So how has it worked for me? It’s finals time and I’m not stressed out at all, which can seem impossible when you’re up against 5 or 6 tests that are collectively worth 30% of your entire grade. The pressure can be all-consuming, especially when Red Bull is pumping through your veins and you’re stuck at the library at 1am. What I’ve done by typing up my notes is invest in studying ahead of time rather than cramming the night before my test. It helps me perform better in the class and remember more useful info from the class.

Don’t believe me? Try to remember what you crammed for your first semester at college. I definitely don’t remember anything because my brain was on overload. I remembered it for the test and immediately pushed it out.

Work on your passion every day

Spaced presentation is also something I’m experimenting with for making myself a better designer. Every day, I’m reading two of the 100 design principles from a book called Universal Design Principles. It only takes about 15 minutes so I can easily fit it into my schedule.

I even set myself a reminder in my todo list program, Things, so I never forget.

I’m at principle #50 right now and I’m going to stop after I’ve gone through the book two or three times. I don’t want to read these principles and forget it. These are something I want to subconsciously think about when designing so I’m working on making that happen a little bit every day so my brain doesn’t get overloaded.

What can you do?

What is one thing you’d like to know more about? It could be anything; design, writing, jewelry making, wood carving or your required bio stats class. Try working on it for 20 minutes every single day (or maybe 45 minutes three times a week). Read an article or do a few practice problems. You’re not only going over the material repetitively, but you’re doing it in such a way that your brain can handle all of the information without overflowing with knowledge.