Best Study Method if You Struggle to Focus | How I got into MIT despite ADHD
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- Опубликовано: 2 июн 2024
- I overcame my ADHD with THIS study method! How do Harvard and MIT students study? How to effectively memorize without forgetting? The most effective evidence-based memorization method. Why memorization is key for studying, even if you're a STEM student. How to use Anki?
▬ In this video ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
I walk you through several different study methods. Most of them are not very effective, yet commonly used. They are especially ineffective if you struggle to focus for an extended period of time. The last method which I talk about is based on the active recall and spaced repetitions methods. The most famous software which helps you work with these algorithms is called Anki.
▬ Follow me for more tips ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
Instagram: / samuel.bosch
LinkedIn: / samuel-bosch
TikTok: / boschsamuel
▬ Anki ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
Anki is a program that makes remembering things easy. Because it's a lot more efficient than traditional study methods, you can either greatly decrease your time spent studying, or greatly increase the amount you learn. The possibilities are endless:
- Learning a language
- Studying for medical and law exams
- Memorizing people's names and faces
- Brushing up on geography
- Mastering long poems
- Even practicing guitar chords!
Use Anki:
Download for Windows, Mac, and Android: apps.ankiweb.net
Free browser version: ankiweb.net/
▬ Timestamps ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
0:00 - Intro
1:17 - Key component of studying: Memorization & Understanding
1:50 - Why memorization is important for everyone
3:10 - Why your study method is likely ineffective
5:25 - Memorizing something that you don't understand is almost impossible
7:04 - Is writing summaries a good way to study?
8:12 - THE best method of studying
8:52 - Does Anki work?
9:06 - What can you study with Anki?
9:17 - How does Anki work?
10:01 - Using Anki in practice
11:26 - How to study science and math with Anki?
12:58 - Why Anki stops your brain from forgetting
13:31 - Summary
Here is my "how to use Anki for studying STEM" video: ruclips.net/video/Q3tmzLKwZMo/видео.html
Feynman Technique is one of the powerful methods for me. Explaining some concepts to your imaginary partner helps enormously. It was mind blowing because i can remember all points on my paper that i read 4 years ago and it helped me to learn over hundreds sheets of paper in few days and to remember all these things. I got the best grades and its good for speaking exams.
Omg I wasn't the only one who made up conversations inside my head! I feel so vindicated
（￣▽￣）
Yeah, it's a really powerful method! 🙂
Samuel integrated Feymann technique with technology
This is (kind of) what helped becoming fluent in Swedish after only 2 and half years. I was constantly speaking to myself (in my head) in Swedish, having random conversations and complaining about the weather. It's quite a good method
Hi Samuel, I really loved the video! I think you should do a video on studying and understanding in STEM for the following reason. There is a huge landscape of established study channels on RUclips already giving more or less the same tips (Active recall, spaced repetition etc.) and that is perfectly fine because essentially that is what all memorizing techniques boil down to. However these channels are almost exclusively run by people from the medicine (and sometimes maybe law) field like Ali Abdaal etc. which can be a bit frustrating if you are a STEM student looking for study methods. Like you said in the video, memorizing is also an important of studying for STEM but RUclips is already really saturated with content on that particular part of studying. On the other hand there is almost no content on the understanding part of studying (especially for STEM) so I think it would be great if you could fill that gap in future videos. Congratulations on the rapid channel growth btw!
PS: please don't mind my English, I am not able to articulate myself really well but I hope you can understand my point.
100% agree. Hope Samuel sees the comment and decides to follow up with said video 🙏🏻
I agree too, we need more videos about how to understand what you learn in physics and math.
I second this observation.
I agree
This is awesome. Thank you so much for doing this video. This is a key component for everyone who wants to be a great student, particularly for those who struggle with ADHD.
Making a follow-up video with specific examples is highly encouraged.
Thank you Alex 🙂
Such a tutorial would be extremely helpful! Thank you Samuel
Never heard of ANKI before. Gonna check it out. Thank you for the video. I will use some of the techniques for a upcoming effort. Thank you for this.
You’re videos are so helpful Samuel!! I would love to see a video on the understanding part as well!
I look forward to your video on understanding complex math/physics concepts!
Yes a matching/ companion video to "understanding" would be great
Thanks for the great video, and yes we want another about understanding too. 🙂
I’m glad I discovered your channel. As someone with adhd I’m glad to hear some techniques that have also worked for you
🙂
Thanks for sharing the tips! Super helpful! I would love to watch a video on the understanding part as well. :)
Loved this video! Please make a video further explaining how you use Anki!
