How to Study When You're Tired (from a Med Student)

Summary

Salim, a med student with over 7 years of university experience, shares his three-part 'Reawaken Method' to boost study productivity, even when you're tired. The method emphasizes energy management over time, realistic goal-setting, and maximizing downtime for study. Salim encourages setting deadlines, taking active breaks, and using brief moments to stay engaged. He also highlights the importance of effective lecture time, building study discipline, and maintaining a consistent sleep routine. Salim concludes by recommending the Brilliant platform for interactive learning and how AI tools can enhance study efficiency.

Takeaways

• 🧠 Maximize study sessions by focusing on energy levels instead of time, incorporating active rest to stay productive.
• ⏳ Use Parkinson’s Law: Set a deadline for when to stop studying rather than focusing on when to start.
• 🏋️‍♂️ Active rest before and after study sessions, like going to the gym or playing piano, helps recharge energy.
• 📝 Avoid overloading yourself with unrealistic study plans; prioritize tasks based on what’s truly urgent.
• ✅ Break large tasks into smaller, manageable chunks to avoid burnout—doing something small is better than nothing.
• 🚇 Maximize downtime, like commuting or at the gym, by studying on your phone to keep your mind engaged.
• 🎧 Avoid taking extensive notes during lectures. Instead, listen and understand during class to reduce post-lecture study time.
• ⏳ Build discipline by gradually increasing study time, starting with just 5 minutes when feeling tired.
• 📚 Studying in public spaces like libraries can increase productivity due to accountability and reduced distractions.
• 🛌 Consistent wake-up times help establish a natural sleep routine and improve overall energy levels.

Q & A

What is the main focus of Salim's video?

The main focus of Salim's video is to share strategies for maximizing study sessions even when feeling tired, so that students can have more time for other activities they care about.

What is the Reawaken Method?

The Reawaken Method is a set of strategies that Salim outlines to help students improve their study sessions and manage their energy and time more effectively.

What is Parkinson's Law and how does it apply to studying?

Parkinson's Law is the idea that work expands to fill the time available for its completion. In studying, Salim suggests setting a deadline for when to stop studying rather than when to start, to create a sense of urgency and improve productivity.

Why is active rest important before and after study sessions?

Active rest is important to recharge energy levels and prevent burnout. Salim recommends scheduling time for activities like going to the gym or playing the piano to refresh the mind and maintain focus during study sessions.

What is the significance of creating a realistic to-do list?

Creating a realistic to-do list helps in managing expectations and avoiding overcomplication. It allows students to prioritize tasks and understand the urgency of each task, which can lead to more efficient study sessions.

How can breaking tasks into smaller, achievable goals benefit students?

Breaking tasks into smaller goals can make them feel more manageable and less overwhelming. This approach helps maintain momentum and motivation, as completing smaller tasks can lead to a sense of accomplishment and progress.

Why is it beneficial to study during downtime, such as on the train or at the gym?

Studying during downtime keeps the mind engaged and prevents wasted time. It also helps to make use of otherwise unproductive moments and can contribute to a consistent study habit.

What is the 5-minute rule Salim mentions for studying when feeling tired?

The 5-minute rule is a technique where one commits to studying for at least five minutes when feeling mentally resistant or tired. This can help overcome the initial hurdle of starting to study and often leads to longer study sessions.

How can studying with a friend or in a public place like a library improve focus?

Studying with a friend or in a public place like a library provides a sense of accountability and a more focused environment. The presence of others working can motivate students to stay on task and resist distractions.

What role does sleep routine play in managing tiredness after school or university?

A consistent sleep routine is crucial for managing tiredness. Salim emphasizes the importance of waking up at the same time every day to regulate the body's internal clock and improve sleep quality.

What are the two common reasons Salim suggests for feeling tired all the time?

Salim suggests that a high-carb lunch and potential anemia are two common reasons for constant tiredness. Adjusting diet and getting a blood test to check for anemia can help manage this issue.

