how to study better (by a study tryhard)

Summary

In this video, the speaker discusses effective study techniques, emphasizing the importance of deep work over long hours. Key points include creating a conducive study environment, maintaining consistency and focus, and developing good habits such as proper nutrition, sleep, and exercise. The speaker also recommends tracking study sessions and using habit trackers to build a routine. The goal is to internalize productivity as part of one's identity to naturally improve study habits and overall quality of life.

Takeaways

• 📈 Quality of work is a product of time spent and the intensity of work, emphasizing the importance of deep and focused work sessions.
• 🎯 Grades are a byproduct of effective work, suggesting that the focus should be on developing a system that produces good grades rather than the grades themselves.
• 🔄 Consistency and focus are key components of a good study routine, highlighting the need for regular and uninterrupted study sessions.
• 🍎 Lifestyle factors such as diet, sleep, and exercise are foundational to maintaining the energy and focus needed for effective studying.
• 🏞️ The study environment should be free from distractions and conducive to deep work, suggesting the removal of phones and other potential interruptions.
• 📊 Tracking study habits and reflecting on them can lead to improvements in focus and study techniques, advocating for a methodical approach to studying.
• ⏰ Maintaining a consistent study schedule can train the mind to enter a focused state more readily, reducing the likelihood of procrastination.
• 🛠️ Simplifying the study setup and making it as easy as possible reduces the friction that can lead to procrastination, while making distractions more difficult to access.
• 📊 Using habit trackers or streak counters can gamify the study process and motivate consistent study habits, leveraging the psychological effect of maintaining a streak.
• 🧘‍♂️ Embracing a productive identity can internalize the desire to study effectively, influencing actions to align with this identity.
• 🔧 The script emphasizes that improvement in any skill, including studying, requires hard work and dedication, acknowledging that there are no shortcuts to mastery.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video?

The main focus of the video is on how to study better by emphasizing the importance of working deeply and consistently.

According to the speaker, what is the relationship between the time spent and the intensity of work?

High-quality work is a function of the time spent times the intensity of work. Since time is limited, the focus should be on increasing the intensity of work.

Why does the speaker suggest not to focus on grades directly?

Grades are a byproduct of how well you work. The goal is to create a system that produces excellent grades through effective study techniques and habits.

What are the key components of a good study routine according to the speaker?

The key components include planning, reflection, using effective study techniques, consistency, and focus.

How does improving focus benefit daily life outside of studying?

Improving focus also enhances awareness and intentionality in daily life, leading to better quality of life.

What unsexy truths does the speaker mention about becoming better at studying?

The unsexy truths include the necessity of eating well, sleeping well, and exercising regularly to produce the right outputs.

Why is the study environment important, and what should it be like?

The study environment should be free from distractions, such as phones and loud noises, to help maintain focus and productivity.

What is the speaker’s recommendation for tracking study habits?

The speaker recommends logging study sessions in a notebook and reflecting on them weekly to identify what went well and what didn’t, and to improve accordingly.

How does the speaker suggest improving the skill of focusing?

Improving focus is similar to improving any skill; start with a consistent amount of study time, then gradually increase the duration as focus improves.

What role does consistency play in effective studying?

Consistency is crucial for producing results over time. Regular study habits and routines make studying a natural part of daily life and reduce procrastination.

How can one reduce distractions while studying according to the speaker?

Make distractions as difficult to access as possible, such as placing the phone in another room and creating an environment conducive to studying.

What is the purpose of a streak counter or habit tracker in studying?

A streak counter or habit tracker helps in maintaining consistency by gamifying the study process and encouraging the user not to break the streak.

How should one internalize the identity of being a productive person?

By embracing productivity as a core value and seeing oneself as someone who values and prioritizes productivity, leading to actions that reflect this identity.

Why does the speaker recommend studying at the same time every day?

Studying at the same time every day creates a routine, making it easier for the mind and body to recognize study time and reduce the likelihood of procrastination.

What advice does the speaker give for setting up a study routine?

Write down the study schedule and stick to it, ensuring regularity and reducing the effort required to start studying.

