She is a winner! Excited young female with laptop isolated on yellow background

We all have problems.  There exist both logical and irrational ways to solve them.  There exist emotional or loving ways to solve them, too.  Perhaps the best way to solve problems is with a model.  Models are tried and true and lead to a higher probability of success.

Let’s use the problem-solving models from Life Hacks to illustrate how we can become better academics.  These models begin each numbered section below, modified to include my own biases toward positivity and love.

Model #1: Focus on the solution, not the problem.  (But focus on the solution that brings us to a loving state.)

I read we should look at problems with the end solution in mind and work backwards through steps.

For instance, if we want to be relaxed and achieve great grades during an exam (which is the end solution), we should never cram, but rather work long and steady hours each day (which is the step to achieve the end solution).  We could also gently laugh off moments of stress prior to the test (which is another step to achieve the end solution).

In general, we could develop a life philosophy of not blaming others, of forgiving others easily, and of seeing the best in everyone and every situation (which are some steps to achieve an end solution).  That way, come exam time, we are not stricken with the fear of failure, but roll with the possibilities for success (the end result).

Model #2: Adopt five why’s (using “I” statements).

This strategy can be a great reflection tool.  For instance, “Why did I not get an A on the exam?  Because I was stressed.” “Why was I stressed?  I drank a cup of coffee before the exam and my hands were shaking so hard, I could barely hold my pencil.” “Why did I drink coffee before the exam?  Because I stayed up all night cramming.” “Why did I stay up all night cramming?  Because I was too busy with my career to focus on studies.” “Why was I too busy with my career?  Because I haven’t resolved to request reduced overtime hours so I can properly attend to my schoolwork.”

Despite this model’s effectiveness for reflection, the five why’s method can be tricky and lead to nowhere.  I think it should be endless why’s (and not just five why’s) until we come up with possible solutions for as many of the why’s as we can find.  For instance, the solutions for each of the above why’s could be as follows: don’t drink coffee before an exam; don’t cram; make more time for studies (and/or become more efficient with the time available).

The five why’s, while they often don’t conclude with a zinger solution, do expose many of the problems we are facing, enabling us to resolve each of them.

Model #3: Simplify things.

Simplification can mean breaking down tasks in chunks and tackling one chunk at a time.  Simplification can mean setting a time allotment to achieve a task.  It never fails to amaze me when I set a deadline for a task, such as spending an hour to write a section of article, when two minutes before the deadline, the section is complete.  Better still, set challenging deadlines and watch a time-consuming project get done in half the time without losing, but with gaining, quality.

But simplification can also mean creating systems.  For instance, you could start a paper the day it gets assigned, break it down into research, writing, and editing phases, and allot a 3:2:1 time ratio for each task before the final exam.  In other words, spend three weeks researching and outlining, two weeks writing, and one week editing for a six-week submission deadline.  Systems become automatic and bolster efficiency, especially when continually refined.

Model #4: List out multiple solutions.

Multiple solutions for academic anxiety exist and I’d recommend tapping into as many as possible until the right “blend” is found.

For instance, I’ve cut out all caffeine and what a difference it makes for anxiety and restful sleeping.  I also began journaling my work tasks, and I’d highly recommend everyone journal their academic progress.  Journaling can help combat anxiety, especially when journaling with a positive bias.  I also do a lot of positive self talk and laughter therapy so that any negative than happens to me doesn’t stick.  And a strictly healthy diet helps, too.

Model #5: Look for the opposite solution (preferably a love-filled one).

Instead of worry and stress, seek happiness.  In another article I wrote that happiness is a choice; happiness is not conditional on outer circumstances.  And happiness can make the grind of academics a fulfilling endeavor.

Find joy in learning.  Make learning fun.  Say often, “I love to learn,” even when we don’t feel the love.  The reality is we can feel intense love for anyone or anything in any instant.  Nothing holds us back from feeling love, even when it’s not returned and even when we feel bad.  So, find the love in studies, no matter the outcome.  Even if we’ve failed our last exam, we benefit from making academic success a game we love to win.

Model #6: Use “What If” language (that sees the best outcomes).

Academic settings are ideal for “What If” language.  “What if a pass my test?” “What if I get an A?” “What if I score better on my next exam?”

But shoot high.  “What if I get a degree?” “What if I win an academic medal?” “What if I earn a graduate degree?” “What if I take home a big scholarly award?” “What if I turn my performance into straight A’s no matter what I perceive my competence to be today?”

(An NHL hockey star once told me to always frame things in the positive.  And he served as his NHL team’s captain, rightfully so.)