Hi Samuel! This was such an insightful and valuable video! Thank you! 😊I will definitely implement anki into my study routine. Hence, it would be great if you could make a video directly about creating these anki cards. However no pressure to do so, I will be happy with whatever you post next 👍🏼🙂
Hey Samuel this video has been in the waiting and it is 👏. Please make a video entailing how you utilised these methods specifically for STEM related subjects like mathematics, physics or computer science.
Thanks
Love your channel! It would be amazing if you made a more detailed video about how you use Anki with math at university level. There are not many good videos about that subject. It would be very helpfull to see how someone who has done it succesfully in practice goes about formulating cards, using retrieval with exercises ? etc.
Thank you! I’ll look into this and see if I have enough ideas for a whole video 🙂
Nice Video! Would be interesting to make a series in how you created your decks and worked out the flash cards.
As most comments refer to the problem about Anki in STEM fields, I thought I just put my two cents in on how I approach this issue. I am still figuring out what the best approach is to use Anki/Notion in statistics, but this is how I currently do it:
1. Understand and write Flashcards in your own words
Sounds self-evident but it’s a huge difference to just parrot what you just read or to be able to explain it intuitively. When I feel that I got a concept, I write a flashcards where I formulate a question to the concept. The answer is written using MY OWN words, not the one from the text book. This is my approach to make sure I don’t just copy what I’ve read.
2. Feynman technique when repeating flashcards
When I go through the cards I always answer the card using the Feynman technique, ie explaining the concept it simple terms/as if you were talking to a student. Since I write a question on each flashcard, I automatically approach the answer as if I would explain it to someone else.
I subdivide larger concepts into smaller questions. One card is about why a concept is needed, the other is about its formula etc.
This is just my way of using Anki for quant. I would appreciate to read about your approache!:)
Sometimes I really miss the big picture which is why I currently try to help with mind maps or notion, but I haven’t found the perfect path yet.
Great post! Love the point about the "Feyman-flashcards" like "why a concept is needed".
Samuel, you helped me out so much. Thank you for all you do!!
You’re very welcome 😉
Just downloaded the app and cannot wait to start using it! Thanks so much for sharing this video.
Awesome! Best of luck Alexandra 🙂
Good tips! Thanks for the video.
What a great video! 💚
Thank you so much for your valuable information. 👌
As a university student, it is a lot to me.
You’re very welcome 😉
I've been looking forward to a video like this!
It's finally here! 🙂
Thanks Samuel, awesome video! 🙏
Thank you Arne! I'm glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Hi Samuel - Many thanks for your sharing your insights and reflections! Can you please make a video about your learning physics during middle & high school? What books you used, how you approached it, what competitions you participated in? This will really help kids interested in pursuing physics further.
So here's my two principles for learning anything (academic or intellectual stuff obviously)...
As you have already described in the video, I'm too gonna divide learning into two core components
1) Understanding: Teach it aka "the feynman method"
2) Memorisation: Use Active Recall and Spaced Repetition, for that "anki" will do the job for you
I also highly recommend the book "Ultralearning" by Scott Young. That dude has learnt the entire MIT EECS sequence in an year or less. He has mastered quantum mechanics in a month or so and has learnt a dozen of languages (including mandarin chinese 😜). For those who want to build habits, Atomic Habits by James Clear is the definite source for you. Apart from that always keep errata of anything you are using for studying. This thing alone has saved hundreds of my hours 😅. Happy Learning ❤
Amazing video, Samuel!
A more detailed video about anki would be very interesting!
I love your videos bro, super informative and the dry humour is acc killing me
Hahahhah thank you Dylan 🙂
Wieder ein sehr hilfreiches Video, Danke!😀
Gerne 🙂
Like your Video as always!
I’d like if you do the understanding part.
Pls upload a Video about computer science studying and understanding, or something in this way.
Hi Samuel, thanks a lot for this useful video ! Another video describing how you use Anki would be even more useful please :)
A tutorial for optimally using Anki would be great!
Hi Samuel! I would love to see how you appli Anki in your every day study.
Thanks for the video!
I would love to see a tutorial & how you use it for advantage in studies 😀😀
U are doing good bro☺️
Your video is incredible. Thanks for sharing this video .Your understanding about memorization is apt and comes from your experience. I really enjoy listening to you .You are intelligent and mature .God bless you .
Thanks again 😊
Super Video
I am very interested in your technique of better understanding complex concepts in science, math and so on :-)
Also, make a video on how you use Anki to your advantage please! I am finding this stuff so useful. I'd be so grateful if you made a video on this.