Outlines

00:00

🎯 Maximizing Study Sessions While Tired

In this introduction, Salim, a med student with over seven years of university experience, discusses how to maintain focus and productivity during study sessions, even when tired. He introduces the 'Reawaken Method,' a set of strategies to maximize study efficiency and promises that at least one will be helpful. The first strategy is previewed, and Salim emphasizes the importance of time management and rest during study sessions.

05:01

⏳ Applying Parkinson's Law for Better Focus

Salim explains how students can avoid distractions by applying Parkinson's law, which involves setting a strict deadline to stop studying rather than focusing on when to start. He also advocates for incorporating 'active rest' before and after study sessions, such as going to the gym or watching TV. By prioritizing energy levels over time, students can improve their productivity and avoid burnout.

📋 Setting Realistic Goals for Productivity

Salim addresses how students often set unrealistic study expectations, which leads to tiredness and inefficiency. He suggests creating a realistic to-do list for the week and prioritizing tasks based on urgency. By breaking down tasks into smaller, achievable goals—like completing just five practice questions or writing 100 words—students can stay productive without feeling overwhelmed.

🚀 Maximizing Downtime for Success

Salim highlights how top 1% students maximize their time by using downtime, such as commuting or gym breaks, to study. These small increments of study time accumulate and keep the mind engaged, helping to prevent tiredness and distractions. This strategy doesn’t require drastic lifestyle changes but encourages students to make better use of idle moments.

📚 Sponsored Study Tool: Brilliant

Salim introduces Brilliant, an online learning platform that helps students improve their critical thinking skills, especially in STEM subjects. He praises Brilliant’s hands-on, interactive learning approach and recommends it as an effective tool to enhance study sessions, especially when preparing for exams.

🏫 Ineffective Time Use at School or University

Salim argues that students who need to study extensively after a full day at school or university are likely not using their time effectively during lectures. He recalls how he used to take excessive notes, which led to more work later. He advises students to change their approach—by focusing on understanding during lectures or studying something else if the lecture isn’t useful—so they can reduce the amount of study needed at home.

💪 Building Discipline Through Small Steps

Salim compares the mental resistance to studying with the resistance to going to the gym, stating that starting is the hardest part. He advises students to build their discipline gradually, applying the '5-minute rule' to ease into study sessions. This technique, combined with setting achievable study goals and holding themselves accountable, helps students push through tiredness and build a consistent study habit.

🌙 Sleep and Diet: Key Biological Factors

Salim explains how maintaining a consistent sleep schedule can significantly reduce tiredness and improve study productivity. He stresses the importance of waking up at the same time each day to regulate the body's circadian rhythm. Additionally, he suggests adjusting diet, especially reducing carb intake at lunch, and checking for conditions like anemia, which may contribute to chronic fatigue.

🤖 Enhancing Productivity with AI

Salim wraps up by introducing AI as an underutilized tool for boosting study efficiency. He teases a follow-up video where he shares simple steps on how students can use AI to make studying faster and more effective, encouraging viewers to watch and learn more about these methods.

Keywords

💡Parkinson’s Law

Parkinson’s Law is the principle that work expands to fill the time available for its completion. In the video, this concept is used to encourage setting a clear deadline for when to stop studying, rather than focusing solely on when to start. By doing this, students can work more efficiently within the limited time and avoid unproductive study sessions.

💡Active Rest

Active rest refers to engaging in relaxing activities that recharge your energy, such as going to the gym or playing the piano. The video emphasizes the importance of active rest before and after study sessions to prevent burnout and maintain focus. By scheduling time for rest, students can avoid feeling tired and distracted during their study sessions.

💡Realistic To-Do List

A realistic to-do list involves setting achievable goals for the week instead of overwhelming yourself with tasks. The video stresses the importance of evaluating the urgency of each task and prioritizing them based on their impact. For example, the speaker mentions skipping a pre-reading assignment to focus on a more pressing mock exam preparation, illustrating the flexibility needed in planning.

