How I Study With a Full-Time Job: My Strategic Scheduling

Summary

The video script details the personal struggles of the speaker, who was overwhelmed by the demands of medical school and multiple jobs. To manage their busy schedule, they experimented with various planning methods, which often led to boredom and a dislike of work. The speaker then introduces a new approach to planning, inspired by psychology and motivation theories, aiming to make work as addictive as leisure activities. They discuss the importance of balancing work and non-work activities and the psychological impact of rewards on behavior. The script explains four types of reward reinforcement schedules and advocates for a flexible planning method that incorporates randomization of rewards to maintain motivation and energy levels throughout the day. The speaker also shares their experience with Sigma OS, a browser that helps organize work and improve productivity. The video concludes with a reminder to be kind to oneself and to others, acknowledging the limitations of the advice given and inviting viewers to share their own strategies.

Takeaways

• 📅 **Recognize Work and Non-Work Activities**: Both work and non-work activities affect each other and should be considered in your schedule.
• 🔄 **Understand Reward Reinforcement**: Actions taken after work can act as a reward, influencing motivation for future work.
• 🎯 **Types of Reward Schedules**: Fixed interval, fixed ratio, variable interval, and variable ratio schedules affect how we approach work.
• 🚫 **Avoid Strict Scheduling**: Having a hard start and stop for tasks can make work less appealing in the future.
• 🛠️ **Flexible Time Blocking**: Use buffers and avoid back-to-back tasks to reduce mental energy spent on project switching.
• 🌟 **Identify Your Rewards**: Understand what you naturally reward yourself with after completing tasks to better plan your schedule.
• 🧘 **Randomize Rewards**: Introduce randomness in rewards to keep work interesting and maintain motivation.
• 🌡️ **Work with Your Body Clock**: Schedule tasks according to your natural rhythms to maximize productivity.
• 📈 **Balance Stimulation**: Choose rewards that complement the stimulation level of your work to maintain energy levels.
• 📝 **Audit Your Tasks**: Regularly audit and understand your work and reward tasks to optimize your schedule.
• 🤝 **Social Interaction**: Including social activities as rewards can provide a pleasant break and help to re-energize.

Q & A

What was the speaker's life like in 2018?

In 2018, the speaker's life became extremely busy as they started medical school and had to work three jobs to afford it. They also discovered Medical Art and began studying it, signed up for philosophy courses, volunteered as a mental health responder, and took on more jobs, all while studying medicine.

Why did the speaker feel their calendar was a nightmare?

The speaker felt their calendar was a nightmare because it was overly full, leading to stress and the potential for a mental breakdown. Any small disruption, like a bus being late, could cause them to fall behind on their packed schedule.

What is the psychological principle that the speaker discusses regarding work and non-work activities?

The speaker discusses the principle that the actions we take after a behavior act as a reward for that behavior. The type, timing, and frequency of these rewards can reinforce or weaken a behavior, making it easier or harder for us to work in the future.

What are the four types of reward reinforcement schedules mentioned in the script?

The four types of reward reinforcement schedules are fixed interval, fixed ratio, variable interval, and variable ratio. These schedules determine how likely we are to repeat a behavior based on the predictability and variability of the rewards we receive after the behavior.

Why does the speaker suggest that fixed schedules for work may be less effective for motivation?

The speaker suggests that fixed schedules for work may be less effective for motivation because they often lead to a consistent hard start and stop for tasks, followed by a more pleasant activity. This can make the work action less appealing in the future, as the brain begins to associate the end of work with a reward, and varying the timing of these rewards can increase the likelihood of wanting to repeat the task.

What is the solution proposed by the speaker to make work more engaging?

The speaker proposes a solution that leverages addiction psychology to make work more engaging. This involves not knowing when the hard end of a task is and what comes after it, which makes us more likely to want to do the task again in the future.

What is Sigma OS and how does it help with work organization?

Sigma OS is an internet browser that replaces traditional browsers like Safari and Chrome. It offers separate workspaces for different activities, allowing users to maintain a clear organization and mental separation between tasks. It keeps important tabs open and organized, reducing clutter and increasing efficiency.

How does the speaker recommend auditing one's work and reward tasks?

The speaker recommends identifying both work tasks that are often procrastinated on and reward tasks that serve as self-reward after completing work. This includes understanding what one does first thing in the morning, before sleep, and to relax, as these can indicate what the attention is likely to want to go to when it feels it has the freedom to do so.

What is the new type of time blocking the speaker introduces?

The new type of time blocking introduced by the speaker involves adding large buffers to the start and end of a task, avoiding a hard stop time for tasks, not scheduling back-to-back different tasks or projects, and not scheduling specific tasks or things that need to be done rigidly into the calendar.

How does the speaker suggest managing rewards after completing a task?

The speaker suggests randomizing rewards after completing a task by using a dice with different activities written on each side. This introduces an element of unpredictability and can make the rewards less expected and more engaging.

Why is it important to consider the level of stimulation in rewards after work tasks?

Considering the level of stimulation in rewards is important because it helps maintain higher levels of energy throughout the day. High stimulation rewards can exhaust a person quickly, making it difficult to transition back to high stimulation work. Choosing rewards that are less stimulating or stimulating in a different way can help re-energize and maintain focus.