You’re NOT stupid, Your Schedules Are. | The Anti-Study Plan Method

I've also never used study plans. Sometimes when studying in the library with my friends and it got late, I told them I'm going home and ask when they are leaving - and their answer would always be "I still have x things on my to-do list". I just can't do that. I will always prioritize my sleep, and I absolutely can't study when I'm tired, hungry, or just drained from already studying all day.

The YouTube trend of work/study efficiency and optimisation is so popular. I am a fan of work smarter not harder myself, however…you can have the most efficient study plan but FAIL🤦‍♀️ there is no way of cutting corners because one [aka student] still needs studying! Sleep and stu-dy! I chose routine over schedule for some reason. I hate being inflexible, therefore I go with a flow. But boy oh boy do I study when I am in the zone🥵 per aspera ad astra dear colleagues of academia!✨✨✨

Key Takeaways: - Set your goals at the start of the exam season. - Identify weaknesses and areas for improvement. - Establish rough targets for the number of questions or tasks you want to complete. - Instead of a rigid weekly plan, create a daily ritual for planning each day. - Consider factors like your performance, weaknesses, and energy levels when planning. - Schedule specific tasks for the morning and afternoon, and adjust based on how you feel and your productivity. - Emphasize quality over quantity in your study sessions. - Advocate for task batching to improve efficiency and reduce task-switching costs. - Keep your planning ritual short, taking about 5 minutes each morning, afternoon, and evening. - Enjoy little moments of satisfaction by checking off completed tasks with a red pen. - Be flexible and adapt your plan based on daily needs and goals. - Prioritize self-encouragement and small rewards to maintain motivation and prevent burnout. - Avoid the guilt and pressure associated with a rigid, color-coded study plan, and focus on a more flexible and adaptive daily approach.

Wow I love this… I literally would plan out everything, colour coat everything and felt this immense imposter syndrome in my med school for not completing it, and by exams I give up. This is what I needed. I was told if I accept that I would never completely be caught up with school work because we will always have something to learn, always something to read.. don’t feel guilty for having a life balance and it’s okay to have a break like meeting up with a friend or watching an episode of your favourite show - take care of yourself. ✨💅💖

I'm self studying computer science while still working a full time job and I keep finding these successful people who create colour-coded study plans that work for them and kept creating them for myself and then failing at following them. THIS IS EXACTLY THE VIDEO I NEEDED TO WATCH!!! Thanks so so so much for sharing your experience and expertise on the subject!!! Big hugs from Canada!!🤗

🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation: 01:10 🐌 The video criticizes the rigidity of study plans, comparing them to a snail's slow and inflexible movement. 02:31 🎯 Study plans often neglect the variability in topic difficulty and the importance of focusing on high-yield subjects. 03:29 😓 The guilt associated with not adhering to a rigid schedule can be counterproductive, especially on days when one feels burnt out or unwell. 04:08 🌈 The video critiques the obsession with creating color-coded plans, emphasizing that the time spent on elaborate plans often exceeds the time spent on actual productive activities. 05:43 🥦 The video advocates for quality over quantity, discouraging the mindset of prioritizing thesheer volume of study hours. 07:08 📅 Instead of a detailed study plan, the speaker recommends setting goals, assessing weaknesses, and planning daily based on individual needs and feelings. 09:55 🔄 Daily planning rituals, lasting about 5 minutes, provide flexibility, incorporate weaknesses, and give a sense of accomplishment through small, achievable tasks. 11:22 🌟 The importance of incorporating moments of joy, encouragement, and rewards in the study routine to prevent burnout and enhance motivation. Made with

This is EXACTLY the things I needed to hear right now. I've just started med and feeling swamped but cautious that I've gone back to my old mindset of having to want to get EVERYTHING done, and more. What you "used" to do is exactly what I'm doing now- so thank you for saying everything you did. You didn't do it in a "tough love", patronising way, and for that, I am so super thankful. I already feel bad enough for not getting everything done, and I cannot relate more to the emotions. I felt drained today after placement and just wanted to do nothing- instead I have literally procrastinated the last 6 hours. It feels scary as making these plans has been a comfort of mine, but I've never, ever stuck to them. I'm quite a spontaneous person and love doing things with the flow of life but I want to stay focused. Starting your more chilled technique now. I'd love to know how you did your flashcards? Anki is super confusing at the moment and you passed all of your exams so would be amazing to hear what you did xxx thank you for this video. Exactly what I've been needing-exactly!

