Importance of Sleep

Lets Explore the benefits of what we love so much to do

While working and being awake our brain cells

produce toxins

These harmful toxins are cleared out during

sleep as our brain cells shrink and allow the

cerebrospinal fluid to flow in a very rapid pace

http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/10/18/236211811/brains-sweep-themselves-clean-of-toxins-during-sleep

During sleep our Diffused mode of thinking kicks in. It helps explore those

hidden memory spaces in our brain which we are unable to access during
intense thinking or being stuck at a problem.

Its been seen that the problems or learning material we encounter before

sleep, stays in our brain during sleep and our brain digests the material slowly
producing strong neural patterns for the material.

Research has shown that during sleep new synapses are formed over the

existing dendrites which help in learning and retaining the newly learnt
material. Its like we wake up every time with an upgraded version of the brain
we had before.

Having a task list prepared before sleeping always keeps our brain sorted out
the next day.

Procrastination
Sadly the Root Cause of many unfinished businesses of our life

When our brain finds something difficult or unpleasing, it shifts its attention
to some more pleasing task and we feel happy (although temporarily).

Its the most powerful force that makes us feel, all is well or all is going to be well.

We keep postponing the work until its really inevitable and then we try to
finish every material at hand in one go which is more painful and least
productive.

The best technique to fight against the evil

effects of procrastination is to just start reading

or performing the task which you are trying to
avoid of postpone.

The best way to get started with this is to set a

timer for a period of say 25 minutes and indulge

in the task intently. Its popularly known as
POMODORO technique

Although with some uneasy and unhappy feeling, but we should start reading
the new material. Its the static friction which opposes most, kinetic friction is
always lesser.

Making a schedule and sticking with it always helps in fighting against the habit
of procrastination.

Test Taking
The more you sweat in practice the less you bleed in battle

Taking test for the material that we prepare or study helps us make less
mistakes during actual test.

Tests, quizzes and assignments push us to understand the material deeply in

order to answer the questions correctly.

Tests show us the level of understanding we have about the material.

Sometimes its for the best that we simulate the test environment with fixed
time and a sample test paper. Its like the dress rehearsal of an event before the
actual show.

Testing ourselves is the most honest way to measure actual progress and
identify weak & troubling areas.

Test taking and participating in quizzes with friends and in study groups also
helps because of its innate quality of competition which motivates us to excel
among peers.

Modes of Learning
Whats good for thee is not good for me well not always !

These days most of the learning is being done through watching videos and
reading material online i.e. on an electronic device.

The old fashioned way of studying through a book or hard copy of notes is
also one of the primary modes of learning.

Not everyone find these modes equally rewarding.

In fact each mode requires its own specific needs and ways to utilize that mode
in order to maximize its productivity.

Recall is a technique which applies to any form of learning.

After reading we must stop and try recalling the material we have just studied.
It helps us retain the studied material longer.

While reading a book, its not at all helping if we keep on highlighting every
sentence that we read. Main aim of highlighting is to mark important points
and to know whats important, first we must understand the material.

Reading online, in my opinion must be accompanied with the Pomodoro.

Subtracting distractions is the primary aim of Pomodoro and that must be
achieved for effective learning.

Taking notes for any mode is as important as recall.

Watching videos can be tricky.

Sometimes we pause too much to take notes, which in fact could be counter
productive as it distracts and poses hinderance in effective learning.

One of the most plausible way is to go through the video once and take notes
in the second go. In this way, its helps in revisiting the material as well.

I would like to extend my sincere thanks to our course

instructors Dr. Barbara Oakley and Dr. Terrence Sejnowski

All the techniques and material presented here has been inspired from the course Learning
How to Learn available on Coursera.org