How to Study 5x Faster for Exams Without Burnout (from a Med Student)

Summary

This video offers strategies to avoid burnout during exam season by emphasizing personalized energy management. It suggests using the Law of Diminishing Returns to identify optimal study breaks and the Eisenhower Matrix for task prioritization. The speaker also highlights the importance of active wellbeing and maintaining a positive mindset towards studying. They recommend using Brilliant, an interactive learning platform, to energize study sessions and stay engaged with learning.

Takeaways

• 📚 Personalized Study Approach: Use the Law of Diminishing Returns to identify your individual productivity patterns and take breaks before your energy drops.
• ⏱️ 30-Minute Productivity Check: Track your study progress every 30 minutes to determine when to take a break for maximum efficiency.
• 🔋 Energy Management: Prioritize maintaining high energy levels throughout the day to enhance study productivity.
• 🗂 Eisenhower Matrix: Organize tasks by urgency and importance to create a balanced study routine that sustains energy levels.
• 🏋️‍♂️ Energizing Activities: Engage in activities that genuinely replenish your energy, such as physical exercise or hobbies, instead of passive activities like phone scrolling.
• 🌞 Simple Energy Boosters: Incorporate simple activities like walking or stretching to feel energized during study breaks.
• 💡 Interactive Learning: Utilize platforms like Brilliant for interactive learning that can help maintain engagement and reduce study resistance.
• 🎯 Positive Mindset: Build a positive mindset towards studying by reminding yourself of the bigger picture and your long-term goals.
• 💖 Active Wellbeing: Practice active wellbeing by focusing on core needs such as sleep, diet, and fresh air to reduce stress and prevent burnout.
• 📈 Prioritizing Health: Recognize the importance of health in achieving sustainable study habits and long-term success.
• 🚀 Optimal Exam Preparation: Learn strategies for effective time use and study just before exams to ensure achieving desired grades.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video script?

The main focus of the video script is to provide strategies for studying during exam season without experiencing burnout, including managing energy, using personalized approaches, and maintaining a positive mindset.

What is the Law of Diminishing Returns mentioned in the script?

The Law of Diminishing Returns refers to the concept that as you continue to do the same task for an extended period, your productivity will gradually decrease. The script suggests using this principle to determine when to take breaks during study sessions to avoid burnout.

How does the script suggest determining the optimal time for a break during study?

The script suggests that every 30 minutes during a study session, you should write down how much you get done. By noting the 30-minute interval where there's a significant drop in productivity, you can identify the best time to take a break.

What is the significance of the Eisenhower Matrix in the context of the script?

The Eisenhower Matrix is used to categorize tasks into urgent, important, both, or neither. The script recommends using this matrix to balance tasks throughout the day, ensuring that energy levels are maintained and not depleted by focusing solely on urgent and important tasks.

Why does the script emphasize the importance of energy management during exam preparation?

The script emphasizes energy management because study productivity is a result of the energy you have and the quality of your study techniques. Maintaining high energy levels throughout the day helps in getting more done during study sessions.

What does the script suggest as an alternative to mindless scrolling on a phone during breaks?

The script suggests using Brilliant, an online learning platform, as an alternative to mindless scrolling. It offers interactive lessons that can help build knowledge in minutes and keep the mind engaged during breaks.

How does the script describe the benefits of using Brilliant during exam preparation?

The script describes Brilliant as a platform that helps reduce resistance to studying through its interactive approach, making studying more enjoyable. It also combines critical thinking with visual learning, allowing for effective learning about interests without dedicating hours.

What is the script's advice on maintaining a positive mindset towards studying during exam season?

The script advises building a positive mindset by reminding oneself of the dream goal and the bigger picture beyond just passing exams. It also suggests writing down the reasons for wanting to do well on exams to stay motivated.

What does the script mean by 'active wellbeing' and why is it important?

'Active wellbeing' refers to taking actions that your body and mind need to feel better, such as getting good sleep, having a healthy diet, and spending time outdoors. The script emphasizes its importance because neglecting self-care can lead to chronic stress and reduced ability to relax or feel happy after exams.

How does the script recommend using the time leading up to exams to avoid burnout?

