The Productive Pixie | Systems for Productivity and Growth

The largest barriers to lifelong learning are a lack of time due to other commitments and costs, according to research. Building a habit of lifelong learning can improve your happiness, brain health, social connections, and confidence. With a personal learning system, you can gather free resources and learn in spare moments. In this post, I'll share how you can build a personal learning system!

How to Become a Lifelong Learner: Create a Personal Learning System That Lasts

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I find that when I stop learning and pursuing new things, my life becomes stale.

Making time for continuous learning helps make life exciting. It gives me that feeling of wanting to jump out of bed in the morning to go read a book or listen to a podcast and create something new!

While I'm in college, making time to learn is easy because I'm always surrounded by new ideas to stretch my thinking, but when I graduate, I know it's going to be harder to make time for learning.

That is exactly why I'm working on building my personal learning system now. When life gets busy, I'll already have a system in place and a habit of continuous learning, which keeps life interesting.

With the internet and libraries, you can practice lifelong learning for free. I rarely spend money on personal learning because there are so many great free resources available.

While many people learn randomly whenever they come across an interesting resource, building a personal learning system will help you learn more consistently and gain in-depth knowledge about subjects of interest.

A personal learning system is a repeatable process that helps with deciding what to study, finding materials, and applying what you learn.

Let's get right into how you can start building a personal learning system for lifelong learning!

How to Become a Lifelong Learner: Create a Personal Learning System That Lasts

1. Decide on Your Goals

The first step in building a personal learning system is deciding what you want to get out of your learning.

In college, course syllabi often list "learning outcomes." I usually just glance at that section to be frank and don't read it all the way.

For self-directed learning, you don't need to set specific goals unless you want to. Sometimes, I don't know what I'm going to learn from a book until after I read it.

Your learning goals can be concrete like "learn a tap dance" or very broad such as reading a few books about a subject to expand your knowledge.

If no goals come to mind, don't worry because you can just work on expanding your skills in any area of interest.

I like my system to be as simple and broad as possible to facilitate as much learning as possible. Right now, I don't have concrete goals for my learning outside of my yearly goals.

2. Choose Subjects

The next step is deciding what skills you want to learn or what area you want to gain knowledge in.

Currently, I'm trying to figure out what I want to write about for my career, so my list includes topics like investigative journalism, marketing ethics, consumer behavior, and behavioral economics.

Additionally, I have topics like tap history because it's something I want to study for fun.

In my bullet journal, I keep a running list of topics that I'm interested in learning about. If I become bored of one subject, I can look at my list and pick a new topic to learn more about.

3. Choose Formats

Based on your learning style, you should look for formats that make learning fun and interesting.

There are many formats to pick from for your learning materials including:

Books
Courses
Audiobooks
Podcasts
Blogs
Scientific journals
Documentaries
YouTube videos
Webinars
Memberships

You should be able to find many resources for free.

I'd recommend keeping a list of different formats so you can search for those formats when looking for information about subjects you want to learn more about. An example would be "Documentaries about business ethics" or "memberships to join for nonfiction writers."

You'll probably have to experiment with different formats to see what you enjoy the most.

I'm a visual learner, so I like reading the best, but I still enjoy listening to podcasts while running. I've taken a few online courses, but I've found that usually I prefer watching in-depth YouTube videos on a single subject.

4. Find Materials

This is the most enjoyable part of building a personal learning system. Besides the actual learning, of course!

Depending on how quickly the subject changes (new findings, technological advancements), I'll take different approaches. But I always like having a long TBR list, so I have plenty of options for new books to read.

When reading books, I'll make note of other recommended books and the additional resources mentioned in the book. One of the books I read recently mentioned a documentary, so I wrote it down on "My Research Plan" bullet journal layout.

I'd recommend picking your favorite format and then building a list of materials from there. You should be able to find at least a few resources on almost any subject with a simple search.

If you have no idea where to start, you can ask AI to build you a learning plan on a specific subject with specific formats that you choose!

But you don't need to build a rigid outline of what you are going to study because you can let your learning materials guide you to other materials and things to try out!