Will do 🙂
My focus is so bad I couldn't even watch the video in 1 sitting T_T had to watch it in parts. I'll try the study methods out thank you so much. Could you please make a video on most effective study ways for masters and PhD students too
For me It was really difficult situation without a idea of how should I study in my first year, and as you said, I used to study untill my admission just by summarization, whatever, now in a life science subject, it got too difficult to memorize, and this video is a absolute life saver. And wish I was lucky enough to study physics...
I really enjoyed this video! As some who also has adhd and study’s physics, I would love to hear if you have any helpful organizational techniques you can share.
Additionally, I often get dragged into rabbit holes when I am studying and focused like spending a lot of time reading abt generalized stokes and differential forms because I didn’t like Griffith’s explanation in his EM. Obvious, trying to take on such a project over a night is not a good idea. So I’m wondering if you have similar experiences and what you would do/have done.
I would like to see one more video about Understanding ! I always enjoy watching your videos!!
Did you already watch my video about problem solving strategies, understanding math intuitively, and (will be released tomorrow) math skills that are actually important? 🙂
@@SamuelBoschMIT Yeahh, I have just finished watching your video about problem-solving strategies, it was great as well, I am a freshman studying computer science, and I kind of struggled to focus when learning, so starting tommorow I am going to try and use your strategies, I have already installed Anki, I really hope they will work for me as well. Thank you once again !
@@SamuelBoschMIT I can't wait to see the new video then !
It's here :)
Hi Samuel,
Great video as always! I noticed you mentioned Anki for studying advanced mathematics. I have been using Anki for my computer science classes a lot and had great success with it, but i was always unsure as to how i would use Anki for advanced math.
What did the flash cards for an advanced course (like diff-geo) look like? Did you put theorems on there, definitions, practice problems? I'd love to see some examples!
Hey Felix, thanks for the comment! Yeah, it's a bit tricky. I mostly used it for memorizing theorems (which is something that most modern universities don't really require anymore). But depending on your classes, there is surely also a lot of stuff that you want to remember long-term, so you might wanna add these things as littler reminders of different methods
In the upcoming days I'm going to watch all of your video and maybe I would love to connect with you in the future.
Great!!! I will go back to Anki for learning Italien! Perhaps with the good old cards 😉
Have fun! 🙂
Hey Samuel, This video was really great! However, I think it might still be worth mentioning that if people really struggle with focus they should first make sure to fix their lifestyle, i.e. stopping watching tictocs all day and other things that train short attention spans.
However, if it can't be fixed by lifestyle, people shouldn't hesitate to see a doctor and check if they might need medical help, because in many cases of ADHD the dopamin system is actually not well regulated and medication can actually help to restructure the brain through neuroplasticity and build motivation and ability to focus in the long run.
Talking about medication, I'd be interested on your insides how commonly smart drugs are used at elite Universities. Maybe worth a video:)
Hey Jonas, this is indeed a very good point. In this video, I solely focused on the best study method. But there is so much more to fixing than just the study method alone. Yes, I do think indeed that I should make a video. I will need a few days to prepare this because I don't want to point out just obvious stuff but actually wanna provide new insights. Thanks again for the suggestion!
I am also debating whether or not I wanna talk about medications. It's a bit slippery topic, as I cannot provide medical advice in a video. But maybe I can talk about it indirectly in some way
As someone who possibly has adhd and is having to juggle 2 different types of academics together (I want to switch back to stem from business, my undergrad is in business but I've always wanted to go for econ lol), I find switching from one flow to another very hard. For the past 4 months I've just been going through two calculus books and can barely switch from this to my taxation course materials even if I NEED to. And if my brain says I have to complete this and this before I can do anything else, I just gotta hope my brain allows me to finish those otherwise I wouldn’t be able to start anything else. Like rn I tried to complete reading a chapter and lost attention or motivation and am just roaming around without actually trying to complete it or starting to do something else. Gosh maybe life wouldn’t be this hard if I didnt possibly have adhd.
Great video, keep the good work
Thanks, you too! 🙂
We need your tutorial for Anki🙌🏼
Super Video!🥳
I just tried out my favourite study technique - watch other people talk about studying, get angry that I myself am not studying, then study. I'm back now. Hey guys.
😂
Hi. Thanks for your eye-opening videos. Would you mind sharing how you added a whole book chapter onto Anki cards? I have tried a few methods using the current addons but your Anki cards look way nicer. Thanks in advance! I appreciate it a lot.
Hi Samuel, I am so glad I bumped into your videos. I was searching "How to learn math" if you can believe it :) So I think youtube algo is starting to work!!
May I ask a silly newbie question. I had learned that one's mental energy is the best at the beginning of a person's day (or when they have had a great full rest) and then the energy drops off.
