EFFICIENT studying: How to ACE everything in a FRACTION of the time

Summary

In this motivational video, the speaker, Amy, shares her secrets to achieving academic success and efficiency despite challenges like migraines. She emphasizes the importance of gaining awareness of assignments early, learning by doing, and using parallel recall for effective studying. Amy also highlights the value of having an accountability partner and pivoting when stuck, advocating for seeking help rather than struggling alone. Lastly, she stresses the need to reduce screen time to improve focus and productivity, offering practical tips for students to excel academically while maintaining a balanced life.

Takeaways

• 📚 Efficiency is crucial for achieving maximum productivity with minimal effort, which is essential for balancing academics with other life aspects.
• 👀 Gaining awareness of your homework by reviewing it as soon as you receive it can help you manage your time better and tackle easy tasks immediately.
• 🎾 Learn by doing: Start your homework without prior studying to identify what you need to learn from textbooks or notes, which saves time and reinforces learning.
• 🔁 Use parallel recall while studying to actively engage with the material, which helps in better understanding and retention.
• 🤝 Having an accountability partner can enhance your efficiency by providing motivation, collaboration, and social interaction.
• 🔄 Pivot when stuck on a problem by seeking help from friends or teachers rather than wasting time on frustration.
• 🚫 Reduce screen time, especially on social media, to improve focus and concentration on studies.
• 📉 Deleting distracting apps or reducing their usage can significantly improve your ability to concentrate on your work.
• 🏆 The tips shared are meant to be implemented one at a time and gradually incorporated into your routine for effective study habits.
• 🌟 By following these tips, the speaker was able to cut down study time and make it more enjoyable, emphasizing the importance of trying these strategies.
• 💬 The speaker encourages viewers to provide feedback and engage in the comments to foster a community of learners and improve future content.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video script?

The main focus of the video script is to provide tips on how to become more efficient at studying, as shared by Amy, who managed to excel academically while balancing other aspects of life.

How did Amy achieve high efficiency in her studies?

Amy achieved high efficiency by gaining awareness of her assignments, learning by doing, using parallel recall, having an accountability partner, pivoting when stuck, and reducing screen time.

What is the significance of gaining awareness of homework assignments?

Gaining awareness of homework assignments helps in managing time more effectively, reduces stress by overestimation, and allows for early engagement with the material, possibly leading to early completion of easy tasks.

What does Amy mean by 'learning by doing'?

By 'learning by doing,' Amy means starting homework without prior studying and using the homework to identify what needs to be learned, which helps in focusing study time on relevant material and reinforcing learning through active problem-solving.

Can you explain the concept of 'parallel recall' that Amy discusses?

Parallel recall is a method where Amy reads a sentence or paragraph and then immediately internalizes and repeats it in her own words, making connections with previously read material, which helps in better understanding and retention of information.

Why is having an accountability partner beneficial according to Amy?

An accountability partner is beneficial because it encourages efficiency by setting soft deadlines, fosters learning from each other, and provides social interaction, which can make the study process more enjoyable and effective.

What does Amy suggest doing when feeling stuck on a problem?

Amy suggests trying for a few minutes and then reaching out to a friend or teacher for help, and in the meantime, working on something else to prevent frustration and allow subconscious processing of the problem.

Why is reducing screen time important for study efficiency?

Reducing screen time is important because it helps maintain focus and prevents the brain from getting used to constantly forgetting information, which is a habit formed by the rapid consumption of social media content.

How does Amy's experience with migraines relate to her study efficiency?

Amy's experience with migraines, which sometimes caused her to miss school, made her more conscious of the need to be efficient with her study time, as she had to achieve maximum productivity with the limited time she had available.

What is the final tip Amy provides for improving study efficiency?

The final tip Amy provides is to reduce screen time, especially on social media platforms, as they can significantly impair focus and the ability to engage in deep, effective studying.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Achieving Academic Excellence Through Efficiency

The speaker, Amy, introduces the concept of efficiency in studying as a means to balance academic success with other life aspects. Despite having migraines that sometimes caused school absences, Amy managed to become a valedictorian with the highest GPA in her district's history. She emphasizes the importance of efficiency for productivity and enjoyment, sharing that she will provide tips she used in high school and college that have been carefully considered for their helpfulness. The overarching theme is to maximize productivity with minimal effort, which is essential for handling the pressures of college applications and societal expectations.

05:00

🔍 Gaining Awareness and Learning by Doing

Amy suggests gaining awareness of homework by reviewing questions in class and ensuring necessary resources are available, which can prevent stress and improve time management. She also advocates for 'learning by doing,' which involves starting homework without prior study to identify knowledge gaps and then referring back to textbooks or notes. This method allows for simultaneous studying and homework completion, making the process more efficient. Amy highlights the benefits of active recall during the initial reading of textbooks, recommending that readers internalize and repeat information in their own words to enhance understanding and retention.

