Study smarter, not harder: Top 10 study

tips
By StudyLink

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Better results mean more choice and opportunity. So

pick up a few new study tips, and prove your
outstanding ability in your assignments and exams!

1. Don’t miss a class

‘A’ students never miss a class. They also never miss

the beginning or end of a class, because important
announcements about exams and projects are often
made then. If you find you lose concentration during
lectures, record them on your phone or a simple voice recorder and listen again later.

2. Review your notes quickly and often

After a lecture or class, read through your notes quickly again. It helps store the
information in your long-term memory.

3. Organise your notes visually

It helps to re-write the key points of a class or subject as a diagram – try using a mind-
map or flow chart, or colour coding key elements of the topic. Then you can give it a
quick glance before you go into an exam.

4. Plan ahead

Make sure you allow enough time for assignments and exam revision. At the
beginning of each term, note down due dates and exam dates on a planner, and
schedule in time for research, editing and final review.

5. Explain things to others

It helps you get things clearer in your head if you try to explain your answers verbally
to people who do not know much about the subject. Your parents and annoying
siblings could be useful for this!

Interested in working alongside your studies, but want some advice? Take a
look at our Top Part-Time Jobs for International Students article for tips.
6. Get together with a study group

You can still have a social life and study – get together with your friends and a pizza,
and share ideas or test each other. You might get a new perspective on a topic, or
work out a better way to approach an assignment. Online groups can work for this too
– although cyber-pizza is not as tasty.

7. Stay positive

It all comes down to attitude. Be enthusiastic about your subjects, and use positive
affirmations to tell yourself that you will succeed and meet your goals.

8. Trust your instincts [intuition]

If you’re under pressure in an exam, don’t second-guess yourself. In most cases, the
first answer you think of will be the right one. If you’re really not sure, make a note of
it and move on – you can always come back later if you have time.

9. Test your teachers

Question your teachers before an exam, make sure you know exactly what will be
covered and what type of questions you should expect. They may have some practice
papers you can try first.

10. Feed your brain and stay healthy

Eat well. Good brain food includes fish, nuts, blueberries and yoghurt. Get
enough sleep, and plan in some active time to keep fit. Oxygen also helps
your memory and concentration, so take a break and get some fresh air.
Many people have their best ideas away from their desk, so if you’re really stuck for
words just get outside and run around the park.

Thinking about studying at a university abroad? Take a look at

the subjects on offer and start your international study journey today.

How to Study Well

METHODS

1Planning Your Study Sessions

2Reading Your Text and Notes

3Boosting Your Learning

+Show 1 more...

OTHER SECTIONS

Expert Q&A

Video
References

Article Summary

Co-authored by Nathan Fox, JD

Last Updated: October 28, 2020 References Approved

Being good at studying is a skill that anyone can learn, and that includes you! There
are good study habits and there are bad study habits, and this article is going to show
you how to ditch what’s not working and focus on strategies that will actually make a
difference come test day. When you’re finished, you’ll know how to study smarter, not
harder. Plus, you’ll have a few tricks up your sleeve for when you need that extra
boost of motivation.
Method 1
Planning Your Study Sessions
1.

1
Create a daily study schedule for yourself. Rather than trying to do all your
studies on 1 day, plan to study a little every day. Start by choosing the time of day
when you feel the most focused. Then, decide which subjects you’ll study each day.
Keep your study schedule in your agenda or somewhere you can see it every day. [1]
 Everyone has a different time of day when they feel most energized. You
might find that you learn best early in the morning, but it’s also possible you
might like studying right after school or before bed. Do what works best for
you.
 If you participate in sports or activities, keep these in mind when planning
your studies. Let’s say you have sports practice every day after school. You
might decide it’s best to study for an hour each evening before bed and an
hour every morning before school to accommodate your sports schedule.
2.

2
Alternate subjects so you don’t get burned out. Try not to study 1 subject for
too long because you’ll probably get bored after a while. Unfortunately, this can make
it harder for you to remember what you’ve studied. Instead, set time limits for how
long you’ll focus on each subject, then switch to something else. [2]
  For example, you might decide to study Math and English on Monday
afternoons. If you have 2 hours to study, you might study Math for 45
minutes, take a 15 minute break, then study English for 45 minutes. You could
spend the final 15 minutes doing a self-test or review.
 Do the subject that interests you least first so you'll be more excited to switch
topics.
3.

3
Organize your study materials so it's easy to find what you need. You
probably have a lot to do, so you need to spend your time wisely. Keep all of your
papers, notebooks, texts, and writing utensils in a specific place so you don’t waste
precious study time looking for them. This way you can quickly pull out what you need
and get started.[3]
 For example, you might keep your pencils, pens, highlighters, and erasers in a
pencil pouch in your backpack. If you also have a desk at home, you could
keep a cup of them on your desktop. Try using colorful pens for notes you
write for yourself so it's more fun.
 If your instructor sends handouts and readings in digital files, save yours to a
Google Drive that you can access from any device. This way you’ll always
have what you need.
 You could use a hole-punch to add holes to handouts, readings, and other
paper items so you can keep them in a binder. As another option, you could
keep them in a folder. Pick a binder or folder that has an image you like on it!
You might even decorate it.
 Keep books or notebooks in your bookbag or beside your study space.
4.

4
Set up your study space. It’s great if you have a desk for studying, but a table will
also work great. Make sure your space has good lighting and remove any clutter or
distractions that might break your focus. Place the materials you need to study, like
pens, highlighters, and a notebook, near the area so they’re handy. [4]
 It’s okay to switch up your study spot if that’s more convenient for you. For
instance, you might like studying at the library or a coffee shop sometimes.
  Play music while you study so it's more fun. Create a playlist of songs that
inspire you but aren't distracting. You might try instrumental music if you get
distracted easily, but it's okay to listen to whatever you like.
5.