Outlines

00:00

🧠 How to Study Better: Focus on Depth

This paragraph emphasizes the importance of deep work for achieving high-quality results in studying. It suggests that instead of focusing solely on the amount of time spent studying, one should concentrate on the intensity and depth of the study sessions. The author argues that effective studying is not about chasing grades, but about developing a system that consistently produces good results. Key components of this system include consistency and focus, which also positively impact one's overall quality of life. Additionally, the paragraph highlights the importance of maintaining good health through proper diet, sleep, and exercise.

05:01

📵 Creating a Distraction-Free Environment

This paragraph discusses the significance of an optimal study environment for enhancing focus. It advises against studying in distracting places like nightclubs and emphasizes the need to eliminate distractions such as mobile phones from the study area. The author suggests that a conducive environment is one that aligns with study goals and minimizes interruptions. By removing distractions and setting up a dedicated study space, students can improve their ability to concentrate and study effectively.

📊 Tracking and Improving Focus Skills

This paragraph highlights the importance of tracking study habits and improving focus. The author recommends keeping a study log to monitor progress and reflect on weekly performance. By consistently tracking study sessions, students can identify what works well and what needs improvement. The paragraph also suggests starting with shorter, focused study periods and gradually increasing the duration as concentration improves. Listening to non-distracting music or studying in silence can help achieve deeper focus.

📅 Consistency in Study Routine

This paragraph stresses the importance of maintaining a consistent study routine. The author advises studying at the same time every day to build a habit and reduce procrastination. By establishing a regular study schedule, students can train their minds and bodies to be ready for focused work during those times. Consistency in studying helps produce long-term results and makes it easier to stick to the routine.

📈 Using Streaks and Habit Trackers

This paragraph suggests using streaks and habit trackers to build and maintain study habits. By keeping a record of daily study sessions, students can create a sense of accountability and motivation to maintain their streak. The author compares this to Snapchat streaks or daily check-ins in video games, which encourage consistent behavior. Tracking study habits helps reinforce the routine and makes it easier to stay committed to studying regularly.

👤 Embracing a Productive Identity

This paragraph encourages students to internalize the identity of being productive and focused. By seeing oneself as a person who values productivity, it becomes easier to engage in productive behaviors consistently. The author shares a personal example of not identifying as a gamer, which reduces the likelihood of playing video games alone. Similarly, identifying as someone who prioritizes studying and productivity helps reinforce those habits and actions.

💡 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

In the final paragraph, the author reiterates the main points discussed and encourages students to put in the necessary effort to improve their study habits. They acknowledge that the tips provided may seem unglamorous but emphasize that hard work and dedication are essential for achieving better results. The author also mentions the possibility of making a follow-up video with additional tips and invites viewers to ask questions. The video aims to provide helpful advice for students preparing for exams.

Keywords

💡Study Techniques

Study techniques refer to the methods and strategies used to improve learning efficiency and retention of information. In the video, the speaker emphasizes the importance of developing a system for studying that produces high-quality work, which includes planning, reflection, and the actual techniques used during study sessions. The video suggests that focusing on the quality of study rather than just the grades is key to achieving better results.

💡Consistency

Consistency in the context of the video means maintaining a regular study routine or habit without frequent interruptions or changes. It is highlighted as one of the most important aspects of a good study system. The speaker recommends studying at the same time every day to create a habit that the mind and body recognize, which reduces the likelihood of procrastination and increases productivity.

💡Focus

Focus is the concentration and attention given to a task, in this case, studying. The video discusses the importance of deep work, which is intense and uninterrupted focus on a task. The speaker suggests that improving the ability to focus is a skill that can be developed and tracked, and it directly impacts the effectiveness of study sessions.

💡Environment

Environment, as discussed in the video, refers to the physical and psychological surroundings in which one studies. It is crucial for effective studying because a conducive environment minimizes distractions and supports deep work. The speaker advises against studying in noisy or distracting places and recommends creating a quiet, dedicated space for study.

💡Distractions

Distractions are anything that can draw attention away from the task at hand, in this case, studying. The video emphasizes the need to remove or minimize distractions such as phones, notifications, and noisy environments to improve focus and study quality. The speaker suggests strategies like placing the phone in another room to reduce the temptation to check it.

