Learning how to learn: Procrastination & memory

Dear friend,  

This is a summary of the online course Learning How To Learn by Prof. Barbara Oakley and Prof. Terrence Sejnowski on Coursera. This course helps you to understand how your brain and your body work during the process of learning, and then find yourself effective ways to learn.

Module 4: Procrastination & memory (and forming a new habit)

Procrastination

1. Habit: action that we are familiar with, no need to think why doing ⇒ save energy (zombie mode)
2. There are 4 parts to form a habit

• The cue: the trigger that launch to zombie mode
• The routine: zombie mode
• The reward: the feeling of pleasure
• The belief: the power of habit

1. How to get rid of procrastination using habits?

• Focus on "process", not "product"
  • Process: things that happen/ what we can change (using Pomodoro or other techniques)
  • Product: the final result ⇒ usually hard to get ⇒ trigger the pain ⇒ procrastination
• How?
  1. Cue: choose location/ time/ feel/ reactions to trigger ourselves to launch the routine
  2. Routine: have a plan and keep it moving away from any distraction
  3. Reward: have a small deadline for a small part of the works ⇒ satisfy ourselves with some small things (candy, good food, a walk, a game, ...)
  4. Belief: believe we can do that (can study in a group to enhance the belief)

Define the start time and the cease time! Let yourself have a small deadline between every small work!

Memory

1. Short term (working) memory: repeat/practice (use spaced-repetition) ⇒ long term memory
2. Long term memory

• Using "palace of memory" to organize the knowledge by stigmatizing it to the place we are familiar with ⇒ easy to recall;
• Hear/ feel/ smell the things to memorize them better;

You can form your new habits and strengthen your knowledge by using the tips above. If you still do not believe you can become a better version of yourself, check the final module now to get the tools to Unlock your potential.

Be Brave.