5
Remove distractions so you can stay focused on your studies. You’ll have an
easier time focusing if there aren’t distractions around. Ask the people around you to
not disturb you while you’re studying. Additionally, turn off your TV and silence your
phone so you won’t be tempted to check it. [5]
 If there’s clutter nearby your study spot, you might want to remove it if you
find it distracting.
 Try using a productivity app or website that can block social media and other
distracting apps or sites during your study time.
6.

6
Don’t cram for tests because it likely won’t work. Like most people, you’ll need
a few days for the material to really sink in, so studying a bunch the night before a
test likely won’t work out. Chances are,you’ll forget most of what you study during
your cram session. Instead, stick to the study schedule you made for yourself so you
can learn a little at a time.[6]
 You probably have friends who brag about how cramming works for them, but
you don’t know what’s really going on behind the scenes. Ignore what other
people say and do what’s best for you.
 Try planning something fun and relaxing for the night before your exam, like a
bubble bath or watching your favorite movie with a friend. This way you'll
have something to look forward to that might motivate you to stick to your
study schedule.
Method 2
Reading Your Text and Notes
1.
1
Review your notes at the end of each school day so everything is fresh. You'll
likely need to re-read your notes a few times before they start to stick in your mind.
Set aside a few minutes every day to go back over what you learned in all of your
classes. It doesn't need to be a big block of time. [7]
 Look for a few minutes of downtime, like when you're waiting for the bus,
sitting on the ride home, or waiting for your after school events to start.
2.

2
Focus on key concepts rather than minor details. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed
when you’re studying because there’s so much information to learn. You don’t need to
memorize your notes and textbook to do well in class. Instead, study the main points
that your instructor pointed out in class. Then, figure out how the minor details and
examples in your notes or text help you better understand the main points. [8]
 In English class, you could start with a story’s theme. Then, you might look for
ways the author used literary devices to support that theme.
 In math class, you might focus on the formulas you’re learning and how to use
them. Later, you can figure out how the specific math problems your teacher
gave you help you practice.
 In History class, you might focus on the social and historical factors that lead
to a war rather than specific dates and people.
3.

3
Read key information out loud to help commit it to memory. Reading aloud
can help you remember something better, so use this strategy for important points.
Go somewhere you won’t disturb anyone else. Then, slowly read your notes or the
text to yourself to see if it helps you remember it. [9]
 You might also try reading aloud when you’re having trouble understanding
something.
4.
4
Look for links between what you’re learning and what you already
know. Sometimes you might feel like what you’re learning in class has nothing to do
with your real life, but that’s usually not true. Making connections between what
you’re learning and what you already know can help deepen your understanding of
the material and may help you remember it better. Try to brainstorm links between
what you’re studying and something you’ve experienced. [10]
 For instance, maybe you used math to determine the area of your walls when
you were buying new paint.
 Similarly, you might think about how the characters in a story you’ve read
relate to people you know in real life.

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5.

5
Rewrite your notes with extra information to create a study guide. Making a
study guide helps you review the material and gives you something to review in
future study sessions. Start by typing your notes into a blank document. Then, use
your textbook and online resources to add to your existing notes. Additionally, answer
questions from your textbook or ones that come to mind as you study. [11]
 This is a good way to study because it requires you to take an extra step past
reading your notes and textbook. Reading, thinking, and writing are
ingredients essential for an efficient study session.
 You might prefer to hand-write your notes. Keep a set of colored pens or
markers just for this. It'll be more fun to rewrite your notes if you use special
supplies.
6.

6
Use online tutorials if you’re struggling with the material. You might not
understand every subject right away, and that’s totally okay. Luckily, you can find
study guides and video tutorials online that can help you study better. Look for study
help as soon as you start having trouble so you can get the help you need. [12]
 For instance, Khan Academy has a lot of video tutorials you can watch for
free. You can also find videos on YouTube.
Method 3
Boosting Your Learning
1.

1
Make flash cards for information you need to memorize. You can use flash
cards for most subjects, and they can be a great tool for testing yourself. Use flash
cards to learn vocabulary, mathematical formulas, historical dates and figures,
scientific facts and processes, etc. You can make your own cards or print some from
online. Then, flip through your cards to test your knowledge. [13]
 Making the cards yourself is super beneficial because you’ll have to write out
all of the information you’re learning when you create the cards.
 You can find pre-made flash cards about many topics on the website Quizlet.
2.

2
Create a mind map to organize the information you’re learning. Mind maps
can help you make connections between what you’re learning. Start by drawing a
circle and writing the topic inside the circle. Then, draw spokes away from the center
circle and draw circles at the end of each spoke. Inside those circles, write the main
points you’ve learned about the topic so far. Keep branching off of each circle you
draw with new facts and details about the topic. [14]
 Try looking up example mind maps online to see how others have used this
technique to study.
3.

3
Test yourself to review what you’ve studied. At the end of each study session,
set aside 15-20 minutes for a self-test of the material. Do a practice test if you can,
but you can also flip through your flashcards or block off parts of your notes to see if
you can remember the information. This can help you retain more of what you studied
and helps you identify material you need to study again. [15]
 Ask a friend or family member to quiz you if you can. Have them ask you
questions about the material and check your answers.
 Take a practice exam using questions from your study guide or example tests
from online. This will help you identify any areas you need to review again.
 If you're wrong, go through the correct answers.
4.

4
Teach the information to others to help deepen your
understanding. Explaining something to someone else helps you retain the
information better. Give a short lesson about what you’re currently studying to a
classmate, friend, or family member. Then, ask them if they have any questions about
the subject. Do your best to answer the questions. [16]
 If you get a question you can’t answer, find out the answer so you’ll fill in that
information gap.
 If you’re sharing with a classmate, take turns “teaching” each other. This way
you’ll be getting double the information!
5.

5
Incorporate activities that fit your learning style. Figure out which learning style
fits you most. Visual learners absorb more information when then can see it, auditory
learners take in information by listening, and kinesthetic learners engage more with
movement. Personalize your study sessions by using your learning style. [17]
 If you're a visual learner, you might highlight your notes or text. You may also
try incorporating a documentary or slideshow into your studies. You might
also like drawing a mind map so you can represent what you're thinking
visually.
 If you're an auditory learner, you might try singing your notes, reading aloud,
or listening to your text on audiobook.
 If you're a kinesthetic learner, try acting out your notes or walking around
while you read or listen to an audio book. Physically manipulating flashcards
or drawing a mind map might also work for you.
 6.

