How to stop your mind from wandering

Sometimes we just need a nudge to get us back on track, we need to hear the words from someone else who has been through enough deadlines and personal goal setting (with herself and many others) to recognise that a simple but immediate change in behaviour is all that we need. Daphne Gray-Grant is my go to for practical advice on getting things done – she hits the procrastinator spot.  The advice is not spiritual or deep, although it can lead to that. Read her latest blog if you need to up your game and get your studying done.

3-2-1: On managing expectations, and the importance of trial and error

James Clear offers nuggets of wisdom and this blog is an example, particularly the first three of 3-2-1 which are a guide on managing expectations. These are very useful in this exam period. It’s not straightforward because expectations can motivate us, but we also need to let go of them once we have done our best.

Avoiding Stupidity is Easier than Seeking Brilliance

We often focus on trying to be brilliant, yet many great people get far more mileage out of avoiding making stupid mistakes. Amateurs win the game when their opponent loses points, experts win the game by gaining points. Shane Parrish

The above blog (8min read) will challenge your thinking on winning. See the upcoming exams as an opportunity to win by avoiding making mistakes and by being open to testing yourself beforehand, not only in terms of content but of managing yourself, your time and your attention by not making stupid mistakes.

Below are some tiny thoughts from Shane Parrish.

Your position determines if you’re playing on easy mode or hard mode.

Many people unintentionally choose to play on hard mode by not sleeping enough, not eating healthy food, or not investing in their most important relationships.

You can’t remove struggle or emotion from life, but you can put yourself in a position where they don’t control you.

Consistently doing the simplest things makes the biggest difference.

Lastly, some encouragement from Gail Sheehy on the gifts that come from the pain associated with growth. Moving from the familiar into the unknown as many of you will be doing as you enter the workplace.

“The work of adult life is not easy. As in childhood, each step presents not only new tasks of development but requires a letting go of the techniques that worked before. With each passage some magic must be given up, some cherished illusion of safety and comfortably familiar sense of self must be cast off, to allow for the greater expansion of our own distinctiveness.”