💡Small, Achievable Tasks

Small, achievable tasks refer to breaking down large, overwhelming assignments into smaller, more manageable steps. This concept is highlighted in the video to help students tackle difficult tasks when they are low on energy. For instance, instead of completing 100 practice questions at once, doing just five can help maintain momentum and productivity.

💡Maximizing Downtime

Maximizing downtime is about using idle moments effectively, such as studying on your phone while commuting or during short breaks at the gym. The video encourages this strategy as a way to stay engaged and productive even during times when you might otherwise lose focus or daydream.

💡Discipline

Discipline is the ability to make yourself study even when you don’t feel like it. The video likens this to building a habit, much like progressively increasing weights at the gym. By starting small with the '5-minute rule,' where you study for just five minutes when tired, you can build the discipline to study for longer periods over time.

💡Sleep Routine

A sleep routine is the practice of maintaining a consistent sleep schedule by going to bed and waking up at the same time every day. The video highlights this as a key factor in feeling rested and avoiding tiredness during study sessions. By sticking to a regular wake-up time, your body naturally adjusts to feeling tired at the right time, improving sleep quality.

💡Carbohydrates and Diet

The video points out that consuming a large amount of carbohydrates, especially for lunch, can lead to post-meal fatigue, which impacts productivity. The speaker shares a personal example of feeling sleepy after consuming carbs and suggests reducing carbohydrate intake during the day to avoid this energy slump and maintain focus during study sessions.

💡Anaemia

Anaemia, a condition characterized by low iron levels in the body, can cause persistent fatigue. The video suggests that students who feel tired despite following all other advice might need a blood test to check for anaemia. Treating this condition with supplements could help restore energy levels and improve productivity.

💡Circadian Rhythm

The circadian rhythm is the natural, internal process that regulates the sleep-wake cycle. The video discusses the importance of maintaining a healthy circadian rhythm by waking up at the same time each day. By doing this, students can avoid random periods of tiredness throughout the day, leading to better focus and energy for studying.

Highlights

Introduction of the Reawaken Method, which offers strategies to maximize study sessions even when tired.

Parkinson’s Law: Focus on setting a deadline for when to stop studying rather than when to start.

Active rest before and after study sessions to recharge energy and prevent distractions.

Top 1% students use their downtime effectively, studying during spare moments like train rides or gym breaks.

The importance of a realistic to-do list for the week, focusing on priorities rather than overloading tasks.

Breaking large tasks into smaller, achievable ones to manage energy levels and avoid burnout.

Instead of taking notes on everything during lectures, listen actively to avoid needing additional study time later.

Building study discipline by starting with just 5 minutes of study time when feeling tired and progressively increasing.

Studying in public spaces like libraries or coffee shops can help maintain focus and resist distractions.

Regulating sleep schedules by waking up at the same time daily to improve sleep quality and reduce fatigue.

Reducing carb intake at lunch to avoid post-meal sleepiness and maintain focus.

The possibility of tiredness being linked to common conditions like anemia, emphasizing the importance of a blood test.

How to use AI to study 10x faster, promising greater efficiency with simple steps.

Utilizing moments of rest or transitions to keep the mind engaged, making study time more effective.

Learning from Brilliant, an interactive platform proven to enhance problem-solving skills in STEM subjects.

Transcripts

Imagine if you could always focus when you study,  

instead of having to force yourself when  you’re tired and when you can’t concentrate..

I’m Salim, I’m a med student and I’ve also done  an undergrad and postgraduate degree - and over  

my 7 years at uni, I’ve figured out how  to maximise my study sessions even when  

I’m tired, so that I still have time  for more of the things I care about.

So I’ll go over the 3 strategies of  The Reawaken Method - and at least  

one of the strategies is going to  help, so stick around until the end.

So the first strategy of this  method has three parts to it,  

and the third part is something  that top 1% students do.

And to start, I have a question - do you  easily get distracted when you study,  

but still force yourself to  study, even with this bad focus?