Would you say it is best to quiz oneself with Anki when one has almost exhausted one's mental energy?
Or perhaps the other polar strategy of studying Anki flash card as early as possible in the day?
Inquiring minds want to know! Thank you for sharing so much of your knowledge so selflessly!!
Helpful content
Da li imaju i neki materijali i saveti za nas koji nismo toliko dobri sa engleskim jezikom. Knjige neke mozda ili online predavanja.. Na sta se fokusirati.. Hvala u napred sjajan video!
please make a video on understanding complex topics or if you have any more tips of mathematics and physics! thank you sir
Recently started reading some papers, that’s when I realised I have a terrible focus.
This video came out at a right time, this is very helpful for students like me.
You're welcome! Yeahh, reading papers is really difficult. Because scientific papers are written in a super boring way, with zero effort put into pedagogy and making it more understandable.
If you get the chance you should really check out Anthony mitiever and the magnetic memory method. Its mind blowing i can safely say its been the most life changing thing i have ever learned about in regards to memory.
Please make a video on understanding complex concepts
Sometimes while studying physics and chemistry i just explain the core concepts to my crush in my imagination and it really helps a lot
Hhahahaahhaahha this is literally the funniest comment I’ve ever read 😂
Best of luck to you, and make the first move! Tell her I approve, and she better say yes! 😉
@@SamuelBoschMIT that would be great
And thanks for the ❤
Really nice tips Samuel! I also have ADHD and thought this was quite inspiring. Can I ask, have you ever taken stimulant medication for your ADHD? I started taking it in the second year of my physics masters but I would really like to be able to work with out it.
I wouldn't do that, while it might help during hardcore studying sessions. You are wiring your brain to be hooked to an addictive substance that artificially releases dopamine (why you feel so good and focused on it). On top of this, the drug company knows this and would like you to become a regular user for increased profits.
@@jbouchard1780 Thank you for your input. I want to say though that my concentration has improved by leaps and bounds since starting meds. I consciously chose this as I was at breaking point before being diagnosed and didn't know what else to do. The meds are not perfect, not by a long shot, but they essentially saved my masters.
I did develop some dependence and am working to stay aware of it. However, I would not say I am addicted, thankfully. I had no problem giving meds up for the summer when no university work was required.
That said, if there are better alternatives out there I will gladly consider them as well. I have already managed to significantly reduce my dosage just by eating a more considered diet (high-protein breakfast, more omega-3s, only whole grain carbs, less processed foods and no added sugars, flavors, preservatives etc.).
Struggle also give us always amazing thing
thank you bro
You’re welcome, bro :)
@Samuel
Wie lernst du eigentlich neue Themen? Kaufst du dir hierbei die Fachbücher, druckst du die PDF-Dokumente aus oder schaffst du komplett mit deinem iPad und GoodNotes/Notability?
Thx für deine Antwort😁
Hii Samuel always fan of your stuff can u share how nd where did u learn vid editing? Jus add the resources will be helpful
Heyyy Senajith, I work with a great video editor who does all of this, as I have no video editing experience 🙂
hi samuel, can you tell us about how you overcame adhd or how you managed to be here despite figting with adhd brain? THAT WOULD BE A GREAT HELP IF YOU DO!!
love your videos:)
Best thing about this Video are the original Samuel Bosch oral sound effects© "blupp"
😂😂😂
Could you do a video on how to handle working fulltime + doing a degree (eg masters or phd )
Yes make an video
I also have ADHD. Anki was the first thing that allowed me to effectively make things stick in my mind. Other than working out, are there other specific things you have done to overcome it? Med cycle or something. Thank you.
Glad to hear Anki works for you. One thing I did was switch around different projects many times, until I would find something that interests me enough
I think i can get admission in MIT after watching this🤣🤣. Thank you so much Samuel again and advance for more good videos in future.
Thank you Abid! Best of luck to you! 🙂
Hello Samuel,
I watch your informative video, i learn something new. What someone can do is learn in such way that it seems interesting so no application required. You can assume a line of text make a question in your mind if so then this if so then what. This will create curiosity and we humans are always curious.
One thing to add: If anyone finds my word useful .. You can do Yoga or meditation that will not only teach to do posture but also why this particular posture relaxes brain from overthinking and what not. Believe me we Indians have a mastery over understanding us human.
Please make a video about understanding complex topics in Science, Engineering, and Mathematics!!!!!!!!!!
I just released it 2 weeks ago 🙂 It’s called problem solving strategies
Please make a video on Nutrition.
I already did. There are two meal prep videos on my channel :)
i think you missed one of the key success factors for effective studying: sleep!
other than that, awesome vid☺️
Yes, I mentioned that in my exam prep video - very much true :)
Make a video about understanding complex concepts.