6
Start or join a study group to learn from each other. Study groups help you all
learn better because you can share different ideas and explain the material to each
other. Ask your classmates to form a study group with you, then schedule meetups at
least once a week. Do your best to stay on task so you can get the most out of your
study sessions.[18]
 Ask each study group member when they’re available so you can pick the
perfect time for your study group. For example, you might arrange to meet
after school in the library every Tuesday.
 If you’re all busy with after school activities, you could schedule a study
session in the library or a local coffee shop every Saturday at noon.
 It’s okay to meet more often than once a week if your schedules allow.
Method 4
Staying Motivated to Study
1.

1
Take a 10 to 15 minute break every hour you study. You want to use your time
wisely, so you might think breaks are a bad idea. However, trying to focus on your
studies for too long can cause fatigue. Instead, schedule breaks into your study
sessions so you can burn off a little steam. When you come back, you’ll be refreshed
and ready to pick back up where you left off. [19]
 If you feel like you get distracted easily, you might try the Pomodoro
technique instead. Set a timer for 25 minutes and try to study that entire
time. Take a 2- to 3-minute break, then start the next session. Do a total of 4
study blocks, with short breaks between them. After the 4th block, either stop
studying for the day or take a longer 15-minute break before you start
another study block.[20]
 Use your breaks for something that energizes you, like getting a snack or
going for a short walk. Don’t turn on your TV or a video game because it
might distract you.
2.
2
Be active during your study breaks to improve your focus. Cardio activity
boosts blood flow, which helps your brain work better. Additionally, being active may
help improve your memory. Try going for a walk, doing jumping jacks, or dancing to
your favorite song during your study breaks.[21]
 Pick an exercise you enjoy so your study breaks are fun.
3.

3
Eat healthy snacks to energize your mind. Snacking while you study can help you
stay focused and might help you study longer. Just make sure you choose healthy
snacks over junk food. Keep your snacks near your study space or grab them when
you take a study break. Here are some snacks that can help you stay focused while
you study:[22]
 Fruit
 Almonds
 Popcorn
 Trail mix
 Carrots and hummus
 Dark chocolate
 Greek yogurt
 Apple slices and peanut butter
 Grapes
4.

4
Sleep 8-10 hours a night so you’re well-rested. Teens aged 14- to 17-years-old
need at least 8 hours of sleep every night for good health. [23] If you are sleep
deprived, studying will feel like a chore. You won't learn nearly as much information
sleepy as you will after a good night's rest. [24]
 If you’re 18 or older, you need 7-9 hours of sleep each night, while kids who
are 6- to 13-years-old need 9-11 hours of sleep.
 Expert Q&A
 Which is the best time to study?
Try to devote your best hour of the day to studying, whenever that is. It's different for
everybody, but for most people, earlier in the day is better. For instance, you might
need to set your alarm an hour earlier and study before work or school. However, you
might also do well if you can block off an hour at lunch.

 How can I motivate myself to study?

Think about what's at stake if you do well on whatever it is you're studying for. That
might just be a good grade or passing a class, but it also could be getting into a
graduate program or getting a job. This should be a great motivator for studying.

 How can I improve my memory for studying?

Many exams are more about reading and logic than they are about memorization. In
those cases, you really just need to take practice exams to get comfortable with the
format. For other types of exams, the best thing to do is practice over and over so
answering the questions almost becomes muscle memory.
Community Q&A
 Question

How do I stop feeling sleepy when I study?

Community Answer

Sit up straight in a brightly lit room. Avoid strenuous workouts and heavy meals before
studying. When you start feeling sleepy, take a five or ten minute break for light exercise.

Not Helpful 79Helpful 1180

 Question

How many hours do I have to study for facing board exams?

Community Answer

You should study for at least four hours before facing a board exam. Best thing you can do is
to make a time table and follow it strictly. Sit in a quiet room, keep a water bottle near to you,
and just focus on studies. Put away mobiles and other devices so you can concentrate on our
studies.

Not Helpful 93Helpful 782

 Question

Should I study a topic before it is taught or after?

 Community Answer

If you can, study your topic before it is taught -- once you read up on an area, you may get
some idea and when you listen to your teacher, you will know about it and have different
perspectives and understandings. Great for asking those deep and meaningful questions!

Not Helpful 60Helpful 507

 Question

How can I be an active learner and the best student in my class?

Community Answer

To be an active learner in your class, pay attention and think critically. Ask the teacher
questions and feel free to disagree with him/her - discussion is key to active learning. Stay
away from class clowns. Don't worry about the other students, just be the best student you
can be.

Not Helpful 89Helpful 697

 Question

How do I choose which subject to study first?

Community Answer

Learn your most difficult subject first. If you are getting bored or frustrated, move on to
another subject and come back to it.

Not Helpful 106Helpful 821

 Question

I keep forgetting what I studied by the time the test comes around. How can I
prevent this?

Community Answer

A full night's sleep is so important for memory that it's almost always worth more than the
last couple hours of cramming. Reciting the material out loud and/or rewriting your notes can
make a much stronger memory than silent reading. Since smell has a strong link to memory,
some people swear by sniffing a perfume or other scent while studying, then sniffing it again
just before the test.

Not Helpful 98Helpful 662

 Question
 What can I do if I suddenly get very low marks?

NY Blossom
Top Answerer

Even the best of students slip up a few times. Don't beat yourself up for it. Commit to
studying and working hard next time and you'll do fine.

Not Helpful 6Helpful 90

 Question

How do I stay concentrated while I study?

Community Answer

Study in a location that you use only for work, whether that's a desk, a library, or a cafe.
Distance yourself from TV, video games, mobiles, or friends who may distract you. If you're
still distracted, work with a study group and/or block your access to certain websites.
Not Helpful 68Helpful 458

 Question

I get very nervous before exams. What can I do about it?