The problem when you’re tired is that you  fall into this cycle of feeding into those  

distractions, telling yourself that you’ll  study for the rest of the day to make up.

But you know that doing this keeps you feeling  

tired and only ends up as an  unproductive study session.

So there’s two things you need to do - the first  is to apply Parkinson’s law, where instead of  

focusing on when you start studying, set  a deadline in the day for when to stop.

And the second thing is to give yourself time  for active rest before you start studying,  

and again after the deadline.

For me, after a full day at med school, my  first active rest would be going to the gym,  

then setting a deadline to get a specific  amount of studying done by 10pm, with the  

second active rest after that, where I  play the piano or even just watch TV.

This works because instead of focusing on time,  you focus on energy - since you'll avoid studying  

when your energy is low right after school  or uni because you won’t even be productive.

Studies found this time pressure to be one  of the best ways to getting things done, and  

having time scheduled for active rest recharges  your energy between different study sessions - so  

that you don’t fall into that trap of feeding  into your tiredness and getting distracted.

So that’s the first part of the first strategy  of this method. And for the next part,  

I have another question - do you believe that the  amount of work you give yourself is realistic?

Because I’ve noticed how a lot of  students overcomplicate things,  

thinking that they have to do their  assignment, their homework and study  

for 5 hours all in one day. But how  many times have you actually done this?

Probably not much, but you’ve  still made it this far.

So instead of piling things up and making  yourself tired, there’s two things you should do.

The first is to create a realistic to do list for  the whole week. And for each thing you need to do,  

ask yourself, what’s the worst thing that  could happen if you push it for later,  

and prioritise something else instead?

When I’ve tried this, I realised that a lot of  things aren’t that urgent. For example the other  

week I was meant to do some pre-reading for my  online GP placement - but this would’ve taken  

me at least 4 hours to do, and I had other  things to do like study for a mock exam.

But I realised, not doing the pre-reading  would mean I’d be a little bit lost at  

the start of the session and not answer  things correctly, but that’s about it.

So I decided to not do the pre-reading,  

and use that time to study for  my mock - and it ended up okay.

And the second thing you need to realise is that  the energy you need for a task might be more  

than the energy you have. And that’s because  you're looking at the task as one big thing.

But life is flexible, you don’t  have to get something done all  

in one go - so what you should do  is set small, achievable tasks.

If you don’t have the energy  to do 100 practice questions,  

do 5, or if you can’t finish your  whole assignment, write 100 words.

Doing something no matter how small, is  still better than doing nothing - and  

these two points focus on being realistic with  what you can do instead of setting unrealistic  

standards and then acting surprised  when you’re tired and overworked.

Now for the third and final  part of the first strategy,  

i have a third question - when you’re going to or  coming back from school or uni, what do you do?

Because top 1% students make  sure to maximise their time.

Whenever I have down time, whether that’s on  the train or at the gym between workout sets,  

I study on my phone, and I do this without fail.

Those minutes might not seem significant,  but they add up - and more importantly,  

it keeps your mind engaged at times where you'd  otherwise daydream and start feeling more tired.

This is something anyone can do - because I’m  not asking you to wake up earlier or sleep later,  

I’m asking you to maximise the  time where you’re doing nothing.

And before I get to the second strategy of this  method, one thing I’ve done for over 100 days  

to get my brain engaged and start off my study  sessions, is using our quick sponsor of the video,  

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with thousands of interactive lessons in  math, data analysis, programming, and AI.

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Now the second strategy of this method  also has three main parts to it.

And for the first part, I’ll be honest -  if you’re at school or uni for a full day,  

and feel that you still need to study a lot when  you get home, then you’re doing something wrong.

Because throughout school, my  undergrad and postgraduate degrees,  

and even now at med school, the only  times I’ve felt that I had to study  

all day after a full day at uni was  when I knew I wasted time at uni.

And usually that’s because I didn’t spend my time  in lectures effectively - for example I remember  

how I used to take notes on everything a professor  said in my lecture, but because I was so focused  

on writing things down, I’d then have to spend  more time after to understand and organise it.

