What you need to get started
Tests and more tests
Hi everyone. How are you?
Seems like a long time since I last spoke to you. At least if I read the last issue over. Thanks to everybody who's subscribed since then - friends, people at school, everybody - I hope you all stay on 'for years to come'.
I'm pleased to report that after my grumbles about my braces last time, I have, well and truly, settled into them. I don't feel them there anymore and am returning to (most of) my favourite foods.
It's been another testing week at school with assessments in Biology, History and German (a writing task on holidays) and I’ve got 3 more in the next few days. I've expressed this to a few at school and I'll say it here again: why are we having tests, for which we have to revise, when we have been told to (should) be revising for our mock exams in November? I, personally, am finding it difficult to balance the revision for both. I understand that we need to have a test every half term but, at least, they could be low-stakes? These test results are being reflected in our report cards which come out at half term.
Anyways, rant over. I got to play hockey after 3 weeks and won my first seniors game for school against Solihull, 2-0. So far this season, win percentage in matches 100% 😁
Speaking of revision and things, I wanted to share a tip that will hopefully help you not only if you need to study but if you need to get anything done...and you don't have the motivation to do it. The 5 Minute Rule.
Tell yourself that you'll do what you need to do for 5 minutes. Just 5 minutes. Set a timer, on your phone or (even better because you can physically see the time ticking away) a sand timer. And you'll find that most times, you'll have gotten into the swing of things and you'll want to continue.
This is something you can apply to most things, the principle of what's the least you can do to get started. Because (my fellow Y11s will know) Newton's First Law, if there is no force on an object, it won't move but if you do apply a force, it will move at a steady speed in a constant direction. The point is, dragging yourself just to get started is the best thing you can do to get the job done. I'd argue, it's half the work, especially when you're not motivated.
Have a try of that this week, and reply back, letting me know how you got on.
Book of the week 📖
Last few days with “Mindfulness: A Practical Guide to Finding Peace in a Frantic World”. I hope to pick up the pace with the next book, which I'm considering reading online (using the Kindle app)
Podcast of the week🎙️
Found myself donning my headphones more this week and listened to quite a few good things. If I had to pick out one, this was quite insightful - we often confuse productivity with productive activity
Article of the week📰
This one came back to me when I was walking home earlier this week; a weird one but you might enjoy it.
Quote of the week💬
“Success is nothing more than a few simple disciplines, practised every day." - Jim Rohn
Have a fantastic week,
Adi