In-Person Events

While learning from resources is great, don't forget about in-person events as well!

In the past year, I've attended quite a few events, and it's been such an enjoyable learning experience. I have the opportunity to meet other people my age who are interested in the same subjects as me, as well as learning from industry professionals.

I have access to a lot of events for free or for discounted prices through my college, but with a few searches, you can still find events to attend in your local community.

When it comes to career development, there are many events, but for other subjects you may have to be a little more creative. For tap dancing, I did a couple of searches online and found a free tap dance curriculum with seven levels (Shoutout to United Tap Dance).

Try to build a long list of resources in a variety of formats to aid your learning, but don't get caught up in information overload or research paralysis. Start with whatever resources you have, and your list will expand as you learn!

5. Create a Personal Knowledge System

I've tried building a system for taking notes on what I've learned many times, and my number one piece of advice is to keep your system as simple as possible.

You might have heard of the concept of building a second brain popularized by Tiago Forte. I'm currently reading the book Building a Second Brain and working on building a more comprehensive system for storing all of my notes. I want a system that I'll actually refer back to regularly!

A personal knowledge system is basically a collection of information (notes, pictures, graphs, frameworks) that you build yourself.

Popular Notetaking Methods

Second brain
Zettelkasten slip-box
Bullet point outlining
Split-page (two-column) notetaking

All of these methods can be adapted for either digital or analog notetaking.

In the past, I've tried taking reading notes in a notebook, but I've found that I don't look back at them often. Taking notes also takes too long, and it's harder to just read on the spot. I'm currently experimenting with a digital system. I'll let you know how it goes!

On the other hand, I have a little maroon notebook that I take to events with me, and I love taking notes in it! I took notes in it all last semester and flipped through my old notes during breaks in sessions if I wasn't talking to anyone.

I think it's easier to take notes at events because speakers usually make their main points very clear. It's easy for me to condense the main message and takeaways into a succinct format.

I'd also recommend being selective with your notetaking. The point of a personal knowledge system is so you can find the most important pieces of information you've collected.

As you take notes, you should periodically review what you have and try to connect ideas.

If you never review your notes or apply what you've learned, it's probably not an effective system. Do some experimenting and see what works for you!

6. Experiment

School has homework assignments for a good reason. One of the best ways to remember what you learned from the materials is by putting it into practice.

If you don't want to do this, by all means, definitely don't!

But if you want to, read books and think about what you can test out in your life. When I read a book and it mentions things to try, I like to think of them as science experiments.

Writing on this blog is one of the ways I put into practice what I'm learning through experimenting and through practicing writing.

As you work through your learning materials, don't feel pressured to test out new things right away. On "My Research Plan" bullet journal layout, I have designated space to list things that I want to try.

Also, don't feel like you need to take notes or do an experiment for every resource you consume. You should take notes on the most interesting learning materials, not on everything.

I've been learning about behavioral addiction and the downsides of social media recently, so an experiment I'm currently doing is going notification-free for 30 days. As I'm writing this, I'm on day 2 and it is going well!

Your experiments don't even have to be changing something about your life. It's more about creating something or taking action based on what you've learned.

7. Find Time to Learn Regularly

I've talked quite a bit about building habits and routines on the blog, so I'm not going to dive fully into that here. You might want to wait for the perfect time to gather all of your materials, and pull out a binder to take pretty notes in.

But I recommend that you don't!

Instead, just use little bits of free time here and there throughout your day to watch a short video or read a few pages in a book.

Here are a couple of ways you can fit more learning into your day.

Listen to a podcast while you get ready in the morning
Listen to a podcast or audiobook while driving
Listen to or watch educational content while exercising
Instead of checking your emails again, read a quick article
Replace social media usage with educational content

Consistent learning is much more effective over the long run than sitting down once a month and speeding through as many resources as you can. At the same time, start slow and don't try to cram as much learning into your day as possible. It's about balance!

Final Notes on How to Become a Lifelong Learner: Create a Personal Learning System That Lasts

I'm still refining my personal learning system, and I know it will evolve over time as my interests, priorities, and schedule change.