The script recommends making use of the time before exams by following the strategies discussed, such as energy management, using the Eisenhower Matrix, and maintaining a positive mindset. It also suggests watching another video for more specific advice on studying just before exams.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Personalized Study Techniques for Exams

The speaker shares their experience in optimizing study habits during exam season to avoid burnout. They introduce the concept of the Law of Diminishing Returns, emphasizing the importance of recognizing when productivity decreases and taking breaks accordingly. The speaker suggests a 30-minute productivity check method to determine the ideal break point. They also highlight the significance of energy management for maintaining high study productivity throughout the day and recommend using the Eisenhower Matrix to balance urgent and important tasks with energy-replenishing activities. The speaker mentions the ineffectiveness of passive activities like phone scrolling for true energy recovery and suggests more active methods such as walking or stretching. They also promote the use of Brilliant, an online learning platform, as a means to engage the mind and energize study sessions.

05:02

💪 Active Wellbeing and Mindset for Sustainable Studying

In this paragraph, the speaker addresses the importance of maintaining a positive mindset and active wellbeing to prevent burnout. They discuss the negative impacts of chronic stress on happiness and the necessity of practicing self-care through good sleep, a balanced diet, and outdoor activities. The speaker encourages students to prioritize their core needs to reduce stress and sustain their study efforts over time. They also provide a link to a video on effective last-minute exam preparation strategies, aiming to help students maximize their study time without risking burnout.

Keywords

💡Burnout

Burnout refers to a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged stress and overwork. In the video, burnout is discussed in two contexts: energy-related burnout, where a person physically feels drained after long study sessions, and burnout associated with negative feelings towards tasks like exams. The video provides strategies to manage and prevent burnout, emphasizing the importance of energy management and maintaining a positive mindset.

💡Law of Diminishing Returns

The Law of Diminishing Returns is an economic principle that describes how, after a certain point, the effort put into a task results in progressively smaller gains. In the video, this concept is applied to studying, where initial study hours are more productive, but as time goes on, productivity decreases, leading to burnout. The speaker suggests stopping study sessions before this drop in productivity occurs to maintain energy levels.

💡Energy Management

Energy management refers to the practice of regulating and optimizing one's energy levels to improve productivity and avoid burnout. The video highlights the importance of managing energy effectively, suggesting techniques like monitoring productivity levels and taking breaks before reaching the point of diminishing returns. Energy management is portrayed as a key factor in maintaining consistent study habits during exam season.

💡Eisenhower Matrix

The Eisenhower Matrix is a time management tool that helps prioritize tasks based on their urgency and importance. In the video, the matrix is used to balance study tasks with activities that replenish energy, preventing burnout. The speaker advises students to alternate between urgent and important tasks and non-urgent but important activities, such as exercise or hobbies, to sustain energy throughout the day.

💡Personalized Approach

A personalized approach involves tailoring strategies and methods to fit an individual's unique needs and circumstances. The video emphasizes the importance of personalizing study habits and burnout prevention techniques, such as determining individual study limits using the Law of Diminishing Returns. This approach ensures that strategies are more effective and sustainable for long-term success.

💡Active Wellbeing

Active wellbeing refers to the intentional practice of activities that promote physical and mental health, such as exercising, eating a balanced diet, and getting enough sleep. The video encourages students to prioritize their wellbeing, especially during exam season, to reduce stress and prevent burnout. Active wellbeing is contrasted with passive activities, like scrolling on a phone, which do not effectively replenish energy or reduce stress.

💡Negative Mindset

A negative mindset is characterized by pessimistic thoughts and attitudes that can lead to stress, burnout, and a lack of motivation. In the video, the speaker identifies a negative mindset as a common cause of burnout during exam season, often arising from excessive focus on exams and losing sight of long-term goals. The video suggests strategies for cultivating a positive mindset, such as reminding oneself of larger life goals and practicing active wellbeing.

💡Study Productivity

Study productivity refers to the effectiveness and efficiency with which a student can absorb and retain information during study sessions. The video links productivity to energy levels and the quality of study techniques. By managing energy and using personalized study methods, students can enhance their productivity, making the most of their study time without risking burnout.

