The freezer method

Passing along something to try when you've got a deadline, especially for writing.

First, mentally move your work deadline back 48 hours. Complete the final draft and "put it in the freezer" by putting it aside completely.

Then, 24 hours later (note that this should also be 24 hours before you'd normally be completing it) sit down with it again and read it as if seeing it for the first time. Missing words that your spell check program didn't catch? Punctuation? Proper formatting? And so on.

All good?

Why educate yourself in the sciences?

Science silliness

Strategy for those Monday surprises

Today was just the most recent in a string of Monday surprises this year, by which I mean assignments which were NOT due suddenly were. A bad moment under any circumstances, right?

But because I am now applying my new strategy, I was ready when my first period teacher announced that we'd had enough time to work on it, and today we were turning in the assignment. First period, and on a Monday! My partner and I had worked yesterday on the assignment, emailing drafts back and forth, so that we were ready and turned it in, and for a major grade too, which counts as 70% instead of the daily grade (30%) we all believed this was.

Our grade was the only 100, and the highest grade in the class - compared to the average 60.

But the real point here is my new strategy, which is this: do everything you can, complete all assignments possible, AS IF they are due tomorrow - or, especially, on Monday.

The strategy works because you finish everything without putting it off - you know what I'm talking about here - just because you have more time and therefore just because you can. It forces you to assume that you MUST knock it out.

The bonus is that you keep your time open for the new incoming assignments, because there will always be incoming.

There really ARE apps for all that!

First, a top five list - notable for a different flashcard application (I still like Quizlet a lot), another graphing calculator to try, and Evernote which I actually like and use. I'm planning to try the project app soon. Here's the link.

Next, here's a list from Lifehacker for the Mac Student

Continuing our Apple/Mac theme, here are 8 more.

And this' year's updates list from AppStorm here.

Know what doesn't work very well? Those big paper calendars that lie flat on your desk. Seems like it would be handy to write on, easy to see for reminders, etc. The reality? That's where I put stuff down or spread my work out on the desk, covering it up.

Sweatpants?

Sweatpants - at least a certain kind - are a great solution to the first decision of the day: what to wear. Nike makes them without elastic at the bottom, which makes them look more like pants and less like you're on the way to workout. And with the deep side pockets, back pocket with velcro, and the heavyweight fabric you just look like you're wearing COMFORTABLE pants. 

They're also a good solution for your mood, because who doesn't feel better wearing sweats?

Here is your illustrated guide to a PhD

Matt Might's illustrated guide to a PhD explains it visually. But to understand you need to take a look at the full explanation here