The most important aspect of a personal learning system is that you are constantly diving into materials and learning new things. Even if you don't have time to create a full personal learning system, just find ways to regularly learn something new!

I'm going to graduate college in a couple of years, but I plan on making learning a lifelong process through my personal learning system.

To recap, this is how you can start building your personal learning system.

Decide on your goals
Choose subjects
Choose formats
Find materials
Create a personal knowledge system
Experiment
Find time to learn regularly

If you enjoyed this post about creating a personal learning system, you might enjoy these posts as well!

I hope this post helped you start building your own personal learning system!

If you enjoyed this post about personal learning systems, don't forget to share it with a friend! Thank you! :)

September 26, 2026 No comments

Why can't I reach my goals? Do you find yourself saying this at the end of the year or maybe even at the end of January? Over the years, I've failed at many goals, and today, I'm going to share the goal-setting mistakes I've made and what I've learned from failing to reach my goals!

9 Lessons I've Learned from Failing to Reach My Goals

Some years, I reach almost all of my goals... and some years I've reached almost none of them.

Occasionally, I'll look at a goal halfway through the year and think, "Why did I set this??"

I've been setting goals yearly for almost as long as I can remember. I made homemade planners in grade school and was always setting goals and making lists for myself.

After years of setting annual goals, I've made a lot of goal-setting mistakes.

Here are nine lessons I've learned from failing to reach my goals!

Making these mistakes has helped me improve how I set goals. Hopefully, you'll be able to take away some new tips for your own goal-setting process.

9 Lessons I've Learned from Failing to Reach My Goals

1. Changing Goals Mid-Year is Okay

A year is a long time, and life changes fast.

Sometimes, I look at my goals, and they aren't even goals I want to achieve anymore. Last year, for example, I changed my major (again!), so one of my new life priorities was getting into the business school at my university.

But that wasn't one of my original goals.

Recommended Post - How to Re-Evaluate Your Yearly Goals

When I looked back at the goals I set at the start of 2025, they just weren't aligned with where I was taking my life at that point. That's okay!

A couple of years ago, I might have felt like I failed, but now I know that it's perfectly fine to change your goals!

2. Daily Tasks are Not Feasible

A very quick way to fail at your goals is to make them a daily task, especially if there's no clear outcome.

What if you get sick? What if you are out of town?

Last year, I set a goal to write down three things I'm grateful for daily, and to practice tap dancing six times per week.

Neither of these goals happened. In fact, I think I quit both of them in January because even though they are both great goals, they are too rigid.

I convinced myself that it was better to quit completely than to miss a single day.

From this goal-setting mistake, I learned that when setting goals, it's important to allow for life to happen.

If you miss once, you didn't fail. It's about getting back on track. This mindset change has been key for me to remembering that I haven't failed if I miss a day of working on a goal. I am only failing if I don't start doing it again.

3. Some Goals Aren't Meaningful Enough

In the past, I used to set an increasing number of goals every year. It was fun, but some of them didn't actually help me improve my life. My goals were more like a bucket list of things I wanted to, not things I wanted to accomplish.

If you go back through some of my goal-setting posts, you may see "23 Before 2023" or "22 Before 2022."

Talk about overwhelming! The list was becoming so long that I couldn't even remember what goals I set.

I came to the conclusion that having more than 20 goals every year is way too much! Most of them weren't meaningful enough for me to actually work towards them.

Now, I set 12 goals a year in four different areas of my life.

Spiritual (religion)
Physical (exercise and nutrition)
Educational (school and career development)
Social (relationships)

When setting goals, I think of the most important improvements I want for each of those four areas of my life. Then I set goals that will help me make progress in each of these areas.

This method allows me to set more meaningful goals!

4. Some Goals Aren't Real Goals (They're Habits)

When setting goals, it's important to distinguish if it's a destination or something you want to do on a regular basis that doesn't have a defined end result.

Going along with the point above, where I wanted to write down three things I'm grateful for daily. The end result is that I wanted this to become a habit. Meeting the goal would've been turning it into a habit.