💡Breaks

Breaks are short periods of rest taken during study sessions to prevent mental and physical fatigue. The video advocates for taking breaks before reaching the point of diminishing returns in productivity, allowing for energy recovery. Effective breaks should involve activities that actively replenish energy, like taking a walk or doing stretches, rather than passive activities like phone scrolling.

💡Dream Goal

A dream goal is a long-term, aspirational objective that motivates an individual to pursue challenging tasks, such as studying for exams. In the video, the speaker encourages students to remind themselves of their dream goals, like becoming a doctor, to maintain motivation and a positive mindset. This focus on the bigger picture helps counteract the negative mindset that can lead to burnout during exam season.

Highlights

Developed a personalized approach to studying during exam season to prevent burnout.

Introduced the Law of Diminishing Returns to manage study time and energy levels effectively.

Suggested tracking productivity every 30 minutes to determine optimal break times.

Highlighted the importance of energy management for maintaining high study productivity.

Recommended using the Eisenhower Matrix for task prioritization and energy balance.

Warned against the common mistake of focusing solely on urgent and important tasks during exam season.

Emphasized the need for activities that genuinely replenish energy, beyond passive leisure like phone scrolling.

Proposed simple energy-boosting activities like walking or stretching during study breaks.

Introduced Brilliant as an online learning platform that can energize and engage the mind during exam season.

Described Brilliant's interactive lessons as a way to reduce study resistance and enhance enjoyment.

Mentioned a course on Large Language Models available on Brilliant, relevant for understanding AI advancements.

Offered a 30-day free trial and a 20% discount on Brilliant's annual premium subscription.

Discussed the importance of maintaining a positive mindset towards studying and exams.

Suggested writing down personal reasons for doing well on exams to stay motivated.

Questioned the common notion of self-care and encouraged active wellbeing practices.

Highlighted the significance of sleep, diet, and outdoor activities for overall wellbeing and study sustainability.

Provided a link to another video for strategies on effective last-minute exam preparation.

Transcripts

Over the past 7 years in my undergrad and  postgraduate degrees, and now at med school,  

I’ve studied for thousands of hours.

And now I’ve figured out how to study during exam  

season without burning out - so I’ll  go through how you can do the same.

And based on the ICD definition, I’ve split the  video to deal with energy-related burnout, and  

burnout associated with the negative feeling of  what you have to do - which in our case are exams.

So first, I won’t tell you to manage  your energy by studying for only 1 hour  

and then taking a break - because what you  should do is use a personalised approach.

And this is by applying the  Law of Diminishing Returns.

The idea is, as you keep doing the same thing  for a long time, the productivity will decrease.  

For example, if you study for 5 hours, the  first 2 hours will be more productive than  

the next 2, and the 5th hour would be the least  productive, and where you’ll start to burn out.

So you want to stop studying just before your  productivity drops because of low energy.

And there’s a simple way to know when this  is for you - every 30 minutes during your  

study sessions, write down how much you  get done, and do this for a whole day.

For example, in the first 30 minutes of a study  session you might get through 30 pages of notes,  

in the next 30 minutes 20 pages, and  in the 30 minutes after that only 5.

Mark down at which 30 minute interval you have  

this massive drop - and this is  where you should have your break.

This helps you regain the energy  before the next study session,  

instead of hitting your breaking point where  it becomes hard to recover your energy.

And this leads to the next point that’s  going to help you effectively recover the  

energy you lose from studying - because  studying does take a lot of effort.

But before i carry on, I want to emphasise  why energy management is important.

The way I see it is, study productivity is  

a result of the energy you have and  the quality of your study techniques.

So if you have a lot of energy, then  you’d get more done in your study  

session - so you want to maintain  a high level throughout the day.

And one of the best ways to do this,  is by using the Eisenhower Matrix.

This involves grouping everything you have  to do into tasks that are either urgent,  

important, both, or neither.

A mistake students make during exam season  is jumping straight into the deep end,  

and staying there for too long - being that  they stick to the urgent and important tasks  

for the whole day, and ignore the rest for  later - but this is what drains your energy.

So what you should do, is create a balance  - when you have the most energy in the day,  

do an urgent and important task, which  might be studying for a few hours.