10:01

🤝 The Power of Accountability Partners and Parallel Recall

Amy dispels the myth of the 'lone wolf' smart person, stressing the importance of collaboration and learning from others. She recommends having an accountability partner to set 'soft deadlines' for studying and homework, which can lead to more efficient work completion and effective learning. Amy explains that teaching someone else is a powerful way to reinforce one's own understanding. Additionally, she introduces 'parallel recall,' a method of engaging with the material actively while reading, which helps maintain focus and enhances the learning process.

15:02

🔄 Pivoting When Stuck and Seeking Help

Amy discusses the frustration of being stuck on a problem and advises not to dwell on it for too long. Instead, she recommends reaching out to friends or teachers for help, which can prevent frustration and promote progress on other tasks. She emphasizes the importance of asking for help and not being too independent, as seeking assistance can provide a significant advantage. Amy also encourages starting work early to allow time for seeking help and pivoting to other tasks when necessary.

🚫 The Negative Impact of Screen Time on Focus

Amy addresses the detrimental effects of excessive screen time on focus and productivity. She shares her personal experience of reducing screen time before taking the GMAT by deleting social media apps, highlighting the importance of prioritizing long-term goals over immediate distractions. Amy challenges the viewer to take control of their social media habits and suggests that doing so can significantly improve study efficiency and focus. She encourages viewers to take action and make the necessary changes to enhance their academic performance.

😴 The Importance of Sleep and Motivation

In the final paragraph, Amy humorously promises a good time while watching the video, hinting at the importance of sleep and the role of motivation in achieving academic success. She acknowledges that sometimes, people need more than just tips; they need inspiration to put those tips into action. Amy suggests that combining entertainment with motivation can be an effective way to engage and motivate viewers, leaving them with a positive and memorable experience.

Keywords

💡Efficiency

Efficiency refers to the ability to achieve maximum productivity with minimum wasted effort or expense. In the context of the video, the speaker emphasizes efficiency as a key to success in academics and personal life. It is highlighted as the speaker's secret to becoming a valedictorian with the highest GPA, while balancing sports, sleep, and social life. The video aims to share tips on how to study efficiently, which is directly related to the concept of efficiency.

💡Valedictorian

A valedictorian is the student who delivers a farewell speech at a graduation ceremony and is typically the student with the highest academic achievement in their graduating class. The script mentions the speaker becoming a valedictorian with the highest GPA in their district's history, illustrating the pinnacle of academic success and setting the stage for the video's theme of effective studying.

💡Productivity

Productivity is the measure of the output of work done within a given time period and is a central theme in the video. The speaker discusses the importance of being productive while studying, suggesting that efficiency leads to a more enjoyable life without being 'stuck in books all day long.' The tips provided in the video are aimed at increasing study productivity.

💡Awareness

In the video, gaining awareness is presented as the first step towards efficient studying. It involves looking at homework assignments as soon as they are received to understand what needs to be done. The speaker suggests that by doing this, students can ask teachers questions right away and even start tackling easy problems to build a sense of achievement, which is crucial for time management and overall efficiency.

💡Active Recall

Active recall is a learning technique where a student actively tries to remember information without looking at the material. The script describes a method of studying where the speaker reads a paragraph and then repeats the information in their own words, which is a form of active recall. This technique helps in better understanding and remembering the material, contributing to the video's theme of effective studying.

💡Accountability Partner

An accountability partner is someone with whom you share goals and progress, ensuring that you both stay committed to achieving those goals. In the script, the speaker explains the concept of soft deadlines and how working with a friend to meet these deadlines can increase efficiency. It is a collaborative approach to studying that enhances learning and ensures both parties are efficient in their work.

💡Parallel Recall

Parallel recall, as mentioned in the script, is a method of studying where the student reads and recalls information simultaneously. This differs from traditional active recall where there might be a delay between reading and recalling. The speaker uses parallel recall to stay engaged and to better encode information, which is integral to the video's message on efficient studying.

💡Soft Deadlines

Soft deadlines are self-imposed deadlines set before the actual deadline to create a buffer and ensure timely completion of tasks. The speaker uses soft deadlines as a strategy for accountability with a friend, which helps in completing homework more efficiently. This concept is a practical application of the video's theme of enhancing study efficiency.