💡Quality of Work

Quality of work is the standard or level of excellence of the output produced, which, in the context of studying, refers to the depth and effectiveness of the study sessions. The video script mentions that high-quality work is a function of time spent and the intensity of work, indicating that both duration and depth of focus are important for producing good study outcomes.

💡Reflection

Reflection in the video is the process of thinking back on one's actions or study sessions to evaluate what was effective and what was not. It is part of the study system that the speaker advocates for, as it allows for continuous improvement. The speaker personally uses a notebook to log and reflect on his study sessions, which helps in understanding and enhancing study habits.

💡Routine

Routine refers to a sequence of actions regularly followed; in the context of studying, it is the consistent daily practice of studying at specific times. The video emphasizes routine as a way to signal to the mind that it is time to study, which can reduce the mental friction associated with starting a study session and can lead to less procrastination.

💡Inputs

Inputs in the video refer to the factors that contribute to the quality of study, such as diet, sleep, and exercise. The speaker mentions that to achieve high-quality study outcomes, one must ensure they are putting in the right inputs, which are essential for maintaining the physical and mental health necessary for effective studying.

💡Habit Tracker

A habit tracker is a tool used to monitor and maintain habits, such as consistent studying. The video suggests using a habit tracker or a streak counter to visualize the consistency of study habits, which can motivate one to continue the habit and avoid breaking the streak, thus gamifying the process of building a study routine.

💡Identity

Identity, in the context of the video, refers to the personal characteristics or roles that one identifies with, such as being a productive individual. The speaker argues that embracing and internalizing the identity of a productive person can influence actions and habits, making it more likely that one will engage in productive behaviors like consistent studying.

Highlights

High-quality work is a function of time spent and the intensity of work.

Focus on working deeply rather than just working often due to limited time.

Grades are a byproduct of effective work, not the main goal.

Develop a system that produces excellent grades through consistent and focused work.

Improving focus can enhance awareness and intentionality in daily life.

Inputs such as diet, sleep, and exercise are crucial for optimal performance.

Environment plays a key role in the ability to focus deeply on tasks.

Eliminate distractions to create a conducive environment for studying.

Track study sessions to improve focus and identify areas for improvement.

Consistency in study time helps in developing the skill of deep focus.

Use non-distracting background music like Lo-Fi or classical to enhance concentration.

Studying regularly and deeply over time produces better results than sporadic efforts.

Establish a routine for studying to reduce the likelihood of procrastination.

Streamline the study process to reduce friction and increase the likelihood of action.

Make distractions as difficult to access as possible to stay focused.

Use habit trackers or streak counters to maintain consistency in studying.

Embrace a productive identity to internalize the value of consistent studying.

Hard work and consistency are essential for improvement in any field.