Community Answer

Respect your nerves. They are giving you the sharp focus needed to stay focused and well
prepared for the exams. Then, take a few deep breaths before the exam and affirm to
yourself that you know the material and that you can do this. Some people like to carry a
good luck charm or have something to snack on or drink before the exam starts; perhaps such
a routine can work for you too.

Not Helpful 97Helpful 613

 Question

How do I know what learning style I have between visual and auditory?

Community Answer

If you learn more by seeing examples or pictures, then you are a visual learner. If you learn
better by hearing facts or examples, you would be an auditory learner.

Not Helpful 55Helpful 352

12 Tips to Work Smarter Not Harder
November 26, 2020

Learning to work smarter, not harder can improve your productivity and performance while
increasing your overall job satisfaction. It can also make you a valuable asset to the organization
for which you work, increasing your job security. Implementing the strategies necessary to work
smarter, not harder takes some practice and development.
In this article, we discuss the many reasons why it's so important to work smarter, not harder and
share 12 strategies for how you can do so.
Why is it important to work smarter, not harder?
There are a number of reasons why it's important to work smarter, not harder. Working smarter:

 Saves energy: Working in short bursts, for example, allows you to accomplish challenging tasks with
greater energy and produce better results.

 Increases productivity: It encourages you to streamline processes and combine tasks, saving on
labor and costs.

 Increases motivation: It fosters feelings of positivity about your job, colleagues and yourself.

 Makes you more valuable: Companies are always looking for ways to get more accomplished with
less effort and looking for ways to work smarter, not harder can allow to save valuable resources for
your organization.

 Increases self-esteem: Working smarter allows you to create a better quality product with less
effort, which in turn naturally will boost your self-esteem

Related: 9 Tips for Being Positive at Work

How to work smarter not harder
Here are 12 ideas for how you can work more efficiently:

1. Establish a morning routine.

2. Keep your to-do list short.
3. Establish a closing routine.
4. Block your calendar.
5. Respond quickly.
6. Measure your results, not your time.
7. Enhance your communication skills.
8. Make meetings productive.
9. Work in 90 to 120-minute blocks.
10. Focus on one task at a time.
11. Set short deadlines.
12. Practice stress management techniques.

1. Establish a morning routine

Try to start your morning the same way each day. This could mean taking a short walk to move
around before sitting at your desk or it could mean starting your day with reading a book for
professional development. Meditation can be a great practice to start your morning with.
Meditation has been shown to increase concentration, improve your mood and combat any stress
and anxiety you may be feeling.

2. Keep your to-do list short

Keep your to-do list short and focus on three to five important and challenging tasks for the day,
your most important tasks that, once completed, will make you feel highly productive. Focus on
these tasks one at a time before moving on to less important tasks.

3. Establish a closing routine

Just as you have a routine for starting your day, you should also have a routine for the end of your
day, as it will position you for a great start in the morning. Start by making a list of the top three of
five things you want to do the next day. When you're finished, straighten up your desk and put
away any items that are out of place. You may also want to back up your computer.

4. Block your calendar

Block off your calendar when you need to focus on work. This will give you the time to get your
work accomplished while ensuring your day is free from unanticipated distractions.
Related: How to Balance a Fast-Paced Workplace

5. Respond quickly
Get in the habit of responding to people right away. If you open an email that requires a response,
take the time to respond right away so the task is off your list immediately. If you tell someone that
you'll get back to them about something, try to get back to them within 24 hours.

6. Measure your results, not your time

Keep an ongoing list of everything you accomplish during a day. This will help you feel motivated
and accomplished. This list makes it easy to celebrate your accomplishments and better anticipate
how long similar tasks will take in the future.

7. Enhance your communication skills

Make strengthening your communication and collaboration skills a priority. Start by working on
your active listening skills and staying on-task and on-topic when you're communicating with
someone. For example, when you're writing an email to a coworker keep the email short and to
the point.
Related: How to Communicate Better with Coworkers

8. Make meetings productive

Meetings are often necessary, and when this is the case, go into them with a plan. Have an outline
for what you want to cover during the meeting and a desired outcome. Keep the meeting as brief
and productive as possible and end with action items.

9. Work in 90 to 120-minute blocks

Research has shown that your brain is best able to focus for 90 minutes at a time. Consider taking
more breaks and dividing your day into 90-minute or two-hour segments. This will help you
maximize on your brain's natural ability to focus and improve your overall productivity. Also, make
sure that you adhere to your break schedule and remain focused on your work during your 90-
minute work periods. It's a good idea to close your email and place your phone on silent at these
times.

10. Focus on one task at a time

Studies have shown that when you switch from one task to another, you actually waste time
because of the time it takes your brain to switch tasks and change its focus. Resist the impulse to
multi-task and, instead, focus all of your attention on one task until it's complete or you're ready to
move on for the time.

11. Set short deadlines

Parkinson's Law says that work expands to fill the time available for its completion. While you
should always set reasonable deadlines for your work, consider setting shorter windows of time for
completing tasks. This tactic will often increase the efficiency with which you're able to accomplish
them.

12. Practice stress management techniques

Practice stress management techniques like reading, meditating, listening to music or practicing
yoga. These strategies can combat the stress that can impact your physical, emotional and mental
health and improve your workplace performance.

7 Shortcuts to Work Smarter, Not

Harder
You can accomplish anything with hard work, they say. You can make your business a
success, earn a promotion, master virtually any skill… if you just work hard.
Except working your butt off is not always enough. Need proof? You can’t inflate a flat car
tire by blowing into it as hard as you can, the same way you can’t effectively mow a lawn
with a pair of household scissors. No, you need the right tools, the right strategies, for the
right tasks. You need to work smarter, not harder.
How though? By finding shortcuts.
Here are seven tips to help you work more efficiently and more productively without
expending any additional effort—aka here’s how to work smarter, not harder:

1. Walk away.
Walking away from a complex task might seem counterintuitive, but breaks can actually
make you more productive. Removing yourself from the work environment immediately
reduces stress and gives your brain a chance to “catch up.” If you’re working on a hard
problem, your subconscious mind will continue working on it even if your conscious mind is
trying to relax—which is why sometimes, solutions magically pop into your mind when you
aren’t thinking about the problem. Either way, you’ll come back refreshed and in a
healthier, more focused mental state for work.

