Importance of SleepLet’s Explore the benefits of what we love so much to do

• While working and being awake our brain cellsproduce toxins

• These harmful toxins are cleared out duringsleep as our brain cells shrink and allow thecerebrospinal fluid to flow in a very rapid pace

1

http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/10/18/236211811/brains-sweep-themselves-clean-of-toxins-during-sleep

• During sleep our Diffused mode of thinking kicks in. It helps explore thosehidden memory spaces in our brain which we are unable to access duringintense thinking or being stuck at a problem.

• It’s been seen that the problems or learning material we encounter beforesleep, stays in our brain during sleep and our brain digests the material slowlyproducing strong neural patterns for the material.

2

• Research has shown that during sleep new synapses are formed over theexisting dendrites which help in learning and retaining the newly learntmaterial. Its like we wake up every time with an upgraded version of the brainwe had before.

• Having a task list prepared before sleeping always keeps our brain sorted outthe next day.

3

ProcrastinationSadly the Root Cause of many unfinished businesses of our life

• When our brain finds something difficult or unpleasing, it shifts its attentionto some more pleasing task and we feel happy (although temporarily).

• It’s the most powerful force that makes us feel, all is well or all is going to be well.We keep postponing the work until its really inevitable and then we try tofinish every material at hand in one go which is more painful and leastproductive.

1

• The best technique to fight against the evil effects of procrastination is to just start reading or performing the task which you are trying to avoid of postpone.

• The best way to get started with this is to set a timer for a period of say 25 minutes and indulge in the task intently. Its popularly known as POMODORO technique

2

• Although with some uneasy and unhappy feeling, but we should start readingthe new material. It’s the static friction which opposes most, kinetic friction isalways lesser.

• Making a schedule and sticking with it always helps in fighting against the habitof procrastination.

3

Test TakingThe more you sweat in practice the less you bleed in battle

• Taking test for the material that we prepare or study helps us make lessmistakes during actual test.

• Tests, quizzes and assignments push us to understand the material deeply inorder to answer the questions correctly.

• Tests show us the level of understanding we have about the material.

1

• Sometimes it’s for the best that we simulate the test environment with fixedtime and a sample test paper. Its like the dress rehearsal of an event before theactual show.

• Testing ourselves is the most honest way to measure actual progress andidentify weak & troubling areas.

2

• Test taking and participating in quizzes with friends and in study groups alsohelps because of its innate quality of competition which motivates us to excelamong peers.

3

Modes of LearningWhat’s good for thee is not good for me – well not always !

• These days most of the learning is being done through watching videos andreading material online i.e. on an electronic device.

• The old fashioned way of studying through a book or hard copy of notes isalso one of the primary modes of learning.

• Not everyone find these modes equally rewarding.

• In fact each mode requires its own specific needs and ways to utilize that modein order to maximize its productivity.

1

• Recall is a technique which applies to any form of learning.

• After reading we must stop and try recalling the material we have just studied.It helps us retain the studied material longer.

• While reading a book, its not at all helping if we keep on highlighting everysentence that we read. Main aim of highlighting is to mark important pointsand to know what’s important, first we must understand the material.

2

• Reading online, in my opinion must be accompanied with the Pomodoro.

• Subtracting distractions is the primary aim of Pomodoro and that must beachieved for effective learning.

• Taking notes for any mode is as important as recall.

3

• Watching videos can be tricky.

• Sometimes we pause too much to take notes, which in fact could be counterproductive as it distracts and poses hinderance in effective learning.

• One of the most plausible way is to go through the video once and take notesin the second go. In this way, its helps in revisiting the material as well.

4

I would like to extend my sincere thanks to our course instructors Dr. Barbara Oakley and Dr. Terrence Sejnowski

All the techniques and material presented here has been inspired from the course Learning How to Learn available on Coursera.org