But I never got there because I gave up after I missed for a few days.

Now, I set goals such as daily gratitude journaling as a habit-building goal, so if I miss for a few days or even fall off the bandwagon for a month, I can still get back on track and reach the goal as long as I'm working towards building that habit.

Do you want to continue doing this goal regularly after the year is over?

If yes, that is most likely a habit! Be intentional with how you go about setting goals for creating habits.

5. The Plan May Be the Problem

Back in 2021, I wrote a post about how I was setting my goals for 2021, and I had drawn up an entire master plan with guidelines for reaching my goals step-by-step.

The only problem is that I didn't stick to the plan. I don't even think I made it to the end of January. Failing to reach my goals again!

I still reached quite a few of my goals that year, but now, I take a much looser approach to reaching my goals. While I look at my goals regularly, I don't track if I'm working towards them every day because if there's too much tracking involved, even filling out the tracker feels like too much work!

It can deter you from reaching your goals.

6. Goals Don't Need to Take a Year

I used to think that goals needed to take around a year to accomplish.

The goals I set had to be so big that they took a long time to reach. This led to setting many goals that required daily effort such as working out daily or writing daily, with no real outcome.

No matter how hard I worked, I knew I wouldn't finish those goals until the end of the year. It was so discouraging that I didn't even want to start.

Now, I set goals that if I work towards them, I can achieve something without time having to pass by. One year, I set a goal to go for a month without social media including YouTube.

I finished that goal on January 31st, and completing one of my goals right at the start of the year gave me renewed motivation to work on the rest of my goals!

From failing to reach my goals, I learned that it's great to be achieving some of your goals near the start of the year to motivate you to continue working on the rest of your goals!

7. Sometimes Tracking Progress is Better than Tracking the Outcome

Some outcomes are out of your control like finding a job or an internship. Setting an outcome as the goal and then not reaching it can be very discouraging. No matter how hard you work, you may still not get that internship!

Instead, it can be much better to track progress depending on the goal. I've applied to more than 130 internships so far this year, and while the end goal is to get an internship, my goal for the year was to apply to 100 internships.

Applying to 100 internships is something that is in my control, and I feel like I'm making progress even if I haven't gotten an internship yet.

Even if I don't get an internship this year, I've still practiced applying to internships, worked on my interviewing skills, and learned more about what I want for my career.

From failing to reach my goals, I've learned that I'm much more likely to work towards the goal if I feel like I can achieve it.

8. A Total Number May be Better than a Habit

The next lesson I've learned is that aiming for a total number of doing something is sometimes better than trying to build a habit.

For example, this year as one of my religious goals, I wanted to get in the habit of reading a religious article every day. In the past, I might have set the goal as building a habit or even reading one article daily.

Instead, I set my goal for reading 100 religious articles. I've already reached that goal, and now I read one article a day out of habit!

I achieved the same outcome that I wanted, and I already reached that goal for the year!

Likewise, I talked about failing my goal of practicing tap dancing six times per week. This year, I set a goal to complete a tap dance program that has a set number of steps to learn.

Even though I don't practice tap six times a week, every time I do practice, I make progress towards my goal of completing the dance program.

9. It's Okay to Fail

Ultimately, the main thing that I've learned from failing to reach my goals is that it's okay to fail! Every year I fail at some of my goals, and every year I learn something new about the goal-setting process.

Failing to reach my goals shows me that I'm actually trying to achieve success in life. Every time I fail, I learn something new about what I do and don't want out of life.

Final Notes on 9 Lessons I've Learned from Failing to Reach My Goals

Every year, millions of people fail at their goals. Most likely, you are included in this group and so am I!

It's okay to fail at your goals. The main lesson is that failure isn't failure because every time you don't reach your goals, you learn something new. The real test is whether or not you set goals again the following year.

To wrap things up, here are the nine lessons I've learned from failing to reach my goals.

