Learning by HEART: Happiness Jar

So, I know this is already too late, so I probably won't be able to share my results, but I really like this idea. Especially with finals coming up, it's very hard to find things to be happy about. If I was trying to find something for today, I would say I'm happy I have a job that I like. It's not the easiest job in the world, but I learn so much and my physicians are great, so I'm very thankful. Let's hope I can keep this going for the rest of the week!

Learning Challenge: Sleep More Important than Studying?!

Like most college students, sleep is not the first thing on my mind when I'm cramming for a test. I'm always wishing I could sleep more, but it always seems impossible to get enough. I've heard some of the things in this article before, like less sleep can man lower grades, but I didn't really understand the biological effects sleep had. For instance, the brain resets itself during sleep. It clears synaptic connections, allowing for more to be learned the next day. I'll try to get more sleep this week. Let's hope it works!

Literally me almost every day. Image: Flickr

Learning Challenge: The Anti-library

Reading used to be one of my favorite pastimes. Any free time I had would be devoted to finishing up my books, but once college started, my days of reading for pleasure vanished quickly. Because of this, I haven't had time to put anything on my reading list or add any books to my library. The article discusses an interesting topic. When I first thought about it, seeing all the books I haven't read makes me feel less accomplished, but I guess it could motivate me to learn more. I can't even imagine what Eco's library must have looked like. I do like the idea of surrounding yourself with potential knowledge.

The possibilities are endless. Image: Pexels

Learning Challenge: Reading Out Loud

So this week, I tried reading out loud. Normally, I'm not a fan. I'm much faster if I just read in my head. However, I actually liked reading the stories. It forced me to read every single word and not skip anything. Since I'm a silly person, my favorite part, of course, was adding sound effects and appropriate sounding voices for all the characters. I don't think I can always read out loud since I usually do my reading in the library, but I'll definitely keep it in my mind!

Reading: It's not for everyone. Pixabay

Learning Challenge: Pomodoro Timer

So I didn't have an actual Pomodoro timer, but I have an app called Tide that allows me to study for 25 minutes and automatically take a 5-minute break. I like this method a lot because I'm not struggling to stay focused for like an hour. With a break, I keep my mind fresh and not too overwhelmed.

What an ideal Pomodoro timer looks like. Image: Flickr