But when I instead chose to just sit and listen,  or sometimes even do unrelated work in the  

lecture, I’d end up being more productive and no  longer have to spend all evening studying more.

So if you’re not learning much at school or uni,  

change your approach to learning. This  could be taking an active effort to  

maintain focus when you’re sitting in  your lesson by answering questions,  

or if your teacher isn't doing a good job of  teaching, use that time to study something else.

These are hours of your day you don’t  want to waste not learning anything,  

only to then feel tired when you get home.

Now the second part of this strategy is realising  that a lot of the time, it’s the thought of doing  

work that makes you feel tired, as opposed  to you being physically tired or burnt out.

And I like comparing it to going to the gym  - the hard part of exercising is getting  

started and building the habit of going there  consistently so that you can see the results.

But once you get going, it only gets easier.

So to build this tolerance against  feeling tired after school or uni,  

you need to build your discipline. And that’s  by studying especially when you don’t want to.

But you might be thinking, how can you force  discipline if you’ve got no discipline?

So just as how at the gym you progressively  increase the weights you lift, you need to  

progressively increase how long you study for,  when you have this mental resistance to studying.

And I’m not asking you to make yourself  study for 10 hours - instead, apply the  

5 minute rule where you just spend 5  minutes to study when you feel tired,  

and if you can get yourself to do  more, push through and keep it going.

Keep track of when you stop so that when  it’s the next time you’re feeling tired  

and you need to study, you have a target to reach.

This isn’t just about making it a game,  it’s also about creating a habit of studying  

when you feel like you’re tired, so that it  becomes natural to you. Because eventually,  

this form of feeling tired won’t happen as  much and you’ll be able to keep it going.

And if you want longer study  sessions for when you’re tired,  

it helps to have accountability by studying  with a friend or going to the library.

Because on average, you’re more  likely to waste time at home,  

since no one is around to catch you  getting distracted and force you to study.

But in a library or coffee shop, you’re  more conscious of your surroundings and  

what other people are doing, and  seeing everyone else work helps  

you do the same regardless of how  much resistance you initially feel.

Now the third and final strategy of this method  has two parts and it’s about human biology.

And as I’m sure you already know,  

one of the biggest things that makes  you feel tired is a bad sleep routine.

But this isn’t about making sure  to sleep 7, 8, or 9 hours a day.

Because the best thing you can do for  sleep right now is making sure to sleep  

at the same time every day, and more  importantly, wake up at the same time.

The idea is, as you keep waking up  at the same time in the morning,  

you’ll start feeling sleepy  at a regular time at night,  

and that makes your bedtime fall in  place to how much sleep your body needs.

For example, my sleep schedule  was pretty bad before, because  

even though I’d get 8 hours of sleep, I’d  get into bed or wake up at awkward hours.

But after just a week of waking up for 7am, I  started to naturally feel tired at around 1130pm,  

and I also got better quality sleep so  that I didn’t wake up feeling tired,  

or feel randomly sleepy at 5pm - so listen to  your body to have this healthy circadian rhythm.

But now, you could have tried every tip and  still find that you’re tired after school or uni.

And that could be because of two  surprisingly common things. The  

first could be your diet - like whenever  I had a lot of carbs for lunch, I’d almost  

always feel sleepy after. But immediately after  dropping the amount of carbs I had for lunch,  

I stopped getting this tiredness. So if you have  a lot of carbs for lunch, try doing the same.

The second reason for why you’re tired all the  time no matter what you try might be because  

you have anaemia, since that’s relatively common.  So maybe you need a blood test to see if you have  

low iron or something else, so that you can get  some supplements to help manage your symptoms.

So managing tiredness after school or uni can  

maximise your study sessions so that  you can still get the rest you need.

But something I don’t see many  students do that can very easily  

boost study productivity is using  AI to make studying more efficient.

So in this video here, I talk about how  you can use AI to study 10x faster from  

today with some very simple steps  - so click the video to learn more.