Changing goals mid-year is okay
Daily tasks are not feasible
Some goals aren't meaningful enough
Some goals aren't real goals (they're habits)
The plan may be the problem
Goals don't need to take a year
Sometimes tracking progress is better than tracking the outcome
A total number may be better than a habit
It's okay to fail

If you enjoyed this post about what I've learned from failing to reach my goals, you can read these ones too!

Thanks for reading about what I've learned from failing to reach my goals! I hope you have a productive week!

Don't forget to share this post with a friend that may be feeling discouraged about reaching their goals!

September 19, 2026 No comments

Some research suggests that people make around 35,000 decisions every single day. While these results are debated, it's easy to feel exhausted by the constant decisions we have to make. Today, we're going to dive into the topic of how to reduce decision fatigue and why everyday choices can feel exhausting.

What is Decision Fatigue? Ways to Make Everyday Choices Feel Less Exhausting

In 2000, a famous marketing study was conducted about jam by Sheena Iyengar and Mark R. Lepper. I first heard about this study in one of my marketing classes and thought it was fascinating.

Researchers set up a tasting booth and sold jam to customers in a grocery store. At one point they offered 6 flavors, and at another time, they offered 24 flavors. Customers were allowed to sample as much jam as they wanted.

In which scenario do you think people were more likely to make a purchase?

The study found that when offered 6 choices, people made a purchase 31% of the time. When offered 24 choices, people only made a purchase 3% of the time.

When offered more choices, it's harder to decide what you want! This can lead to choice overload, which can contribute to decision fatigue when you have to make decisions constantly.

I'll share how to reduce decision fatigue through practical methods, but first of all, what is decision fatigue?

What is Decision Fatigue? Ways to Make Everyday Choices Feel Less Exhausting

Decision fatigue is the mental overload that can come from making frequent decisions throughout the day.

Decision fatigue can lead to procrastinating, avoiding making decisions, making impulse decisions, and spending a longer amount of time than necessary in the research phase.

Just as your body becomes more tired throughout the day, your brain does too.

It's that feeling you have when you've just finished a hard test. Every time you fill in a circle on a bubble sheet or write down an answer, you are making a decision, and it's tiring.

Now, let's get into how to reduce decision fatigue in your life!

How to Reduce Decision Fatigue

1. Make Decisions Before You Actually Need To

You know that feeling you get when you are super hungry at the end of a long day at work? You don't have any food already cooked, and now you have to decide what's for dinner!

The first way to reduce decision fatigue is to make decisions before you actually need to by doing some planning in advance when you are feeling refreshed.

This will help cut down on the number of impulse decisions you make.

A couple examples of this are:

Meal planning/prep
Prioritizing what you need to do at the start of the day
Making a list of what you need before you go shopping
Picking out outfits in advance
Exercising first thing in the morning

When you make decisions in advance, it's often easier because you'll probably have more time and won't feel pressured by external factors. At night, I have time to pick out an outfit, but in the morning, if I take too long, I'll be running late.

2. Purposefully Limit the Number of Options You Have

Steve Jobs is famously known for wearing a black/grey turtleneck top and jeans as his near daily uniform.

While he may not have been trying to reduce decision fatigue, wearing the same thing every day does remove the question of deciding what to wear.

As I mentioned earlier with the jam study, the fewer options you have, the easier it is to make a choice. Many people chose not to purchase jam when they had a large variety of options.

This might explain why I sometimes feel like it's harder for me to decide what to wear for the day, even though I have a capsule wardrobe. My closet has been getting larger over the years!

By purposefully limiting the number of options you have, it'll be easier for you to make a decision.

3. Build Systems So You Don't Have to Make as Many Decisions

If you've read even a couple of my posts, you'll probably have realized by now that I'm a big believer in systems.

I love creating systems that make my life easier whether it's a routine, a habit, or just criteria I follow to make my life run a little smoother.

Recommended Post - The Ultimate Guide to Building Personal Systems for Your Life

When you have a morning, night, or weekend routine, you don't have to decide what to do next.

Even if during these routines you have to make decisions, it'll be easier because your day will already have structure.

I follow a running training plan, so I don't have to decide which type of run to do. I follow workout videos on YouTube, so I don't have to decide what exercises to do.