2. Recognize and eliminate

distractions
This should be obvious, but the most dangerous distractions are the ones you don’t even
realize are distracting. Maybe you’re working on a new marketing plan with a couple tabs
of research open, and a third tab that’s, conveniently, open to Facebook. You get a new
notification, so you click out of your Word doc to check it real quick. You spend 20 seconds
looking at the post you were just tagged in (or the event you were just invited to or the
“like” your status just got) before you minimize it again. Twenty seconds isn’t a long time,
but it breaks your focus and forces you to restart your last train of thought, possibly costing
you a few minutes or more. Compound that happening several times an hour, and you’ve
instantly reduced your overall productivity.

3. Ignore low-priority items.

Low-priority items sneak up on you, artificially increasing the length of your to-do list and
distracting you from more important work. Say you’re working on a big project when a co-
worker emails you about a quick change you need to make on your company’s website.
Logging on and making the change won’t take much time, but it will distract you from the
project and stress you out if you have to postpone it until later. The best way to fight
against these low-priority items is to ignore them altogether. Go into “do not disturb” mode
by working offline if you can and don’t write them down on your to-do list—they aren’t
worth your immediate concern, so you’ll get to them when you get to them. (Just don’t do
the same for high-priority tasks.)

4. Create routine habits.

Habits happen naturally after they’re formed—they become a ritual, something you can slip
into automatically, something you don’t even have to think about. For example, if you have
to update an editorial calendar every day, make it an unconscious habit, sparing you the
necessity of remembering it in a desperate scramble. Forming habits is the hard part—a
good rule of thumb is to force yourself to commit the action every day, with no breaks from
the routine, until it comes naturally (some people say it takes 30 days, but the evidence is
iffy and subjective).

5. Work in chunks.
Instead of sitting down to complete an entire project, sit down to accomplish one goal
element or work for a certain number of hours. Forcing yourself to complete the entirety of
a project or complex task will stress you out and make you less productive. Instead, allow
yourself to work in shorter “bursts” to keep your mind fresh and reduce your anxiety. That
way, you can work to the very best of your ability.

6. “Multitask” (not in the traditional

sense).
No matter how busy you are, there are always “negative spaces” in your day—and these
gaps are when you should “multitask.” Try to fill the empty spaces with productive work: On
your lunch break, watch a tutorial video or catch up on your emails. On your drive into
work, listen to audiobooks or podcasts. During your workouts, catch up on some
voicemails or watch a TED Talk. The more you learn and work in these negative spaces,
the more you’ll get done overall.

7. Work around your strengths and

weaknesses.
You know yourself better than anybody. You have strengths and weaknesses inherent to
your being, and they’re going to affect how you work. Navigate around these by taking on
more tasks that you’re good at and staying away from ones that slow you down; don’t try to
do them all yourself. Delegate or work together with others to shoulder the burden of your
weakest tasks or skills, and spend more time doing what you do best.
Good time management means that you maximize the daily return on the energy and
mental effort you expend. Learn 8 ways to balance your workload and make the
most of your time on the clock.

8 Ways to Balance Your Workload for

Max Productivity
The drudgery and routine of our daily lives presents the greatest danger to our dreams.
Why? We run the risk of losing our focus and motivation to achieve what we want most. By
re-energizing and renewing ourselves frequently, though, we can avoid burnout and
become much more motivated and productive.
Balance and consistency are the keys.
Enjoy the process, not just the result. Don’t fight the passing of time. Don’t fear it, squander
it, or try to hide from it under a superficial cosmetic veil of fads and indulgences. Life and
time go together. Do enjoy each phase of life. Do make the most of each day and draw
maximum joy from each moment.
Good time management means that you maximize the daily return on the energy and
mental effort you expend. Here are eight ways to maximize your time productivity:
1. Write down in one place all your important goals and priorities. Write down every
commitment you make at the time you make it.
2. Stop wasting the first hour of your workday. Having that first cup of coffee and
socializing at the water cooler are two of the costliest opening exercises that lower your
productivity.
3. Do one thing at a time—well. It takes time to start and stop work on each activity. Stay
with a task until it is completed.
4. Don’t open unimportant mail. More than one-fourth of the mail you receive can be
tossed or deleted before you even open or read it.
5. Handle each task only once and never more than twice. Don’t set aside anything
without taking action. Carry work, reading material and your laptop with you everywhere
you go—convert downtime into uplink time.
6. Spend time planning your to-do list—20 minutes at the beginning of each week and
10 minutes at the beginning of each day.
7. Set aside personal relaxation time during the day. Don’t work during lunch. It’s
neither noble nor nutritional to skip important energy input and stress-relieving time.
Throughout the day, ask yourself, What’s the best use of my time right now? As the day
grows short, focus on projects you can least afford to leave undone.
8. Take vacations often, mini-vacations of two or three days, and leave your work at
home. The harder you work, the more you need to balance your leisure time.

What skills can I develop in my early 20s to become high

value?

Adam Fayed
·
Updated Fri
Founder of Global Online Financial Advisory Firm
Firstly, it depends on what you want to achieve. I presume you mean high-value in the
workplace, in business and related to money, but maybe are also referring to
relationships and other areas of life.