Transcripts

yo what's up

that's for Mika as well uh today we're

going to talk about how to study better

okay first thing you all know high

quality work produced all right is a

function of the time spent times the

intensity of work all right so how well

we work is how often we work and how

deep do we work however okay the time

spent is limited right there's only a

fixed amount of time in the day so what

we want to be focusing on is how to work

very deeply how intense we work all

right because that's how I'm gonna be

like the highest ceiling and that's how

we become the best at studying or

working or whatever okay so here's

something really important that we have

to figure out first your grades are a

consequence or a byproduct of how well

you work okay

um so the grades are not what we're

chasing here what we're chasing is a

system that produces those amazing

grades but there are several tenants of

a very good study routine or or system

right there's planning there's the

reflection there's the actual techniques

that I use while you study but the most

important things are are consistency and

focus as a side note I've also found

that by focusing on how well we focus

right as a consequence you also

extrapolate that to your daily life and

become much more aware and intentional

with how we spend our time outside

studying which is a really important

quality for just your quality of life in

general all right sorry for for me I

knew so much the unsexy truth to this is

that we just have to put in the right

inputs to produce the right output which

is you know focus on sexy right we need

to be eating well sleeping well and just

exercising regularly right right the

next thing we need to be focusing on is

our environment not necessarily the gear

that we're using as long as you're

meeting like the minimum requirements

really

you're okay but we need to be focusing

on is what's around us whilst we study

so like if we're trying to write our

final paper at a nightclub with like

techno music in the background obviously

that's going to limit how deep you can

focus right

our environment

needs to be congruent with our goals

here so if your phone is sitting there

within reaching distance of course

you're going to reach for it right

generally they don't help us be

productive but we reach for them when we

get bored or something notifies us we

want to be removing these distractions

from our workplace in general so just

put it somewhere else while you work on

it on the sermon hopefully

but once your environment is clear and

you're putting in the right inputs as

far as diet sleep and exercise we need

to be focusing on how to improve our

skill

of focusing

um

and we would do that the same way we

improve any other skill

um I'd highly recommend tracking how

often and how well you study I

personally just have like a little

notebook right here that I log in and on

Fridays I will reflect on how well I did

that week and understand what went well

and what didn't go well and improve it

for the next week right and I also

recommend that as you're improving your

ability to focus keep that amount of

time that you're working for consistent

so maybe start off with like an hour a

day and during that hour

try to work on becoming as deep as

possible and as you reach that ability

to become deep for that long that's when

we start extending how long we go deep

for it right I've personally found that

when I reach my deepest States it's

always either in silence or with like

really on distracting music in the

background so like Lo-Fi and like the

quietest setting possible and stuff like

that classical music

um like if you're listening to eurobeat

or something in the background of course

it'll cap your ceiling of how well we

can study I also want to talk about the

consistency to which we study which is

also really important right because if

we're not studying deeply then really

hitting it like once a month or

something uh it's not going to really

matter because you know it doesn't

produce results over a period of time

and we want to be doing this consistency

I would highly recommend

focusing on studying at the same time

every day or at least consistency like

sticking to routine is on your like this

right right on a piece of paper when I'm

going to study and for how long

and if we do this right if we add this

regularity our body and our mind will

know okay it's time to study let's let's

focus up

um and there won't be any questions

about whether or not I'm going to do it

and we're going to go ahead and

procrastinate less because we're

actually just going to go and study

without really

in your debate about whether or not we

should be doing it

we need to reduce the amount of friction

to which we can study

um as much as possible Right the the

easier it is to do something the more

likely we are to do it so

if you're like trying to study in the in

a coffee shop every day there's a 15

minute drive you have to do first and

it's a lot less likely that you will do

it

so I highly recommend just streamlining

the process as much as possible

right on the flip side I also recommend

making the tasks that distract you as

difficult as possible so just inversing

that so if your phone is there just put

it in the other room uh you know if your

parents keep on annoying you lock the

door or something and put a sign up we

need to be making sure that the

distractions just come in as little as

possible makes sense right okay next I

highly recommend creating some sort of

Street counter or just some way to see

how often you do it like a habit tracker

this is a really effective tool just

think about like Snapchat streaks or a

lot of video games we'll have you check

in Daily so you can reward this kind of

gamifies it the idea is that you just

don't break the streak

um

this is what I did to get a really

consistent and Anki personally there's a

heat map add-on that counts he was

freaking

uh so yeah I would highly recommend just

keeping track of the days that we

studies there's apps for those things to

do on paper uh yeah yeah keep a heat map

or just like a street counter of some

sort okay the last tip is that we need

to be making sure that this is a part of

our identity now all right this is

something that we have to embody and

become proud of as soon as we

internalize that this is something that

we want to become great at we are much

likelier to do it

um so

uh I occasionally play video games right

with my homies but I'm not a gamer and

because I don't identify as being a

gamer right I'm a lot less likely to

please play video games by myself okay

we need to be internalizing the fact

that I am someone who values

productivity okay and as someone who

values that of course our actions will

reflect that it's a habit that

as a result of who we are inside okay I

think I hit most of the stuff that I

wanted to hit these are all like uh just

kind of unsexy truths about how to

become better at something unfortunately

at the end of the day we just have to

put in the hard work if we want to

become better at stuff that's just how

it works it wouldn't be fair otherwise

right right uh I think that's most of

the stuff that I wanted to talk about I

probably should have wrote this down

because to be honest I just kind of woke

up like 20 minutes ago

uh and I really want to make this video

during finals that some of the homies

can maybe get some sort of

tips about how to do better on them so

yeah let me know if you have any

questions I'll probably make a follow-up

to this if I well I will come up with

more stuff so I probably should make a

follow-up

um

H you guys want to see Mika

all right that's it for today's video

though so

uh bye