One way to build systems is by creating default choices. I eat the same breakfast almost every day. I have a grocery list that I use to shop with every week.

You can build systems throughout your life, so you don't have to make as many decisions. When you become bored of those systems, you can simply switch them up!

4. Make Similar Decisions at the Same Time

When you make similar decisions at the same time, you don't have to keep coming back to that task to think about it again.

If there are decisions that you have to make on a daily basis, would it be possible to make them on a weekly or monthly basis instead?

Most likely you do all of your laundry at once, instead of piece by piece. Likewise, you probably don't only buy enough food for just one meal when you go to the grocery store.

You can apply this reasoning to some other areas of your life too!

While I'm at college, I do the majority of my cooking on the weekends. When I sit down to do my planning, I write down my to-do list for the next two weeks, so I don't have to write down a new to-do list every day.

Batching similar tasks helps me save both time and mental energy!

5. Make Your Hardest Decisions in the Morning + Take Breaks

One study found that at the beginning of the day, judges would grant parole 65% of the time. That number gradually dropped to 0% by the end of the session.

After a break (possibly lunch!), that number would go right back up to 65%.

While the reasons for these results are debated, this study highlights the idea that mental fatigue can affect decision-making.

When you are tired, it's a lot harder to make decisions, so it can be easier to make the same decision every time. Taking frequent breaks will allow you to bring your most refreshed mind to tasks.

You can take breaks by prioritizing restful sleep, exercising, and doing hobbies to let your mind rest.

You may find it helpful to make all of your hardest decisions in the morning after you've had a good night's rest. This is why I try to write before lunch. I do my best thinking in the morning.

6. Know When to Stop Researching

I love researching new things I want to try probably a little too much, but at some point, you just have to start!

When I first started bullet journaling, I tried to read every article I could find on the subject so I could make my first bullet journal perfect.

This may be a spoiler, but my first bullet journal was definitely not perfect. My hand lettering and style have improved so much since then!

The only thing all this research did was stop me from starting.

Now, I'm working on building a personal knowledge system. I read one book, watched a couple YouTube videos, and read a few articles.

I started building my personal knowledge system a couple of weeks ago, and it's not perfect, but I'm learning as I'm building it.

This is easier said than done, but it's often a good idea to start before you feel ready because you learn the most from doing.

7. Accept "Good Enough" for Less Important Decisions

Most of the decisions we make on a daily basis won't drastically change our lives, even though sometimes they take up a disproportionate amount of time to what the actual task is.

Should it really take 15 minutes to decide what you want to eat for dinner?

On occasion, I've found myself struggling to decide what I feel like eating, what I should wear, and whether I should read this book or that book first.

In reality, none of these decisions will have a major impact on my life because often with small decisions both options are equally good.

I'd recommend spending more energy on high-impact areas like your career, relationships, health, hobbies, and your mental wellbeing.

When you decide what your priorities in life are, you'll be able to spend more of your mental energy on the big decisions!

Sometimes it can be nice to spend extra time on trivial decisions such as deciding what type of ice cream you want but just remember that these decisions aren't the most important ones!

Final Notes on What is Decision Fatigue? Ways to Make Everyday Choices Feel Less Exhausting

If you've been wondering how to reduce decision fatigue, hopefully this post gave you some ideas!

Some decision fatigue is unavoidable.

Today, more than ever, we are surrounded by countless options through constant connectivity to information on the internet and feedback about our choices through social media.

There will always be days where you don't get enough sleep or have to make hard decisions, but you can reduce the amount of decision fatigue you do experience in the day-to-day, so you have more energy to devote to the harder things.

Here's a recap on how to reduce decision fatigue.

Make decisions before you actually need to
Purposefully limit the number of options you have
Build systems so you don't have to make as many decisions
Make similar decisions at the same time
Make your hardest decisions in the morning and take breaks
Know when to stop researching
Accept "good enough" for less important decisions

If you enjoyed this post about how to reduce decision fatigue, you may also like reading these posts too!

I hope you learned something about how to reduce decision fatigue! Have a great week!