Problem solving helps us to grow into better academics and more fulfilled people.  So problem solve every chance.  Problem solving fires up the brain and gears us for enhanced academic success.

References
Https://lifehack.org/articles/productivity/6-ways-to-enhance-your-problem-solving-skills.html

Here are the downsides of being super fit, according to my personal experiences:

#1 downside: The more I lifted weights (but did no cardio), the more I got called Lady Gaga and had my gender questioned.

#2 downside: When I trained two hours a day most every day, all I wanted to do was sleep.  In fact, after a two-hour workout, I’d be criticized for being lazy.  I just didn’t have the energy for much else.

#3 downside: breaks from studying involved falling fast asleep for fifteen-minute sessions throughout each day.  Studying itself was fifty-minute sessions of trying to stay awake.

#4 downside: cycling too hard led to severe knee pain.  Thankfully, I went through a period of my life without cycling, or I would’ve been a candidate for knee surgery, like many of my athletic friends and acquaintances, especially of the soccer type.  People in their 40s and 50s are getting joint replacement due to heavy training.

#5 downside: weight-lifting makes me aggressive, more prone to anger.  This anger impacts me adversely at work.  Just ask any weightlifter on steroids.  They can grow violent.

#6 downside: When I over train, I start crying and get moody.  Overtraining can cause injuries of joints, tendons, ligaments, muscles, you name it.

On the flipside, super fitness brings with it a ton of upside, too.  Here are some of the biggest highlights of intense fitness:

#1 upside: I loved how I looked in my clothes.  Shopping was easier because everything looked great.  If you do weights and cardio or most any intense type of fitness, you’ll look fantastic in most anything you wear.

#2 upside: When I trained a lot more, I’d often run to my classrooms or run to the store.  Now I meander.  With fitness, you get stronger, faster, fuller of pep.  Your bones get firmer and your muscles start feeling like padding.

#3 upside: When I exercise, I don’t want it to end.  It just feels amazing.  Lots of endorphins are released.  You feel heavenly from hard exercise.

#4 upside: My dream has been to teach a fitness class.  With fitness, you can teach exercise classes, developing a following of lifelong fit friends.

#5 upside: If I had started exercising consistently at a young age, I may have fulfilled a dream of becoming an Olympian.  With extreme exercise, you may be a contender for global competition, even Olympic level athleticism.

#6 upside: I endured a lot more stress when I worked out intensely.  With fitness, you develop mastery over the mind-body connection, able to withstand a lot of pressure.

#7 upside: People would stop me at university and ask, “How did you get that body?” I went from outsider to cool in a matter of a year.  With intense exercise, you become a role model to other people, especially when they see significant changes in your appearance.

#8 upside: I met some pretty successful, healthy people in gyms.  The fitness crowd are often living healthier lives than the bar crowd, although there is cross-over.  You’ll make some high-quality (same gender) friends in gyms.

#9: Food tastes amazing, colors seem brighter with fitness.  Your senses will intensify with heavy training.

#10: Exercise and diet helped turn around my sickness.  With fitness, you’ll live longer.

Over the last six months, I stopped exercising altogether with the exception of a desk cycle.  Once I start cycling, I can’t stop, cycling until my knee feels pain.  But this newfound lack of exercise makes my mood more stable for work.

If we minimize exercise today, will we regret it tomorrow?

Portrait with copy space empty place of thoughtful pensive girl having copybook and pen in hands looking up, writer waiting for muse, isolated on grey background

Most grad students don’t know how to write.  At least, I’ve read this claim in books and heard it from a professor.  My thesis was written worse than any undergrad paper I ever wrote.  The further I climbed the Tower of Babel, the less I knew.

Universities don’t commonly teach students the basic skills of how to write.  So how do we avoid a poorly drafted essay? As one solution, we could watch vigilantly for signs of poor writing.

With that said, here are four signs of an amateurish essay—and four easy fixes:

Amateurish Essays use the Words “is,” “are,” and, “be” Often.

The best written essays have few or none of these passive verbs.  But how do you get rid of them? You can start by reading through your essay and highlighting every incident of these words.  Then, replace these words with stronger verbs or rewrite the sentence.

Example 1: “He has been grooming the horse” could become “He groomed the horse.” It changes the tense but makes it a less mumbled read.

Example 2: “The cat was pet by the man” could become “The man pet the cat.” It changes the voice from passive to active by putting the subject of the sentence—”the man”—first

Example 3: “Charles is a royal name” could become “Charles resonates as a royal name” or “Charles sounds like a royal name.” The word “is” sounds too bland for an A+ essay.

