How to Study Smarter, Not Harder: The Cambridge System

Summary

In this video, Cambridge graduate and doctor Izzy shares seven effective study habits she adopted during her seven years at Cambridge University. She emphasizes studying smarter, not harder, and covers habits such as co-working with friends, focusing on core content, leading with curiosity, taking sufficient rest, using the Pomodoro technique, scheduling study themes, and tackling the hardest tasks first. These habits helped her manage academic challenges, improve retention, and avoid burnout. Izzy also offers a free Notion guide with these tips and invites viewers to explore more in her other videos.

Takeaways

• 😀 The importance of 'studying smarter' rather than 'studying harder' for academic development.
• 👥 The co-working habit can make studying more enjoyable and sustainable by fostering camaraderie and accountability.
• 📚 Focusing on the 'core content' or the 80/20 rule helps in learning the most important aspects of a subject efficiently.
• 🔍 The 'Curiosity habit' emphasizes the power of intrinsic motivation in enhancing learning and memory retention.
• 🌱 The 'less is more' habit suggests that working less and allowing for rest can improve learning outcomes and prevent burnout.
• 🏋️‍♂️ The Pomodoro Technique can make studying more motivating, especially for dry or difficult material.
• 📈 The 'Triplet habit' of scheduling three blocks of studying with different topics each day can bring clarity and focus.
• 🐸 The 'Frog habit' of tackling the most challenging tasks first can set a positive tone for the rest of the day.
• 💤 The significance of proper rest and sleep in enhancing creativity, concentration, and overall productivity.
• 🤔 The need to find ways to engage with uninteresting or difficult subjects, which will be discussed in further habits.
• 📘 The recommendation of 'Eat That Frog' by Brian Tracy for guidance on prioritizing and tackling challenging tasks.

Q & A

What was the biggest academic challenge the speaker faced during their seven years at Cambridge University?

The biggest academic challenge the speaker faced was learning the true value of studying and realizing that it's not about studying harder but studying smarter.

What are the seven study habits the speaker adopted during their time at Cambridge University?

The seven study habits are: co-working habit, core content habit, curiosity habit, less is more habit, sprint habit, triplet habit, and frog habit.

Why did the speaker find co-working beneficial during their first year at University?

Co-working was beneficial because it made studying feel more fun, enjoyable, and sustainable, and it provided a sense of camaraderie and support during the exam term.

What is the Pareto Principle, also known as the 80/20 rule, and how did the speaker apply it to their studies?

The Pareto Principle suggests that roughly 80% of outcomes result from 20% of causes. The speaker applied it by focusing on the core topics first, which would give them around 80% of the results, before delving into more niche details.

How did the speaker's curiosity habit help them during their third year at Cambridge?

The curiosity habit allowed the speaker to follow their intrinsic motivation to learn, leading to more effective learning and better retention of information on topics they were genuinely interested in.

What is the 'less is more' habit and how did it impact the speaker's study routine during their fourth year?

The 'less is more' habit is about working less and allowing time to rest. The speaker found that by not pushing themselves too hard when feeling drained, they were able to learn and perform better.

Can you explain the Pomodoro Technique mentioned in the script and how it was used by the speaker?

The Pomodoro Technique is a time management method where you work for a set period (typically 25 minutes), then take a short break. The speaker used it to make learning more motivating and to help focus on dry or difficult material.

What is the 'triplet habit' and how did it help the speaker during their sixth year at Cambridge?

The 'triplet habit' involves scheduling three blocks of studying with a different topic for each in a day. It helped the speaker bring clarity, focus, and motivation to their unstructured days during the lockdown.

What is the 'Frog Habit' and why did the speaker find it effective for their final year exams?

The 'Frog Habit' is about starting the day with the hardest tasks or topics first. The speaker found it effective because it allowed them to build momentum and made the rest of the day feel easier.

How did the speaker's experience with the Pomodoro Technique influence their approach to studying difficult material?

The speaker found that using shorter Pomodoro intervals for drier material helped make the studying process more manageable and less mentally draining.

What advice does the speaker give regarding rest and how can it improve one's study efficiency?

The speaker advises taking genuine rest, including proper sleep and engaging in relaxing activities away from screens, to replenish energy and boost concentration, ultimately improving study efficiency.

How did the speaker's approach to studying change when they intercalated with a Bachelor of Arts in biological anthropology?

The speaker learned to tailor their learning to their interests, following their curiosity which led to more effective learning and better retention of information.

What is the significance of starting the day with the most challenging task according to the speaker?

Starting the day with the most challenging task helps build a sense of momentum, making the rest of the day seem easier and more manageable.

What is the connection between curiosity and memory retention as discussed in the script?

The script mentions that when one is genuinely curious about a topic, they learn more effectively and retain more information, as curiosity enhances activity in the midbrain and nucleus accumbens.