If you enjoyed reading this post about how to reduce decision fatigue, take a few seconds to save or share it! Thanks! :)

September 12, 2026 No comments

Do you scroll on your phone when you have nothing to do but still end up feeling bored? And yet somehow, you feel compelled to continue scrolling? It's time to take control of your phone habits, so you can feel fulfilled in life. Today, I'm going to give you a peek into my digital minimalist phone setup as an aspiring digital minimalist in college!

What I Actually Use My Phone For as a Digital Minimalist

Over the past few years, I've been trying to use my phone more as a tool, and less as a form of entertainment, and through my current phone setup, I've been able to cut my screen time in half.

You can read this post if you want to see specifically how I cut my screen time by deleting apps, and adding screen time controls.

Currently, I use my phone for around 2 hours per day, unless I'm reading a good book on Libby. Then my phone screen time does go up! I'm an aspiring digital minimalist, so it's a work in progress.

I'll tell you what I don't use my phone for later, but right now, I'm going to share what I actually use my phone for. This is my digital minimalist phone setup!

What I Actually Use My Phone for as a Digital Minimalist

1. Communication

Obviously, one of the main things I use my phone for is communication, so I have quite a few apps for communicating such as Outlook, WhatsApp, and GroupMe.

As a college student, I'm in a lot of group chats on different apps. This is for the most part unavoidable. On these apps, I have notifications on if it is an important chat, such as a one-on-one conversation.

Notifications for group chats can generally be turned off, unless it's for a class group project. In that case, I'll leave notifications on, so I don't miss anything.

2. My Schedule

The next main purpose of my phone is as a tool for managing my schedule.

For managing my schedule, I use a calendar app, and the app Boosted to track my time. I use both of these apps on a daily basis.

On my calendar app, I have my entire college schedule with notifications set up that go to my smartwatch. I don't want to forget to go to class!

I also have any one-time events on my schedule, so I don't forget about them or overbook myself.

3. Education

This is where the bulk of my phone usage comes in. Every morning, I read my scriptures for 10 to 20 minutes on a scripture app.

I use Libby and Goodreads on a regular basis for reading, and to track my books. The time adds up quickly when I'm reading a good book!

When I have a little bit of free time to spare, I try to read a few pages on Libby, instead of just scrolling or reading random things.

Recommended Post - How to Actually Read More Books This Year (30 Actionable Tips)

During the school year, I use Canvas to keep track of school assignments, and so I know when my assignments are graded.

I also use Pocket Casts (This is the best podcast app I've found!) for listening to podcasts when I'm running or doing errands around my apartment.

4. Health

I wear a Garmin smartwatch, so I have a few apps that connect to my watch and help me track my health. I use these apps a few times a week or less.

Additionally, I'll include my music apps in the section because I mainly listen to music while exercising.

5. Miscellaneous Tools

And then of course, I have a calculator app, a camera app, and a clock app. I also have Chrome, and my phone's web browser.

I use my phone's web browser regularly because I don't have any social media apps downloaded on my phone.

On the weekends, I let myself use YouTube on my phone's web browser, but I also have time-limits on social media websites through StayFree.

On the weekends, I'm much more flexible with my technology usage because these are my break days. After a while of incorporating digital minimalism into my life, I've found short-form content is actually pretty boring.

On most occasions, I scroll for a few minutes and then switch to doing something else.

I'm still working on cutting down my screen time on my phone's web browser because it is hard to know when I'll need to look up something essential.

I do have some other apps on my phone, but they are all apps that I either cannot delete because they came pre-downloaded on my phone, or they are apps that I use once a month or less for specific purposes.

For example, I have Google Wallet because I need it to download tickets to go see shows at my university. I only open the app when I'm going to see a show, which isn't often at all.

What I Don't Use My Phone for as a Digital Minimalist

Ok, so that's what I do use my phone for, but what don't I use my phone for?

Social media (occasional usage)
Games
Reading the news
Endless scrolling
Consuming content when bored

Right now, I'm working on cutting down the number of times I pick up my phone when I feel bored by telling myself to read a few pages of a book instead. I also receive a notification if I use an app for 30 minutes in one sitting to prompt me to put my phone down.

