Why elephants and frogs 🐘🐸
As the saying goes, you eat an elephant ‘one bite at a time.’ Revision always feels like a BIG task. Another way to think of the long term, BIG task of revising is the story below.
Take it one oil barrel at a time
This is the story of a 500 mile crossing of the Sahara Desert in a Land Rover. After frequently getting lost, the team placed oil barrels 5 kilometres apart, signposting the crossing. The team then set one rule.
Keep two barrels in sight, the one you just passed, and the one ahead of you. Know where you are and know where you are going.
As with your learning and revision, know where you are – keep a record of your learning. Know where you are going, following the guidance in ‘Best ways to Learn, Relearn, Revise (and Tackle the Exam).’
Frogs
Why frogs? Frogs represented something ugly and slimy. Something you would rather not eat even though it must be eaten at some point. For most of you – much like revising. Knowing you must eat that frog at some point – get it over and done with.
Two rules
Rule 1 is covered by ‘Best ways to Learn, Relearn, Revise (and Tackle the Exam).’
If you have to eat two frogs, eat the ugliest one first.
Rule 2 is down to you. All you.
If you have to eat a live frog at all, it doesn’t pay to sit and look at it for very long.
What does this mean in practice? Almost no-one wants to be eating frogs. But only planning the work, won’t get it done.
Plan the work: Work the plan. Get started. Remember – a revision block only requires 25 minutes.
Start your day with a frog. If revising 5 blocks on a “full day,” completed three before half way through the day. If revising three blocks of an evening, start with two.
There is never enough time to do everything, but there is always enough time to do the most important thing.
Quality over quantity
It is the quality of time that counts and not the quantity of time that matters.
Quality over quantity does require your complete focus. Sleep well and minimise distractions. Remember – a cycle is only 25 minutes and you hit the next barrel and you get a break.
Apply the Law of Three
- Eating your elephant (oil barrels below)
- Start. Eat your ugliest frog first (covered ablove)
- Quality over quantity (manage distractions)