Understanding Productivity: Key Lessons for Boosting Efficiency🚀

Hey Learners,

If you're reading this, you might be someone like me, wondering how to stay productive and make the most of your time by focusing on activities that contribute to your personal growth in one way or another.

Today, I’m writing my very first blog, inspired by a video on the topic of #PRODUCTIVITY & EFFICIENCY.

In this post, I'll be sharing my personal insights and perspectives on the subject.

Let's dive in!

So the discussion started with a question,

Q: How to make learning process more effective?
A Five step Mechanism was suggested :
Step 1 : "Perception" :-
This is the first step in the learning process, where information enters the brain through the senses. The brain then filters out irrelevant information and selects only the information that it needs. This process is called selective attention.

Step 2 : "Encoding of Information to Brain" :-
This is the second step in the learning process, where the brain converts sensory information into a format that it can understand. This process involves creating a mental representation of the information.

Step 3 : "Short Term Memory" :-
This is a temporary storage area in the brain where information is held for a brief period of time. STM can hold information for a few seconds to a few minutes. [Example : OTP]

Step 4 : "Consolidation":-
This is a permanent storage area in the brain where information is held for a long period of time. LTM can hold information for years or even decades.The process of storing the information from Short Term Memory to long term memory is Called Consolidation.

Step 5 : "Retain & Recall":-
This is the process of accessing information stored in long-term memory. Retrieval is essential for learning and remembering information.

The second Topic to be discussed was
CUES & CONTEXT

Cues:

• Cues are anything that can help you to recall information.
• Examples of cues include:
• The colour of the paper you wrote your notes on.
• The location where you learned the information.
• The people you were with when you learned the information.
• Cues can be internal or external. Internal cues are things that you associate with the information, such as the sound of a word or the smell of a certain place. External cues are things that are physically present in the environment, such as a picture or a piece of furniture.
• It is important to generate as many cues as possible when you are learning new information. This will help you to recall the information more easily later on.

Contexts:

• Contexts are the circumstances in which you learned the information.
• Examples of contexts include:
• The time of day.
• The mood you were in.
• The people you were with.
• Contexts can help you to recall information by providing a sense of familiarity. When you are in a similar context to the one in which you learned the information, it is easier to recall the information.
• It is important to create a context for learning new information. This will help you to remember the information more easily.

some additional tips for using cues and contexts to improve your learning and memory:

- Create your own cues :
When you are learning new information, try to create your own cues. This could involve taking notes in a particular way, using mnemonic devices, or associating the information with something you already know.

- Review the information in the same context in which you learned it: If you can, review the information in the same place and at the same time of day that you learned it. This will help you to recall the information more easily.

- Use multiple cues:
When you are trying to recall information, try to use as many cues as possible. This will increase your chances of remembering the information.

From here the Discussion was Directed towards the Types of learning:

STRATEGIES To ENHANCE RETENTION AND RECALL

1) HOW TO MAKE NOTES:

1. Use a three-column format: This will help you to organise your notes and make them more effective for review.
2. Write down the main content: This should be a summary of the key points from the lecture or reading.
3. Write down keywords and questions: This will help you to recall the information later on.

2) USE OF FLASHCARDS:
Flashcards are a simple but effective tool that can be used to improve learning and memory. They are small cards that have a question on one side and an answer on the other. Flashcards can be used to study a variety of subjects, including vocabulary, math, science, and history.
Some of the benefits of using flashcards:

1. They are portable: Flashcards can be easily carried with you anywhere, so you can study them whenever you have free time.
2. They are active recall: Flashcards require you to actively recall the information, which is a more effective way to learn than simply reading or listening to information.
3. They are customisable: You can create your own flashcards to fit your specific needs.
4. They are fun: Flashcards can be a fun way to learn, especially if you use them with a friend or family member.

TOOL USED FOR FLASHCARDS - ANKI

⭐ALWAYS ASSUME THAT YOU DONT KNOW ANYTHING WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO LEARN A CONCEPT AND CLARITY WILL BE THERE.

3)SPACED REPETITION:
Spaced repetition is a learning technique that involves reviewing information at increasing intervals. This helps to consolidate the information in long-term memory and make it easier to recall.

How spaced repetition works:

• Initial learning:
  You learn a new piece of information.

• Review:
  You review the information shortly after learning it.

• Spacing:
  You review the information again at a later date, with increasing intervals between reviews.
  The idea behind spaced repetition is that as you review the information more frequently, it becomes easier to recall. Eventually, you will be able to recall the information with ease, even after long periods of time.

$ Time period can be divided into 4 buckets :

1. Bucket 1: 3 days
2. Bucket 2: 7 days
3. Bucket 3: 14 days
4. Bucket 4: 30 days

4)FEYNMAN TECHNIQUE:
It states that,
"Learn in a way that you can explain it or teach it to other people"

5)** MIND MAPS:**
Mind Mapping is a visual tool that helps you organize and understand information in a non-linear way. It's a great way to brainstorm ideas, take notes, and review material.

How mind mapping works:

• Central idea: Start with a central idea or topic in the center of a page.
• Main branches: Draw lines from the central idea to represent the main points or subtopics.
• Sub-branches: Connect smaller branches to the main branches for more detailed information.
• Images and keywords: Use images, symbols, and keywords to make your mind map visually appealing and easier to remember.

TOOL FOR MAKING MIND MAPS :- WHIMSICAL

And that wraps up our discussion on productivity and efficient learning techniques!
🎯 By mastering strategies like spaced repetition, mind maps, and the Feynman technique, and utilizing tools like flashcards and Mindmaps, you can supercharge your learning process.
🚀 Remember, consistency is key, and learning is a journey of constant improvement. Keep experimenting with these tips, and you'll see remarkable results.

Thanks for reading, and feel free to share your own productivity hacks in the comments! 💬 Stay curious, stay productive, and keep growing! 🌱✨

See you in the next post! 👋