💡Pivot

To pivot, in the context of the video, means to change direction or approach when faced with a problem that cannot be solved immediately. The speaker advises not to get stuck on a single problem but to ask for help or move on to something else temporarily. This strategy prevents frustration and allows for subconscious problem-solving, which is a part of the video's overall message on achieving study efficiency.

💡Screen Time

Screen time refers to the amount of time spent looking at a screen, particularly for recreational purposes like social media. The video script discusses the negative impact of excessive screen time on focus and productivity. The speaker recommends reducing screen time to improve concentration and study efficiency, which is a crucial tip for the video's theme of effective studying.

Highlights

Efficiency is key to achieving maximum productivity with minimum wasted effort.

Valedictorian shares personal experience of balancing academics, sports, sleep, and social life despite migraines.

Gaining awareness of homework by looking through questions in class can lead to better time management.

Starting homework immediately after receiving it can help identify easy tasks and boost achievement.

Estimating task duration accurately reduces stress by avoiding overestimation of difficulty.

Learning by doing homework before studying can save time and improve understanding.

Parallel recall, a form of active recall, helps in absorbing meaning while studying.

Accountability partners and soft deadlines can enhance efficiency and learning.

Teaching concepts to peers is a powerful way to reinforce one's own understanding.

Pivoting to a different task when stuck prevents frustration and allows subconscious problem-solving.

Asking for help from friends and teachers provides an advantage in learning.

Starting early on tasks allows time to seek help and prevents last-minute stress.

Reducing screen time, especially on social media, improves focus and study efficiency.

Deleting social media apps can be a strategic move to enhance concentration.

The importance of taking control of one's life and not letting social media dictate focus and time.

Implementing these study tips can significantly reduce study time and make it more enjoyable.

Starting with one tip at a time and gradually incorporating more can help build an effective study routine.

