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Group Course
Four 50-Minute Classes
Learn the essentials of Smart College Habits in a four-week online crash course.
1. Become a Master of Learning
You’re probably wasting time on ineffective study methods. I want to show you how to use neuroscience to get more out of the time and effort you put into learning. Armed with these techniques, you’ll understand things more deeply, master difficult subjects more easily, and form lasting memories in less time.
We’ll cover:
- When, where, and how to study for maximum results
- How to establish a consistent study routine
- How to read and take notes on a difficult textbook
- How to take notes in class
- What to do after class to solidify your learning
- How to study for midterms and finals
- How to make use of resources at college: free tutoring, office hours, the library, etc.
2. Get Things Done Efficiently
Do you procrastinate? Do you get overwhelmed by big projects? Do you struggle with time management, focus, or perfectionism? Do you have trouble keeping track of all the things you have to do, all the things you want to do, and all of the ideas you have? If so, you’re not alone. Pretty much everyone struggles with at least some of these things, and many students struggle with all of them.
We’ll cover:
- How to get things done even when you don’t feel like it
- How to organize your physical and digital life to make productivity easier
- How to use reminders, alarms, calendars, and to-do lists effectively
- How to overcome crippling perfectionism
- How to manage and break down big projects
- How to reduce distractions and get into the flow of deep work
3. Change Your Habits for the Better
Changing your habits is difficult, but not impossible. The mistake most people make is relying on raw willpower to change their behavior. I want to show you a better way based on the science of habits, wisdom drawn from dozens of experts, and countless success stories, including my own.
We’ll cover:
- Why regular exercise, good eating, and quality sleep are essential for optimal brain function, focus, and happiness
- How to create automatic routines for these self-care behaviors
- How to increase your willpower and rely on it less
- How to use environmental design to make good choices easier and bad choices less convenient
- How to quit bad habits, reduce unhealthy behaviors, and overcome addictions
- How to cultivate mindfulness and become better at tolerating boredom
4. Design an Extraordinary Life
You want to get the most out of college life while still thriving academically, but it’s hard to find the right balance. Social pressures and the stress of your course load take a toll on your mental health. It’s hard to think long-term and plan for the distant future. It’s far too easy to just take the path of least resistance: quick hits of dopamine from drugs or addictive media. And then you wind up feeling like you don’t have the time or energy to try new things, go on adventures, and pursue your passions.
We’ll cover:
- How to create school-life balance: thriving academically without sacrificing your happiness
- Realistic stress management techniques: recapturing lost opportunities for relaxation, recreation, and rest
- Facing problems with patience and resilience
- How to have an awesome time at college without succumbing to party culture
- How to waste less time on distractions, spend more time on what matters most, and swap out shallow fun for serious, guilt-free fun
- Exploring career options and hobbies, cultivating passions
- Connecting your long-term dreams to concrete goals and daily habits
Fall 2023 Session
Thursdays from 5:30pm to 6:20pm (Pacific) on Zoom:
- October 19th
- October 26th
- November 2nd
- November 9th
These are live classes where you can get your questions answered and receive advice in a supportive, group environment.
$100 per student, payable by check or Zelle. Send me an email telling me you’d like to sign up, and I’ll send you payment instructions. Once I’ve got your payment, I’ll send you an invitation to the course.
Want to take this course but can’t make the schedule above work? Let me know what days and times would work for you. If enough people express interest, I’ll create a second offering.
Is this course right for me?
Are you struggling with tests, even though you’re studying a lot?
Do you see other students making it look easy and wonder what you’re doing wrong?
Have you tried changing your habits but can’t seem to get the change to stick?
Do you feel like you’re just lazy – that you don’t have enough willpower to do what you need to do?
Are you overwhelmed, overstressed, or burned out?
Do you feel like you’re constantly distracted or perpetually procrastinating?
If you answered yes to any of those questions, please know that the problem is not you. There’s nothing wrong with you. You are absolutely capable of succeeding in college and beyond, and you can do so without sacrificing your physical and mental health.
And you’re not alone. Millions of other people have dealt with the same problems. If you’re ready to learn and use the strategies that have been proven to help countless other students thrive, this course might be right for you.
This will be an interactive course in which you and other students share your struggles and receive advice during live Q&As.
If you don’t like the idea of discussing your challenges as part of a group, or if you think you’ll need lots of personalized coaching, then you should choose one of my coaching packages.
Couldn’t I just learn all this on my own?
Yes. There are loads of courses, blogs, podcasts, and books that teach these tools. I write an education blog and a self-improvement blog that are both full of helpful ideas. I have a resources page with links to dozens of excellent self-development resources.
The reason to take this course is to massively shortcut the process. I’ve already read the books and blogs, listened to the podcasts, and taken the courses. And from that mountain of ideas, I’ve gathered the handful of gems that are most helpful for thriving in college, saving you a huge amount of time and effort.
Plus, I’ve discovered critical connections between ideas from disparate sources that you won’t hear anywhere else. And I’ve developed unique ways of communicating these ideas so that there are both understandable and memorable.
Are you a parent?
If you’re a parent thinking of signing your student up for this course, please talk with them first.
Do not sign your student up for this if they don’t want it. This is only effective when the student is open to it.
If they’re not ready right now, perhaps they will be next quarter/semester/year.
Winter 2024 Session
Dates and times TBD. If you’re interested in this session, send me an email, and I’ll let you know when I’m ready to take sign-ups.
Spring 2024 Session
Dates and times TBD. If you’re interested in this session, send me an email, and I’ll let you know when I’m ready to take sign-ups.