Anyway here is a list

1. Communication skills. Verbal and written. If you don’t know how to communicate
ideas, having those ideas is less valuable. The ability to communicate with people
from different cultures and generations is especially important in some industries
2. Negotiation skills. This one if self-explanatory
3. Soft skills. Communication skills is one example of soft skills, but there are many
others, including how to manage others. Soft skills can’t be automated as much
as some other tasks. So, we might be going towards a workplace in the future
where getting a communication or philosophy degree might be more useful than
maths, if machines keep advancing. Ideally, get good at both soft and hard skills
together.
4. Social media. Knowing how to use it right
5. The ability to know how to use money well, in other words manage it (spending
and investing habits) rather than just focus on making it. If you can get good at
making and managing money, you will get wealthy. If you are only good at
making money and don’t learn the managing skillset, then it is harder.
But do you know what is even more vital than skills? Mindset and mentality. I was
listening to Gary Vee speak today.

He was speaking about LinkedIn and how its organic reach is now huge. It has gone from
an online CV board to something like Facebook 10 years ago…..in some respects at least.

He puts out a lot of free content out there on LinkedIn marketing, like this one:

What stops more people using such tools well? Is it lack of skills or knowledge?
Sometimes, but usually, as he pointed out on the Interview I watched today, it is due to
things like:

1. Being afraid of pushback. There will always be those 1–2% of trolls.

2. Not being persistent enough or not even trying the idea to begin with. It is a
HUGE misconception that most people will steal a good idea. If you go into a
room fo 1,000 and give them ideas, about 4% will do it. 50% will give up too
soon, leaving 2% who implement over a long period of time.
So, rather than just focusing on skills, also look at attributes like mental toughness,
resilience and persistence.

If you have those things, you can outperform somebody with far superior natural ability.

Moreover, for business owners, it is far more rare to find younger people with these traits
than great natural ability and skills.

Skills can be compared eventually. Attributes and personality traits can be as easily.

If you have a rare skill in 2020, it might not be rare in 2030, once word gets around about
it.

Somebody can’t just copy you as easily though.

Productivity Quotes for Work

1) "Focus on being productive instead of busy." -Tim Ferriss
2) "If you spend too much time thinking about a thing, you'll never get it done." -Bruce
Lee
3) "Once you have mastered time, you will understand how true it is that most people
overestimate what they can accomplish in a year-and underestimate what they can
achieve in a decade!" -Tony Robbins
4) "There is no substitute for hard work." -Thomas Edison
5) "What looks like multitasking is really switching back and forth between multiple
tasks, which reduces productivity and increases mistakes by up to 50%." -Susan Cain
6) "Don't worry about breaks every 20 minutes ruining your focus on a task. Contrary to
what I might have guessed, taking regular breaks from mental tasks actually improves
your creativity and productivity. Skipping breaks, on the other hand, leads to stress and
fatigue." -Tom Rath
7) "I always had the uncomfortable feeling that if I wasn't sitting in front of a computer
typing, I was wasting my time -- but I pushed myself to take a wider view of what was
'productive.' Time spent with my family and friends was never wasted." -Gretchen
Rubin
8) “Simplicity boils down to two steps: Identify the essential. Eliminate the rest.”
-Leo Babauta
9) “'Tomorrow’ is the thing that’s always coming but never arrives. ‘Today’ is the thing
that’s already here and never leaves. And because that’s the case, I would much prefer
to invest in today than sit around waiting for an arrival that’s not arriving.”
-Craig D. Lounsbrough
10) “Those who seize the day become seriously rich.”
-Richard Koch, author of The 80/20 Principle: The Secret to Achieving
More with Less
11) "Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly
satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to
love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all
matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it." -Steve Jobs
12) "Gentleness doesn’t get work done unless you happen to be a hen laying eggs." -
Coco Chanel
13) "Luck is not chance, it’s toil; Fortune’s expensive smile is earned." -Emily
Dickinson
14) “Productivity is never an accident. It is always the result of a commitment to
excellence, intelligent planning, and focused effort.” -Paul J. Meyer
15) “Stressing output is the key to improving to productivity, while looking to increase
activity can result in just the opposite.” -Andrew Grove
16) “If you commit to giving more time than you have to spend, you will constantly be
running from time debt collectors.” -Elizabeth Grace Saunders
17) “Life is too complicated not to be orderly.” -Martha Stewart
18) “My goal is no longer to get more done, but rather to have less to do.”
-Francine Jay
19) “Never mistake motion for action.”
-Ernest Hemingway
20) “Always deliver more than expected.” Larry Page
21) “If you don’t have daily objectives, you qualify as a dreamer.” -ZigZiglar
22) “I feel that luck is preparation meeting opportunity.” -Oprah Winfrey
23)“Efficiency is doing things right. Effectiveness is doing the right things.” -Peter
Drucker
24) “Lost time is never found again.” -Benjamin Franklin
25) “While one person hesitates because he feels inferior, the other is busy making
mistakes and becoming superior.” –Henry C. Link