Transcripts

wouldn't your life be so much easier if

you could cut down your study time from

3 hours to 1 hour how about 30 minutes

even better efficiency is the key to how

I was able to become valadi dictorian

with actually the highest GPA ever in

the history of my district all while

playing Varsity Sports sleeping 8 hours

a day and actually having a social life

still and I had migraines which is a

neurological disorder that made me miss

school sometimes I don't want to always

mention this but I think it's very

relevant for this video and a lot of you

guys relate being efficient means

achieving maximum productivity with

minimum wasted effort or expense

definitely something we want to achieve

when the colleges are pressing us to do

so many things in order to get into the

top colleges because that's how Society

is but regardless of your goals

efficiency is the key to live your life

and have fun so you don't have to be

stuck in your books all day long cuz

nobody likes that hey it's Amy a bunch

of you requested how do you become

efficient at studying how do you

actually study effectively so today I'll

share with you the real tips that I use

in high school and college College I've

been mulling over for about 3 weeks now

which tips I should present to you that

would be the most helpful in a single

video and I thought you should wait no

longer the last tip will have you

automatically two steps ahead of all

your classmates without further Ado

further Ado do let's go gain awareness

ASAP a lot of you guys told me that it's

so overwhelming to just start your

homework and to think about all the

things you have to do so I'm not telling

you to start your homework as soon as

possible I'm just telling you to look at

it so when you get homework in class

just take a glance at all the questions

and read through to make sure you have

all the resources that you think you

need to solve the problems this is

really good because maybe class doesn't

even end yet and then you have time to

ask your teacher about a question

already so you don't have to wait until

the next time you see your teacher plus

when I did this and I looked at the

question sometimes I would see really

easy ones like low hanging fruit to use

those corporate lingo and I would just

knock them out I would do maybe just one

or two problems and I would feel a great

sense of achievement looking at the

problems and doing just one question

gives you a much greater awareness of

how long the thing is actually going to

take because the more you guess about

how long assignments are going to take

you the more stressed it will become

because as humans we tend to

overestimate we tend to think that

things are harder than they are this

first tip will make tip number five work

even better for you simply gain

awareness and you are on your way to

becoming very good at time management

learn by doing I would not study before

doing my work students might read the

textbook pages or read the notes and

they try to get a good understanding

from that and then they start their

homework so it's a one two step process

what I do that saves a ton of time is I

will just jump right into the homework

because the homework's literally going

to tell you what you need to know and

typically the test tests you and

typically the test tests you on the

homework question type stuff anyway when

I jump right into the homework I might

not know how to do question one but

that's okay that's when I go go into the

textbook or my notes and then I read

that part reference back and forth like

a tennis court and I fill in the answer

this way it's like studying and doing

the work that you'll actually have to

hand in at the same time instead of

having an hour studying and an hour

homework it just turns into an hour of

studying plus homework mixed together

why do I say an hour of both instead of

you know 1 hour and 30 minutes of

studying and homework this is because

when you're looking at the homework

you're filtering out all the crap that's

in the textbook in your notes doing the

homework problems is like following an

outline that will Target the things you

have to read this helps me remember

things and understand how to solve the

problems better too because only when

you're doing it are those neurons in

your brain firing and making those

connections that much deeper I hear and

I forget I see and I remember I do and I

understand do the work don't study

you're studying by doing the work but

when you do have to study use what I

call parallel recall you've all heard of

active recall by now it's in those tons

of YouTube videos so basically when I'm

studying in parallel with reading the

textbook for the very first time I'm

also doing active recall but not in the

way you might think other forms of

active recall I do do later are flash

cards doing practice problems but I'm

already doing a form of active recall

when I read the textbook for the first

time it's not that I'm reading the

textbook every page and then blurting

out or writing down everything I

remember but it's like I read a sentence

or a paragraph then I look up and I

repeat it in my own words I try to make

connections on the spot with the

previous things that I've read for

example if I just read the mitochondria

is the PowerHouse of the cell You Know

cover the page internalize it really let

it sink in you know how I let it sink in

is that I'll repeat it it in my head the

mitochondria is the PowerHouse of the

cell but I'm not reciting it like I'm

trying to memorize those words I'm

trying to absorb the meaning and I think

that means the mitochondria this part of

the cell is essential to the cell's

survival and its energy and any kind of

function that kind of thinking would be

happening in my mind as I'm reading the

pages and would be much faster than how

I just said it out loud to you some of

you guys have the problem where you're

reading but you don't feel like you're

actually paying attention to what's

being read the moment you feel like

something is too easy or your eyes are

just glossing over the words that's the

moment you know that you're not actually

doing anything useful that's when you

know you're wasting time it should feel

a little hard that feeling that it's

difficult means you're learning my

process of parallel recalling doing

active recall in parallel of reading

helps keep me engaged because I get so

bored if I'm just reading the words we

would love to have photographic memory I

know but parallel recalling is the next

best thing have an accountability

partner sometimes we think that the

smart people are lone wolves they're so

smart that they can just do it on their

own but that's a myth I cannot do nearly

the amount of things that I've done nor

have a good time doing it if I didn't

have friends as I've talked about in a

lot of my other videos collaboration is

so important in school in life to make

everything easier because you never want

to believe that you're the smartest

person you always want to think that you

can learn from other people and learning

from others saves you the time from

learning it yourself from scratch how

does an accountability partner work I

like to set what are called Soft

deadlines this is the act of setting a

deadline like three or four days before

the actual deadline before your actual

test or homework is due but here's where

it gets effective that soft deadline is

a commitment that you make with your

friend that's a time where you're going

to either study and quiz together or

you're going to compare your homework

answers you might let yourself down but

you don't want to let other people down

because you don't want them to think of

you in a bad way that's how our egos

work so you will likely be more

efficient and actually meet that soft

deadline therefore completing your work

more efficiently if you don't have any

friends you can do this with well you

need some new friends but that's another

topic not only does this make you get

the work done efficiently before the

soft deadline but when you're working

with your friend you're actually

learning so much more effectively