Faye, you are just like a warm hug I just needed. You just get a lot of people and you’re good at it. I hope I was more self-aware like you are. ❤❤❤

I love this Faye! Thank you so much for sharing your experience and thoughts on the topic. I've been in university for 7 years now and I have often felt like a failure even when my marks are good. I have recently been realizing that I'm the one setting myself up to feel that way by making study goals that are unattainable and obviously not achieving them. Its wild how we can do that to ourselves. Because I was setting myself up to miss my goals everyday I never felt like I could relax because I always thought there was still work to do, so I would spend the entire day poorly doing so many things. It is truly miserable, and the highway to burnout. I am trying to find ways around this and this video is very encouraging, thanks!

Thank you for this, Faye! I feel so seen and this is one scheduling video that I can relate to🖤

Her Editing is so Amazing and wholesome ❤ such hardwork wow... Ahhh more the reasons to love her

I love your videos 💕 I think I may have ADHD but not technically diagnosed. I’m in nursing school and sometimes I procrastinate studying to the day before an exam or I get easily distracted while studying and it ends up being a whole day or just overwhelmed. And omg this couldn’t have come at a better time, I’m ready for a change so thank you so much. 📅❌

This is the video I never knew I needed. Ive watched tons and tons of videos about study methods, but nothing worked for me. Im in 8th grade right now and am aming to be at the top of my class. Last year I thought I was simply content with having high grades, but recently I've been wanting to achieve a better version of myself. Of course, If I dont achieve it, it's okay. I wont beat myself up and I'll simply celebrate how my hard work has paid off.

Missed your videos on YouTube Faye and thank you for this one because my dental school mid terms are coming up and I was starting to stress about how I'll be managing my time 📅❌

I used to watch a lot like a lot of medical student vlogs as to see what my future would look like and I have stopped watching them altogether minus your videos! I get notified the minute you post and will typically watch it that day. You're doing great Faye! 📅❌

in brief: The video discusses the drawbacks of traditional study plans and introduces an alternative approach to studying. 1. **Introduction**: - Faye shares her personal experience of not making a study plan since entering medical school. Despite initial academic setbacks, she passed all her exams and secured her top choice for her first job as a doctor. She suggests that making a study plan might be counterproductive. 2. **Reasons Against Traditional Study Plans**: - **The Worm vs. The Snail**: Traditional study plans are rigid like a snail's shell, whereas studying should be flexible like a worm. Different topics require varying amounts of time, and some topics might need revisiting. - **Color-coded Plans**: Faye used to spend a lot of time creating detailed, color-coded study plans but never stuck to them. This not only wasted her time but also added stress. - **Brussels Sprouts vs. Lindor Analogy**: This analogy emphasizes quality over quantity. Spending more hours studying doesn't necessarily yield better results. Focused, quality study sessions are more effective. 3. **The Anti-Study Plan Method**: - Instead of a long-term study plan, Faye starts her exam season by setting goals, identifying weaknesses from previous exams, and setting targets. - Every morning, she plans her day in half-hour slots, adjusting based on her performance the previous day and her current feelings. - She emphasizes the importance of "batching tasks" to improve efficiency and reduce the mental cost of switching between tasks. - Faye finds motivation in checking off tasks from her daily schedule, giving her a sense of accomplishment. 4. **Conclusion**: - Faye believes in giving oneself moments of joy and satisfaction during the study process. Constant pressure can lead to burnout, so it's essential to find ways to stay motivated and encouraged. This video provides an alternative perspective on studying, emphasizing flexibility, quality, and self-awareness over rigid planning.

Such an amazing video! All the things are well-explained and practical, the editing is perfect. Thank you Faye!

The readings and the anki cards never end. And yet I can't stay focused. I needed this.

Great video. My new year's resolution is to pick up and be consistent with some simple but impactful habits and this planning method seems perfect for working through my dissertation. Thank you!

Brilliant video, Faye! Congrats. Great title! -just subscribed. Greetings to the UK!