Hopefully these quotes have kickstarted your drive. Now that you've had a quick (and
inspiring!) break, it's time to get back to work.
வேலைக்கானஉற்பத்தித்திறன்மேற்கோள்கள்
1) "பிஸியாக இருப்பதற்கு பதிலாக உற்பத்தி செய்வதில் கவனம் செலுத்துங்கள்." -
டிம்பெர்ரிஸ்
2) "நீங்கள் ஒரு விஷயத்தைப் பற்றி சிந்திக்க அதிக நேரம் செலவிட்டால், நீங்கள் அதை
ஒருபோதும் செய்ய மாட்டீர்கள்." -புரூஸ்லீ
3) "நீங்கள் நேரத்தை மாஸ்டர் செய்தவுடன், பெரும்பாலான மக்கள் ஒரு வருடத்தில் தங்களால்
என்ன செய்ய முடியும் என்பதை மிகைப்படுத்தி மதிப்பிடுவது எவ்வளவு உண்மை என்பதை நீங்கள்
புரிந்துகொள்வீர்கள், மேலும் ஒரு தசாப்தத்தில் அவர்கள் எதை அடைய முடியும் என்பதை
குறைத்து மதிப்பிடுவார்கள்!" -டோனிராபின்ஸ்
4) "கடின உழைப்புக்கு மாற்று இல்லை." -தாமஸ்எடிசன்
5) "பல பணிகள் பல பணிகளுக்கு இடையில் முன்னும் பின்னுமாக மாறுவது போல் தெரிகிறது, இது
உற்பத்தித்திறனைக் குறைக்கிறது மற்றும் தவறுகளை 50% வரை அதிகரிக்கிறது." -சுசன்கெய்ன்
6) "ஒவ்வொரு 20 நிமிடங்களுக்கும் ஒரு இடைவெளியில் உங்கள் கவனத்தை அழிப்பதைப் பற்றி
கவலைப்பட வேண்டாம். நான் யூகித்ததற்கு மாறாக, மனநலப் பணிகளில் இருந்து வழக்கமான
இடைவெளிகளை எடுத்துக்கொள்வது உண்மையில் உங்கள் படைப்பாற்றலையும் உற்பத்தித்திறனையும்
மேம்படுத்துகிறது. மறுபுறம், இடைவெளிகளைத் தவிர்ப்பது வழிவகுக்கிறது மன அழுத்தம்
மற்றும் சோர்வு. " -டோம்ராத்
7) "நான் எப்போதும் கணினி தட்டச்சு செய்வதற்கு முன்னால் உட்கார்ந்திருக்கவில்லை
என்றால், நான் என் நேரத்தை வீணடிக்கிறேன் என்ற சங்கடமான உணர்வு எனக்கு இருந்தது -
ஆனால் 'உற்பத்தி' என்ன என்பதைப் பற்றி ஒரு பரந்த பார்வையை எடுக்க நான் என்னைத்
தள்ளினேன். எனது குடும்பத்தினருடனும் நண்பர்களுடனும் செலவழித்த நேரம் ஒருபோதும்
வீணடிக்கப்படவில்லை. " -கிரெச்சன்ரூபின்
8) “எளிமை இரண்டு படிகளாகக் கொதிக்கிறது: அத்தியாவசியத்தை அடையாளம் காணவும். மீதியை
நீக்கு. ”-லியோபாபடா
9) “'நாளை’ என்பது எப்போதும் வரும், ஆனால் ஒருபோதும் வராது. ‘இன்று’ என்பது ஏற்கனவே
இங்கே உள்ளது, ஒருபோதும் வெளியேறாது. அப்படி இருப்பதால், வருகையை எதிர்பார்த்து
உட்கார்ந்திருப்பதை விட இன்று முதலீடு செய்ய நான் விரும்புகிறேன். ”
-ரெய்க் டி. லவுன்ஸ்பரோ
10) “நாள் கைப்பற்றுவோர் தீவிரமாக பணக்காரர்களாகிறார்கள்.”
-ரிச்சார்ட் கோச், தி 80/20 கோட்பாட்டின் ஆசிரியர்: குறைவானதை விட அதிகமானவற்றை
அடைவதற்கான ரகசியம்
11) "உங்கள் பணி உங்கள் வாழ்க்கையின் பெரும்பகுதியை நிரப்பப் போகிறது, உண்மையிலேயே
திருப்தி அடைவதற்கான ஒரே வழி பெரிய வேலை என்று நீங்கள் நம்புவதைச் செய்வதே ஆகும்.
மேலும் பெரிய வேலையைச் செய்வதற்கான ஒரே வழி நீங்கள் செய்யும் செயல்களை நேசிப்பதே
ஆகும். நீங்கள் இன்னும் அதைக் கண்டுபிடிக்கவில்லை, தொடர்ந்து பார்த்துக்
கொள்ளுங்கள். தீர்வு காணாதீர்கள். இதயத்தின் எல்லா விஷயங்களையும் போலவே, நீங்கள்
அதைக் கண்டுபிடிக்கும் போது உங்களுக்குத் தெரியும். " -ஸ்டீவ் வேலைகள்
12) "நீங்கள் ஒரு கோழி முட்டையிடும் வரை மென்மையானது வேலை செய்யாது." -கோகோ சேனல்
13) "அதிர்ஷ்டம் வாய்ப்பு இல்லை, அது உழைப்பு; பார்ச்சூன் விலையுயர்ந்த புன்னகை
சம்பாதிக்கப்படுகிறது." -எமிலி டிக்கின்சன்
14) “உற்பத்தித்திறன் ஒருபோதும் விபத்து அல்ல. இது எப்போதும் சிறந்து விளங்குதல்,
புத்திசாலித்தனமான திட்டமிடல் மற்றும் கவனம் செலுத்தும் முயற்சி ஆகியவற்றின்
விளைவாகும். ” -பால் ஜே. மேயர்
15) "உற்பத்தித்திறனை மேம்படுத்துவதற்கான அழுத்தத்தை வெளியிடுவதே முக்கியம், அதே
நேரத்தில் செயல்பாட்டை அதிகரிக்க எதிர்பார்ப்பது நேர்மாறாக இருக்கும்." -ஆண்ட்ரூ
க்ரோவ்
16) "நீங்கள் செலவழிக்க வேண்டியதை விட அதிக நேரம் கொடுக்க நீங்கள் உறுதியளித்தால்,
நீங்கள் நேரக் கடன் சேகரிப்பாளர்களிடமிருந்து தொடர்ந்து ஓடுவீர்கள்." -லிசபெத் கிரேஸ்
சாண்டர்ஸ்
17) "வாழ்க்கை ஒழுங்காக இருக்க மிகவும் சிக்கலானது." -மார்த்தா ஸ்டீவர்ட்
18) "எனது குறிக்கோள் இனிமேல் செய்ய வேண்டியது அல்ல, மாறாக செய்ய வேண்டியது குறைவு."
-பிரான்சின் ஜே
19) “செயலுக்கான இயக்கத்தை ஒருபோதும் தவறாகப் புரிந்து கொள்ளாதீர்கள்.”
-எர்னஸ்ட் ஹெமிங்வே
20) “எப்போதும் எதிர்பார்த்ததை விட அதிகமாக வழங்குங்கள்.” லாரி பக்கம்
21) “உங்களிடம் தினசரி நோக்கங்கள் இல்லையென்றால், நீங்கள் ஒரு கனவு காண்பவராக தகுதி
பெறுவீர்கள்.” -ஜிக் ஜிக்லர்
22) "அதிர்ஷ்டம் என்பது தயாரிப்பு சந்திப்பு வாய்ப்பு என்று நான் நினைக்கிறேன்." -
ஓப்ரா வின்ஃப்ரே
23) “செயல்திறன் விஷயங்களைச் சரியாகச் செய்கிறது. செயல்திறன் சரியான காரியங்களைச்
செய்கிறது. " -பீட்டர் டிரக்கர்
24) “இழந்த நேரம் மீண்டும் காணப்படவில்லை.” -பெஞ்சமின் பிராங்க்ளின்
25) “ஒருவர் தாழ்ந்தவர் என்று நினைப்பதால் தயங்கும்போது, மற்றவர் தவறுகளைச்
செய்வதிலும், உயர்ந்தவராக இருப்பதிலும் பிஸியாக இருக்கிறார்.” -ஹென்ரி சி. இணைப்பு
இந்த மேற்கோள்கள் உங்கள் இயக்ககத்தை கிக்ஸ்டார்ட் செய்துள்ளன என்று நம்புகிறோம்.
இப்போது நீங்கள் விரைவான (ஊக்கமளிக்கும்!) இடைவெளியைப் பெற்றுள்ளீர்கள், மீண்டும்
வேலைக்குச் செல்வதற்கான நேரம் இது.