because you're teaching things to each

other especially when you have to

explain something to someone else that's

an incredible way to encode that

information and ensure that you

understand it as well the student

becomes the master double plus is that

you're socializing at the same time

homework is not the most fun thing to do

but it really creates bonds when you're

struggling together so this fourth tip

is a win win win I don't know if that

was too weird I'm going to keep it okay

number five pivot when you're stuck it

can be the most frustrating thing when

you're staring at a problem and you

literally don't know what to do next

there's no cell in your body that has

any clue what's going on and the more

you stare at it the more you're like I'm

so dumb I'm never going to get this done

I'm just going to die here trying this

problem forever well don't do that when

I feel stuck on a problem I'll try a

little bit longer but just like a few

minutes right but then I will text my

friend immediately hey do you know how

to do this there's no shame in asking

guys it's better to be dumb to your

friends and your teacher instead of dumb

on the actual test then when your text

is whoop sent into the world you can't

do anything about anymore so then you

pivot and you work on something else

that way you prevent frustration it's

kind of like multitasking because while

your friend is trying to figure it out

and get back to you you're making

progress on other things of course if

your friend doesn't know because you're

so smart so maybe your friend doesn't

know it either then that's when you

should bring that problem to your

teacher don't feel the need to be so

independent and jam yourself into that

wall to solve that problem all on your

own if you feel stuck literally just ask

for help stop it get some help I am

someone who actually talks to the

teacher a lot if you saw the number of

times I went up to the teacher's desk

you would think I'm really confused and

just don't know what's going on in class

but I'm always talking to the teacher

because I'm greedy you know I want all

the teachers knowledge they literally

can give you all the help if you just

ask I may not be naturally smarter than

my classmates but if I get more help

from them from my friends from my

teacher I'm giving myself an advantage

already when you get to a dead end and

you change direction and go down a

different Road for a while you're

actually mulling it over in your head

subconsciously having that change of

scenery down this new path is refreshing

and then sometimes you might think of

some idea that helps you go down that

previously blocked Road this is why it's

even more important to start early and

get awareness of the problems because

then you actually have time to ask your

friends and to ask your teacher the next

day before homework is due I would be

lying to you if I did not include this

tip in my efficiency study video reduce

your screen time stop before you click

away and be like oh no another mom

lecturing me about my screen time listen

up okay I am in your same shoes I like

seeing what other people are doing in

fact my job is partly social media right

now so you can bet your butt that I'm on

there a decent amount of time but I've

seen firsthand how often it is to your

focus like deep work is just that much

harder to get into with this habit of

scrolling if you got bored at this point

and are like I've heard this a million

times I'm going to click away you need

to hear this even more think about this

when you're reading and studying you

need to read a paragraph and then read

another paragraph and then read more

paragraphs right you don't want to read

paragraph one read paragraph 2 and then

dump paragraph 1 into the trash like you

still need to remember what's in

paragraph 1 but what are you doing every

single time you're scrolling do you ever

remember what the previous short you

washed was how about two shorts or two

posts before that even less so when

you're scrolling you are literally

training your brain in an awful way

you're training it to forget everything

that came before it because it's just

not important to you since I knew this

when I had to take the Gat I was like

bro standardized testing again my focus

is way worse than before I knew I had to

make a game plan so I deleted Instagram

on my phone for the like 5 months before

taking the exam because as sad as it was

I asked myself what do I want more do I

care more about sharing my life which

other people probably don't care about

and do I care about seeing what my

friends are doing on vacation do I care

about that more than my GMAT score which

helped me get into MIT and Columbia a

business school no so since I valued

that then it turned into kind of an easy

choice to just do what I had to do you

just need to do what you need to do like

you know what you got to do so just do

it Nike just do it if when you were

watching this video you got impatient

and you wanted to skip through my little

chapters to just find what the tips were

or you go down the comments and see

those people who summarize the tips then

you need this more than anyone you're

missing the understanding of why these

tips work and you need those important

explanations to even be motivated to

follow the tips which will help you if

when you're watching YouTube videos

trying to get helpful information you

feel the need to just get it and go and

for the speaker me to speed things up to

stop saying all this fluff then that's a

red flashing warning light of the

attitude and habit that you've built up

honestly now that I'm saying this it's

kind of ironic because if you were

someone who skips things then you would

have skipped what I just

said anyway I don't care how you do do

it app timer delete your phone oh delete

your phone if you can but delete the app

just do something just take some action

if you know that your focus is being so

drained by these social media apps I'm

not going to tell you what specifically

to do because you can decide for

yourself how much you

need and how much being a star student

really matters to you it's hard because

it's worth it the harder things are the

more worth it you should think they are

think about how many other students will

watch this video and still do nothing if

you do this tip and take control of your

social media addiction it will

automatically put you way ahead of

everyone else Instagram Tik Tok YouTube

shorts they don't care about you like I

do all they want is their money so don't

let faceless companies control you be

the boss of your own life I always end

up getting very preachy I wrote the

script being like Oh it's going to be so

concise I'm just going to do tips 1 2 3

4 and I ended up preaching again I don't

know oh man I like to think that this is

helpful please let me know if it's

helpful or not when I followed these

tips that I shared with you today I cut

down my study time so much but the thing

is I didn't even know how much I cut

down my time to and made it more

enjoyable that I didn't even know how

much I studied it just feels like you

Breeze through it because you're that

much more focused when you're studying

effectively try my tips and actually try

them but start with one at a time and

then accumulate them slowly so then

you're actually making it your routine

only then then do you have the right to

say my tips suck and you can tell me

that in the comments so then I can

improve for you next time I read all

your comments this is a good and bad

thing but I'm actually getting way too

many comments Now to respond to all of

you so I'm sorry if you don't get a

response I'll try to hard it all but

just know that I love all your words

thank

you I get it sometimes you don't need

tips you just need more motivation so

you can even actually do the tips a

little bit of entertainment while

getting motivation never hurt anybody so

if you want a combination of inspiration

and fun watch this thank

you sleeping six

no watch this video it's a darn good

time I can promise you that I always end

with an accent I don't know why