I just released in 2 days ago 😊
I have a hard time finding important information in a text. That is, it is difficult for me to differentiate the secondary ideas from the main ideas.
How can I improve my memorization skills. I barely can memorize a single thing. Please give me some extra tips. Hoping to see your reply.
More videos plz
Working on it! 🙂
@@SamuelBoschMIT 🥰
And I could never find the skip add button
Does M.I.T still look at a year of yours at school if something happened to you 1 year? For example I lost my dad in grade 10 and that really hurt me. I failed all of my classes that year. Now however I am trying really hard to redeem my self. I got 97% average last year (grade 11). I feel like I have a good shot at getting in but my grade 10 grades are really bad. do you think M.I.T will make an exception for that year if I apply?
I suppose they will consider it if you explain it in your application 😊
I'm interested in trying Anki out for math. How did you get the book chapter into the answer? pdf or photo?
Made a video about exactly this quite recently. It’s called “study with an mit student anki for stem”. Enjoy! 😊
Hi! Samuel, your videos are awesome i like it. Can you upload a video for how to use anki app in android from zero.
Thanks in advance
Will make another Anki video very soon 🙂
Thanks
Welcome 🙂
Make a video on anki
Mind mapping is actually one of the best techniques for studying and learning. If it's not effective for you, you're most likely doing it wrong. The mind map shown in the example is actually an ineffective one that is not done very well. The study that proves retrieval is better than mindmapping has the flaw of whether or not the students were taught how to correctly mindmap. From Bloom's Taxonomy, memorization is the lowest order of learning that you could do.
The one shown in the example is just some random photo from the internet. I agree that it’s not a bad memorization technique. But it will never do a good job for long-term memorization (unless combined with active recall and spaced repetitions)
@@SamuelBoschMIT Mind mapping isn't used for the purpose of memorization. It is to create a flow of how your mind relates, groups, and create relationships between the topics. If you have properly mind mapped and fleshed out this process, most of the times you don't have to focus purely on memorizing isolated information as it'll be connected to each other.
So then should you just supplement regular notes with mind maps so after a long time has passed you can still understand?
Hi samuel! Just saw that you were the founding president of the debate club of Zagreb university. The club won WUDC in 2020. Do you think that it added any significant value in your life?
Please do the anki video. 🙏
I most likely will already this month 🙂
Hey Samuel, i really like your content and would like to tell you mu story, im 21 years old and enrolled in electronics engenieer, i think im old alredy so im thinking of getting a cs degree at WGU and then get a developer job, will i get aceppted into a masters or you think the wgu title will block me from this, thanks
You’re not old. I was 27 when I went back to school and graduated around 30. And I’m 37 now studying computer science. There are 50 and 60 year olds going back to grad school.
@@michaelovadiyah659 thank you Michael, very inspiring 💪🏼, idk why i tought that way but you are right
What if I tell you that test scores do not reflect necessarily “understanding”
THey often don't :)
Neue Frise :)
Der Feierabend kann kommen
Feierabend mit Lernmethoden 🥳
@@SamuelBoschMIT so endlich angeschaut!! Ja super Empfehlungen diese App. Habe sie selber verwendet um für mein Abitur zu lernen jedoch habe ich sie da aus reiner Faulheit ein bißchen Falsch verwendet und fast nur schon fertige Decks genommen, auch weil ich viel zu spät angefangen habe zu lernen. Für ein Studium würde ich natürlich aber diszipliniert genug sein es richtig zu verwenden und regelmäßig zu benutzen :). Aber auch so hat es super funktioniert!!! Super App und Top Video wie immer 👍👍
In Short: don't read and highlight stuff. Summerize it and make note, make yourself an Q&A about the topic you want to memorize. There is an app for that, Ankin. You are welcomed!
Exactly! 🙂 except, it’s called Anki
@@SamuelBoschMIT Hast du Verwandschaft mit der Firma Bosch?
👍 👍
My ADHD ass straight up focused on your hair, ignoring all the important info .. 😢
Hi everyone drop the average age that people go to college in your country mine is between 20-21 after finishing grade 12 from secondary school
Pills!
Isn’t memorization in a quantitative field bad?
I do explain in the video why it isn’t bad 🙂
Hey Samuel! You didn't upload a video yesterday? 😅
Hahhahah yeah, I was too busy partying 😂 The video is almost ready though and will be posted next Sunday. Thanks for checking!
Yeah, and Anki is unavailable for my modern version of Android 🙄
Ohhhh that’s frustrating! Although you might have a better time using Anki on your computer anyways. Phones are very distracting :)