Work Hard And Smart Quotes

“Seven Ways To Get Ahead in Business:
1. Be forward thinking
2. Be inventive, and daring
3. Do the right thing
4. Be honest and straight forward
5. Be willing to change, to learn, to grow
6. Work hard and be yourself
7. Lead by example”
― Germany Kent
கடினமற்றும்ஸ்மார்ட்மேற்கோள்களைவேலைசெய்யுங்கள்
“வணிகத்தில்முன்னேறஏழுவழிகள்:
1. முன்னோக்கி சிந்தியுங்கள்
2. கண்டுபிடிப்பு, தைரியமாக இருங்கள்
3. சரியானதைச் செய்யுங்கள்
4. நேர்மையாகவும் நேராகவும் முன்னோக்கி இருங்கள்
5. மாற்ற, கற்றுக்கொள்ள, வளர தயாராக இருங்கள்
6. கடினமாக உழைத்து நீங்களே இருங்கள்
7. உதாரணத்தால் வழிநடத்துங்கள் ”
- ஜெர்மனி கென்ட்
Hard Work Vs Smart work
ஒருநாள்,
நாய்ஒன்றுகாட்டில்வழிதவறிவிட்டது.அப்பொழுதுஅங்குசிங்கம்ஒன்றுபசியோடுஅலைவதைப்பார்த்தநா
ய்ஒருநிமிடம்பதறிஇன்றோடுநம்கதைமுடிந்ததுஎன்றுஎண்ணியது.அப்பொழுதுஅங்குகிடந்தஎலும்புதுண்
டுகளைப்பார்த்ததும்அருமையானதிட்டம்ஒன்றைதீட்டியது.சிங்கம்வரும்வழியில்திரும்பிஉக்கார்
ந்துகொண்டுஎலும்புதுண்டுகளைசுவைக்கதொடங்கியது.சுவைத்துகொண்டேசத்தமாக,
சிங்கத்தைகொன்றுதின்பதுஎவ்வளவுசுவையாகஉள்ளது,
ஆனால்வயிறுநிறையவில்லை.இன்னொருசிங்கம்கிடைத்தால், ஆஹா! வயறுநிறைந்துவிடும்"
என்றுகூறியது.இதைக்கேட்டசிங்கம் "அய்யோ..! இந்தநாய்சிங்கத்தைஅல்லவாகொன்றுதின்கிறது"
என்றுநினைத்துபயந்துஅங்கிருந்துஓடிபோனது.இதையெல்லாம்மரத்தின்மேல்இருந்துகுரங்குஒன்றுபா
ர்த்துகொண்டிருந்தது.சிங்கத்தைஏமாற்றியஇந்தநாயைசிங்கத்திடம்போட்டுக்கொடுத்தால்,
சிங்கத்தின்நடப்பைபெற்றுவாழ்நாளெல்லாம்பயம்இல்லாமல்வாழலாம்என்றுநினைத்தது.உடனேசிங்கத்
திடம்சென்று,
நாய்செய்ததந்திரத்தைப்பற்றிசொன்னது.அதைகவனித்தநாய்எதோதப்புநடக்கபோகிறதுஎன்றுஉணர்ந்தது.
குரங்குசொன்னதைக்கேட்டசிங்கம்கோபம்கொண்டு,
"இப்பொழுதுஅந்தநாயைஎன்னசெய்கிறேன்பார்.நீஎன்முதுகில்ஏறிக்கொள்"
என்றுகுரங்கைமுதுகில்ஏந்தியபடிநாய்இருந்தஇடத்தைநோக்கிஓடியது.தன்னைநோக்கிசிங்கம்பாய்ந்
துவருவதைப்பார்த்தநாய், முன்போலவேதிரும்பிஉட்கார்ந்துகொண்டு,
"இந்தகுரங்கைஅனுப்பிஒருமணிநேரமாகிவிட்டது.இன்னும்ஒருசிங்கத்தைக்கூடஏமாற்றிஅழைத்துவரவி
ல்லையே" என்றுஉரக்ககூறியது.இதைகேட்டதும்,
சிங்கம்குரங்கைத்தூக்கிஎறிந்துவிட்டுதிரும்பிக்கூடபார்க்காமல்ஓடியேவிட்டது. ---
நாம்பணிபுரியும்இடத்தில்பலகுரங்குகள்நம்மைசுற்றிஇருக்கலாம்,அவர்களைஅடையாளம்காணமுயற்சி
செய்யுங்கள்.
"கடுமையாகஉழைப்பதை(Hard Work) விடதிறமையாகஉழைக்கக்(Smart Work) கற்றுக்கொள்ளுங்கள்.