they studied. They practiced this by reviewing the previous weekend's study on Sunday afternoon.

What is the speaker's opinion on working on weekends?

The speaker believes that working on weekends is common and necessary for success, stating that they do not know anyone who has achieved significant life goals without working on weekends.

What book did the speaker aim to cover in its entirety for their master's exam preparation?

The speaker aimed to cover a book on neuroscience for their master's exam preparation, which included various topics such as neurophysiology, synaptic transmission, neuroanatomy, and more.

How does the speaker plan to help others with study techniques?

The speaker plans to create comprehensive lessons on study techniques based on scientific evidence to help others learn more effectively.