And when you start losing energy, move on to  doing an important but non-urgent task that  

replenishes energy - for me that’s usually  going to the gym or practicing the piano.

Cycle through this grid so that your  energy goes up and down in waves,  

making a realistic routine that you can  stick to because it maintains your energy  

throughout the day to get on with your  tasks, instead of burning out too early.

But you might be thinking,  what can replenish your energy,  

if you don’t go to the gym or practice the piano.

So the thing is, to recover your energy, you  do need to put in some effort. For example,  

it’s why scrolling on your phone  as a break doesn’t make you feel  

recovered - there’s no real effort involved.

But there’s very simple things  you can do to feel energised,  

such as making the effort to go for a walk to  get some sunlight, or even doing a few stretches.

But because it’s exam season, I get that  you might just want to stay at your desk.

So one thing that energises me and  keeps my mind engaged this exam season,  

is Brilliant, the best online learning  platform where you learn by doing,  

with thousands of interactive lessons in  math, data analysis, programming and AI.

Brilliant is the opposite of mindless scrolling,  because it helps you build real knowledge in  

minutes a day, making it perfect for busy students  and a good fit for your Eisenhower Matrix.

For example, I use Brilliant  before I start a study session,  

because it reduces any resistance  i have to sit down and study thanks  

to it’s interactive approach, which  also makes studying more enjoyable.

And because it combines critical thinking  with the benefits of visual learning,  

it’s an effective way to learn more about  your interests without dedicating hours.

And Brilliant has something for everyone,  

especially since there’s new  lessons added every month.

For example, a very relevant course is one on  how Large Language Models, like ChatGPT, work.

Because it provides hands-on experience with real  language models so that you can understand how  

they build their vocabulary and become as advanced  as they are today, and even teaches you how to  

effectively use them to generate outputs, whether  that’s a cover letter or practice questions.

This fun and engaging way to learn  is part of why I use Brilliant every  

day - so to enjoy learning and  energise your study sessions,  

try everything Brilliant has to offer,  free for a full 30 days, by visiting  

[brilliant.org/salimahmed](http://brilliant.org/salimahmed)  

or click the link in the description - you’ll  also get 20% off an annual premium subscription.

So now you can maintain your energy  to avoid burn out, but you need to  

manage burn out associated with the negative  mindset towards your tasks such as studying.

And i noticed that for most students, the  negative mindset that causes us to burn out  

is a result of being too focused on exams,  because we lose sight of the bigger picture.

So what you need to do is build a  positive mindset for why you study.

And I know people usually say to ignore  the end goal and focus on the small  

steps you can take, but it helps to  remind yourself of your dream goal.

Because a lot of you study and subscribed  to my channel not just because you want to  

pass your exams, but because you have  something bigger you want to achieve,  

whether that’s to become a  doctor or something else.

So don’t lose sight of why you’re studying,  

remind yourself by writing down why you want  to do well on exams, and make yourself aware  

that doing them is going to help you to get  one step closer to that end goal of yours.

And the next point is again personalised to you,  

so I’ll ask a question - what  does self-care mean to you?

I know you can’t genuinely say that  going on your phone makes you feel  

happy - because when have you ever felt happy  after spending an hour scrolling on your phone?

Students seem to neglect their own health,  and that leads to a problem where even if  

you do well for an exam, you feel chronically  stressed, so you can’t relax or feel happy after.

So what you need to do, is  practice active wellbeing.

This is doing what your body and mind  needs so that you can feel better,  

and they’re usually the simple things.

For me, that’s getting a good night’s sleep,  

having a healthy, balanced diet, and  just going out and breathing air.

We weren’t built to sit inside and  do the same thing all day every day.

Prioritising your core needs  is going to reduce your stress  

so that you’re less likely to get burnt out  and appreciate the results you get, so that  

you can sustainably continue with studying for  the years to come, and not just for a few exams.

But now, in the days leading up to your  exams, you want to make as much use of  

the little time you have left without the risk  of burning out just before you do your exams.

So in this video here, I talk about the best way  to use your time to study just before your exams,  

so that you can guarantee the  grades you need to achieve.

So click the video, to learn more.