How I Make Time for a 12hr Study Routine (even with a full-time job)

Summary

In this video, Zay Yiv, a fourth-year medical student, shares his insights on maintaining consistency and productivity while juggling multiple responsibilities. He emphasizes the importance of creating an 'ideal week' as a blueprint for good habits and consistency. Zay outlines a three-step process: identifying all weekly tasks, estimating time for each task, and planning a rough schedule. He also recommends using a calendar for daily planning and suggests the app 'X Styles' for those who prefer a bullet journaling approach. The video concludes with advice on regaining momentum after falling off track, including changing your environment, recalibrating with your milestones, and jumping back into tasks to rediscover autonomy and enjoyment in your work.

Takeaways

• 📈 Start with creating an ideal week to establish a solid default blueprint for consistency.
• 📋 List all the tasks you want to accomplish in a week to understand your workload.
• ⏱ Estimate the time required for each task to manage your schedule effectively.
• 🗓 Plan your ideal week with a rough timetable to visualize where each task fits.
• 🏋️‍♂️ Keep your routine flexible to accommodate changes and prevent burnout.
• 📆 Use a calendar to schedule your tasks and visualize your week ahead.
• 📝 Prioritize tasks by adding them to your calendar first, focusing on non-negotiables.
• 🔄 Plan the night before or during breaks to organize the next day's tasks hour by hour.
• 🚫 Avoid overplanning too far in advance to maintain flexibility and adaptability.
• 🔄 When you fall off track, quickly recognize it and pivot into something better without dwelling on past mistakes.
• 🌟 To bounce back, change your environment, recalibrate your goals, and jump into tasks to regain momentum.

Q & A

What is the main focus of Zay's speech in the transcript?

The main focus of Zay's speech is on how to create and maintain consistency in achieving one's goals by planning and organizing effectively.

What does Zay recommend as the starting point for building consistency?

Zay recommends starting with building the 'perfect week' by creating an ideal week that serves as a rock-solid default blueprint to come back to.

What are the three steps Zay outlines for creating an ideal week?

The three steps are: 1) Writing down all the tasks for an ideal week, 2) Estimating the time each task will take, and 3) Planning when to do each task and revising the plan into a day-by-day calendar.

Why is it important to have a rock-solid default blueprint according to Zay?

Having a rock-solid default blueprint is important because it provides a reliable structure to fall back on, making it easier to maintain consistency and bounce back when one falls behind.

What is Zay's approach to planning tasks for medical school and other responsibilities?

Zay's approach involves listing all the tasks, estimating the time required for each, and then scheduling them into a calendar to create a structured weekly plan.

How does Zay handle the challenge of hospital placements and intense studying during the fourth year of medical school?

Zay handles the challenge by planning meticulously, creating an ideal week, and using tools like calendars to organize and prioritize tasks.

What role does the app 'X Styles' play in Zay's organizational strategy?

X Styles is recommended by Zay as an app that can help with planning and organizing tasks due to its flexibility and user-friendly interface, which is likened to a crossover between Notion and bullet journaling.

What does Zay suggest doing when one falls off track or loses motivation?

When one falls off track, Zay suggests changing the environment, recalibrating by reminding oneself of key milestones, and then jumping into tasks to regain momentum.

How does Zay recommend planning the night before?

Zay recommends planning the next day's tasks hour by hour, time blocking them, and using the calendar as a guide rather than strictly adhering to a rigid schedule.

What is the significance of creating a 'weekly task list' according to Zay?

Creating a weekly task list is significant as it helps in organizing and prioritizing tasks for the upcoming week, which is essential for maintaining consistency and motivation.