Example 4: “Sally is beautiful” could become “Sally looks beautiful.” Or you could rewrite it to say, “Sally shines like an angelic presence.” Despite this, when the “is” comes before an adjective, the simplicity of the form “Sally is beautiful” might work just as well.

Poorly Written Essays Separate the Subject from the Main Verb by Cramming in Long Clauses.  Instead, keep the subject and verb close together.  “Johnathon, despite his reckless driving record that spanned ten years, although he once won an indie 500 car race, seemingly oblivious to any threat of danger, bought a Porsche” could become “Johnathon bought a Porsche, despite his reckless driving record that spanned ten years, although he once won an indie 500 car race, seemingly oblivious to any threat of danger.” Keep the subject and verb close together wherever possible.  I heard a rule that said something like “limit the words separating the subject from the verb to no more than twelve words.”

Amateur Essays Don’t Begin and End Sentences with a Bang.

Exciting essays start and end sentences with punchy words.  “It was a cold day with a flutter of glowing light” could become, “Cold, the day was met with a flutter of light, glowing.” Similarly, “Sometimes monsters growl at night” could become “Monsters at night sometimes growl.” The best words start and end the sentence.

Amateur Essays Make it Unclear Whom “it” Represents.

“The day and the night merged into one color, a kind of muddy road I remembered walking as a youth.  It always brought back memories of the tragic day the window shattered” could become “The day and night merged into one color, a kind of muddy road I remembered walking as a youth.  The color always brought back memories of the tragic day the window shattered.”

Or you could end with “The merging of the day and night always brought back memories of the tragic day the window shattered” or “The muddy road always brought back memories of the tragic day the window shattered.”

If “it” could represent more than one thing, replace “it” with the thing it represents.  My editor once said something like, “Clarity is key to good writing.  Writing is intended to be understood.”

If you’re a grad student who never learned to fix these four writing errors, join the club.

One man, disability young man with prosthetic leg free climbing on a rock in nature..

Have you ever noticed that almost every motivational clip features athletes? You see athletes training in the gym, disabled athletes pushing beyond limits, and athletes almost giving up but moving beyond.

You also hear the mantras, “Don’t quit,” and, “Pick yourself up,” and, “Do it when you don’t feel like it.”

Controlling our physical beings is a big part of overcoming. When we master our bodies, we better master other areas of our lives.

When I joined the university wrestling team for a short stint, I had went from anorexic couch potato with a belly, barely able to run ten steps, to a muscular and lean being. But what I want to convey is the turning point. It’s difficult to express, but it’s like going from an exercise atheist to spending every free moment in the gym. The more you focus on exercise, the more it becomes a raging desire. And, at some point, resistance morphs into passion, like waking up from a lifetime of blindness to see a cherry-colored sunrise.

And that goes for most anything in life. But it doesn’t have to be physical exercise. It can be academic ability or career growth.

Consider the academic who never studied, always joking in class, expected to drop out, but, who later in life, became focused on school, taking night classes and studying every free moment.  The student achieves more than even his closest friends thought possible. His secret was fixating on a goal until it skyrocketed into momentum.

Or consider me, the disabled high school dropout. I gained a master’s degree and a high paying career, although I now, more than ever, need to keep my thoughts purely positive.

That’s the thing about the subconscious. You’ve got to be really selective with your thinking. You’ve got to condition yourself for success. You’ve got to train your mind to repel self-doubt and insecurity.

And never give up. That’s why Buddhist monks do so much meditation. They train and tame their mind to surrender always to the light.

Anything worthwhile takes intense discipline and constant vigilance, requiring we watch and correct our every thought.  With constant discipline, we can take comfort in the knowledge that we are morphing into our ideal selves. We have no limitations except the limitations we place on ourselves.

When you reflect back on your successes, the thought of that momentum will still shock you, even though you walked those steps until you ran the sprint. Sports, academics, careers—it doesn’t matter. Forging a positive path always exceeds the cost of being stuck in neutral or reverse. Don’t let those little slivers of doubt plant seeds. The only thing that can defeat you is your thinking.

Remember, J.K. Rowling, who wrote Harry Potter, was on the dole in England. Using her brain, creativity, and persistence, she now may be wealthier than the queen.  So every day, think, “I’ve got to get a thimble of water.” At the end of week, you’ll have a cup of water. But, as humans, we are already mostly water. So, we’ve already got within us what we seek.

To discover that momentum, don’t think of the end result, just think of that thimble of water.