Happy new year!
As we ring in another new year, it’s time to stop, reflect on the past year, and make
decisions on what we're going to change.
Stay to the end, as I share fifteen resolutions that you should consider making this year,
including one on based on the scientific evidence involving gratitude.
Hi, this is Professor Beau Baez.
It’s that time of year when we resolve to make changes.
Regardless of when you are watching this video, consider making some or all these changes
to your life.
Studying.
Try new approaches to studying.
Many of us get into a rut, relying on old study habits to help us get top grades.
Even if you're already at the top, new techniques might work better,
helping you to work more efficiently and faster.
For example, try the elaborative interrogation technique, where you compare ideas with
other ideas, looking for connections.
The idea is to try something new this year.
Organization.
Organization is one of the keys to success.
Without a systematic method for capturing notes or structuring an outline, you won’t
do as well as you might like.
One organization system, which I explain in another video, is called the Cornell technique.
It takes time to get organized, but once you begin, it becomes automatic,
saving you time in the long run.
Exercise.
Many people need to add weekly exercise to their routine.
Did you know that exercise is correlated to increased cognition?
That’s right, getting your blood moving improves how well your brain processes information.
For me, when I know that I need to have my brain working at its highest level,
I go out and exercise.
Even when it’s freezing outside, I force myself to go hiking.
By the way, it goes without saying, exercise helps your heart and other body parts as well.
Sleep.
Create a sleep schedule.
Studies show that we work better when we have a regular sleep schedule.
First, make sure to get seven to eight hours of sleep a night.
Then second, stick to the schedule,
waking up and going to sleep at the same times each day.
One hack you might work for you is to read something very difficult just before you go to bed.
And your brain will continue working on it while you're sleeping.
However, one student told me a few weeks ago that he can’t do that.
He has to decompress or he doesn't sleep, and he has insomnia.
So do what's best for your body.
Culture.
Attend one cultural event a month.
It’s easy to focus on studies and neglect everything else in life.
Yet, science indicates that we learn better when we are exposed to new experiences.
So if your university has a music department, go listen to the orchestra or some ensemble.
Or, maybe a drama department--catch a play.
You will be a better person and a better student for doing this.
Spirituality.
All of us have a spiritual dimension, which many of us express
by attending formal religious services.
So if you attended religious services in the past, keep attending.
For those of you who aren’t religious, you might find that walking in a park or on a
beach helps you connect to your spirituality.
Social media.
Now is the time to spend less time on social media.
This may mean taking your smartphone, placing it in another part of the house.
There are even apps that will turn off your smartphone,
and keep you from accessing certain apps.
If that's what you need to do, do that.
Small groups.
Join a small group.
Some of the most successful students use small groups wisely,
as I’ve mentioned in another video.
LinkedIn.
If you haven’t done so yet, join LinkedIn and create a profile.
This is a social media platform for professionals, so do this right away.
Make sure to ask the classmates that you know well to join your network.
Keep in mind that some employers now require you to apply using LinkedIn.
Coffee and money.
Make your coffee at home rather than buying it at a coffee house.
With some coffee houses charging more than $5 for a cup of coffee,
you can save hundreds of dollars a year.
If you don’t know how to make great coffee, learn to do it—
there are thousands of videos on YouTube that will teach you how to make great coffee.
Emotions.
Learn how to better deal with your emotions.
This might mean sharing your emotions with a trusted friend,
or it might mean talking to a counselor.
I find that when I share my thoughts with somebody,
it reduces the amount of stress in my life.
Family.
Create a schedule to talk to family if you don't live with them.
If you’re like me, you can get caught up with the daily routine of life and
neglect the family that doesn’t live near you.
You’ll feel better and they’ll feel better, knowing that you’re okay.
Podcasts.
Find a podcast about something completely unrelated to what you are studying.
It’s important for your mind to learn new things, which helps your brain learn better.
Accountability.
Work with a study-buddy.
This is a person that you spend time with on school related work.
When you agree to do something with your study-buddy, you're much more likely to do it.
Unfortunately, promises to ourselves are pie-crust promises: easily made and easily broken.
Gratitude.
Did you know that developing an attitude of gratitude can help your brain, improve your
health, and help you get better sleep.
There is scientific evidence that demonstrates the benefits of gratitude.
So here is what you can do to become more grateful.
In one study, participants were asked to write a letter of gratitude to someone each week.
Though the vast majority of participants never sent those letters,
the studies showed that they had significant benefits just by writing the letter.
So this year, start practicing gratitude.
Start thinking about the little things in life that you're grateful for.
Let me start this one, by telling you that I am grateful for my wonderful wife
and my five delightful children.
As you make promises for the new year, share them with me in the comments section below.
You might inspire someone else with your story.
New videos every other Wednesday, so hit the subscribe and bell buttons so you can become
a better student and a better lawyer.