How I got straight A’s without a study plan (using Notion)

Summary

In this video, H, a recent Columbia University engineering graduate, shares a flexible exam preparation method that helped him succeed while managing a hectic schedule. By emphasizing tracking progress rather than rigid planning, he combines personal experience with science-based learning techniques. His approach utilizes Notion for organization, focusing on spaced repetition, prioritizing key topics, and leveraging Notion AI for efficient study. H illustrates his method through a practical example, highlighting how it alleviates anxiety and enhances productivity, ultimately allowing for a balanced and effective study experience.

Takeaways

• 😀 Embrace flexibility in studying: Rigid study plans can often lead to stress and anxiety, so it's important to adapt to unexpected changes.
• 📅 Track progress instead of strictly planning: Use visual progress bars to monitor what you need to study and what you have completed.
• 🔄 Utilize spaced repetition: This technique allows you to focus more on difficult topics while revisiting easier ones less frequently.
• 🎯 Prioritize study topics: Apply the Pareto principle (80/20 rule) to focus on the most critical topics that yield the greatest outcomes.
• 📝 Organize without a strict schedule: You can still maintain organization and efficiency without detailed study plans.
• 📊 Use Notion for productivity: The Notion app is a powerful tool that can help track your study progress and organize materials effectively.
• 🚀 Leverage Notion AI for study efficiency: Features like Q&A and summarization can save time and improve focus while studying.
• 📚 Categorize materials: Organize study topics into categories (most important, secondary, nice to know) to streamline your focus.
• 🕒 Build in buffer time: Completing your studies a few days before exams allows for extra practice and reduces last-minute stress.
• 💪 Reflect on personal study methods: Learn from experiences to find what study techniques work best for you, balancing ambition with realistic expectations.

Q & A

What was the speaker's experience with studying during their second year at Columbia University?

The speaker took seven classes, worked part-time, interned, and managed a student organization while successfully acing all exams without a strict study plan.

What led the speaker to develop a new exam preparation method?

The speaker struggled with creating detailed study plans that often collapsed due to unexpected events, leading to feelings of overwhelm and anxiety as exams approached.

What are the three key realizations the speaker had about study planning?

1) Predicting schedules realistically is difficult due to constant changes. 2) It's impossible to always follow a strict schedule as a human. 3) Not having a detailed plan doesn't mean being unorganized.

How does the speaker track their exam preparation progress?

The speaker uses two progress bars: one for reference progress, based on the number of tasks and days, and another for actual progress, tracking completed topics and their difficulty.

What is spaced repetition, and how is it applied in the speaker's study method?

Spaced repetition is an evidence-based learning technique that encourages reviewing difficult topics more frequently while less difficult ones are studied less often, optimizing study efficiency.

How does the speaker prioritize study topics?

Topics are categorized into three levels of importance: most important, secondary, and nice to know, focusing efforts on those that yield the highest results.

What is the 'Pareto principle' mentioned by the speaker?

The Pareto principle, or 80/20 rule, suggests that 80% of outcomes come from 20% of efforts, emphasizing the importance of focusing on the most impactful study topics.

How does the speaker utilize Notion in their study process?

The speaker uses Notion to organize notes, track progress, and implement their study method, which includes features for tracking reviews, summarizing notes, and using AI for Q&A.

What are some of the Notion AI features that aid the speaker's study?

Notion AI helps by answering questions about notes, summarizing content, and explaining complex concepts, making the study process faster and more efficient.

What was the speaker's final outcome by the end of their exam preparation?

By following the new study method, the speaker felt prepared and confident, completing all topics and utilizing buffer time for additional review.