How I Created the Ultimate Study Planner Using First Principles Thinking
Hey ATAR Achievers! I want to share something that has completely transformed my study routine and boosted my academic performance: creating a customized Study Planner using First Principles Thinking and Elon Musk's Optimization Algorithm. If you’re looking to ace your ATAR exams while studying smarter, not harder, this is for you. My Journey to an Effective Study Planner Like many of you, I used to feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of subjects and topics I needed to master for the ATAR exams. My study sessions were often disorganized, leading to procrastination and unnecessary stress. Determined to change this, I turned to First Principles Thinking—a method that breaks down complex problems into their most basic elements—and Elon Musk’s five-step optimization process. Here’s how I did it. 1. Question Every Requirement The first step was to question every requirement. I started by identifying what I truly needed from a study planner. Instead of accepting that a planner must have certain sections because "that's how it’s always been done," I asked myself: - Why do I need a study planner? To organize my study schedule. To track my progress. To reduce stress and procrastination. By stripping away assumptions, I focused on the core purpose: enhancing productivity and achieving academic excellence. 2. Delete Any Part or Process You Can Next, I deleted any part or process that wasn’t essential. I realized my initial planner had too many unnecessary features that cluttered my focus. For example: - Removed: Daily motivational quotes. - Removed: Multiple sections for different types of notes that I rarely used. This simplification made my planner more streamlined and easier to use, allowing me to concentrate on what truly mattered—my study goals. 3. Simplify and Optimize With the non-essential elements gone, I moved on to simplify and optimize the remaining features. Here’s what I did: - Organized by Subject: Each subject had its dedicated section with clear headings. - Color-Coding: Used different colors for each subject to quickly identify study sessions. - Integrated Study Techniques: Added sections for Active Recall and Spaced Repetition to enhance memory retention.