This semester is one of the worst semesters that I have ever had. In fact, it is one of the most ‘experiments’ that I have been conducting to find out the optimum study time for me. Thus, I shall write down the key lessons here so that I could refer them in the next semester.
1. Sleep is extremely vital. A tertiary student like me needs at least 7 hours to sustain the hectic schedule in school. Otherwise, I would end up dosing off in lecture. Even if I am awake, my mind just could not absorb. It is useful to note that 6 hours of sleep is inadequate. You will end up being a walking zombie.
2. When I am fatigue, I need to go and sleep. It is pointless to persist in finishing up the readings as it is futile if I managed to do so as nothing is being absorbed into my brain. Furthermore, diminishing returns seem to set in rapidly once I am feeling lethagic. Thus, I guess this is where Economics analysis would be proven useful
3. With regards to project report or term report, I realise that the most effective way is to write down the points that I have told of or came across from readings or articles in a document that stores the approach of tackling the report. If not, I end up wasting 1 full day writing a report which is out of point and trying to devise ways to write that report.
4. Term and project report are very time consuming. When I tried to edit my personal report of less than 3,000 words, it will take me at least an hour. Worst of all, it is inflicted with diminishing returns symptom. Thus, it is advisable to stop writing my report if I am out of idea in an ungodly hour like 1 am and resort to sleep rather than stucked for 1 hour to squeeze 1 pathetic idea out.
5. Timetable planning is critical. I should never planned having 2 tutorials on Monday. It is plain squeezing me to the nerve if it happens that I have weekly assignment (the worst is the assignment does not belong to the 2 tutorials) to be handed in on that popular Monday slot.
6. Furthermore, timetable planning should take into account of allowing me to have at least 7 hours of sleep. Thus, I should not plan my timetable where the lesson ends at 6 pm and have a lesson that starts at 9 am in the next day. This is so as I would run into possibility of having project work discussion after 6 pm the day before which leads me to have insufficient sleep for the 9 am class in the next day.
7. Readings is another hurdle. I have learnt to give up on readings that are too thick (50 pages per topic or per week). In view of this, I have resorted to selective readings for such module. If I continue to resort to that, I would not have time to handle other critical modules.
8. Although free day is considered a privilege, it is one of the least productive days as I would attempt to take a break in the morning and slack a bit in the afternoon. As a result, such foolish actions of me have squandered my previous time away. I am writing this down as I am hoping that rational expectations would function well in me. I have made systemic errors. Yet, it should not be repeated again, isn’t it? If yes, then rational expectations would be convincing to me. 😀
9. I have learnt that it is quite difficult to understand everything in lecture. Thus, I should not be carried away or get agaited by that. I should just move on and listen as much as I can. Then, I go and review it again during revision. If not, it would hamper my progress TERRIBLY.
In short, the above key lessons is not written for fun. It is meant to be strictly adhere to so that I would have a productive semester in future.
TYS 