I'm trying to shift away from consuming short-form content that doesn't add value to my life to consuming more long-form content that leaves me feeling happier afterward.

A Day in the Life of My Phone Usage

I turn my phone off at night, so when I get up in the morning, I have to turn my phone on. I usually start off my day by looking at emails. (Not the best habit, I know, but that's what I realistically do! 🤣)

Looking at emails lets me know what's on my plate for that day. Class might have been cancelled, and I won't know unless I check!

After that, I read scriptures for 10 to 20 minutes during breakfast, and then I head off to my first class of the day.

My phone usage after that is often pretty sporadic and varies from day-to-day. I usually look at my calendar, and check emails/messages in-between classes.

I also might use my phone during lunch if I'm having a quick one, but I try to read a few pages of a book.

Generally, I use my laptop to do homework during dinner. In the evenings if I have nothing to do, I've been reading actual books from the library. Curling up on the couch with a book right before bed is becoming a favorite hobby!

Final Notes on What I Actually Use My Phone for as a Digital Minimalist

That's my realistic digital minimalist phone setup! To me, digital minimalism is about using the time I have in ways that leave me feeling good about how I spent that time.

Remember that it's ok to take breaks where you can watch or read entertainment. It's just about using your phone intentionally!

Since switching to digital minimalism, I've noticed that I now waste less time, and I learn more because I have extra time! I also feel more fulfilled about how I'm using my time.

My digital minimalist phone setup isn't perfect, but it's a work in progress!

If you enjoyed reading about my digital minimalist phone setup, you can read these other articles about taking control of your technology too.

I hope you enjoyed this post about how I use my phone as a digital minimalist! Save this digital minimalist phone setup inspiration, so you can refer back to it later!

September 05, 2026 No comments

When I first started college, I hated preparing for exams because I could never tell if I'd studied enough. I often procrastinated because I didn't have a plan and didn't know where to start. Everything was just up in the air. Thankfully, things have changed! In this guide, I'm going to show you my simple step-by-step plan that will teach you how to prepare for exams in college!

How to Prepare for Exams in College: Build A Simple Step-by-Step Plan

I've mentioned this in other posts, but I used to think I was a poor test taker. I was a good student, but I didn't receive the grades I wanted on tests.

I'd do all of the readings, every single assignment, and essays were usually a breeze, but when it came to taking tests, I didn't feel confident about my abilities to do well.

I often procrastinated until the last minute. I didn't know what study methods I should use, how long to study for, or even how to get myself to remember things.

What changed?

For one thing, I switched my major and started taking classes with content I enjoyed learning about. This gave me the motivation to figure out how to prepare for exams in college because I genuinely wanted to remember the material.

Over the past year, I've developed an exam preparation plan that I adapt for each class. My test scores have risen significantly to the point where I sometimes score near the top in the class.

I don't say this to brag, but to show you that if you don't feel confident about your test-taking abilities, you too can learn how to build a plan for exam preparation that works for you!

Everyone's learning style is different, but this guide on how to prepare for exams in college is a good starting point for creating your own system for exam preparation!

How to Prepare for Exams in College: Build a Simple Step-by-Step Plan

This is my plan for preparing for college exams from start to finish. Feel free to follow my plan but make sure you adapt it to your own needs as you experiment.

Throughout the Semester

1. Take Notes (Almost) Every Class

I'd say to take notes "every class," but I skip taking notes in classes a couple of times a semester, so I want to be realistic.

Personally, I take paper notes. They aren't pretty like my bullet journal, but even if I never look at them again, just writing my notes by hand helps me stay focused and remember what I learned during class.

2. Do All of the Homework

I hope this goes without saying but make sure you complete all of the homework and read the textbook! I'm always surprised when I hear people say they don't read the textbook.

There's no point in going to college if you are just trying to pass a test, without actually learning.

Now, let's walk through my exam preparation step by step.

Two Weeks Before the Exam

Around two weeks before an exam, I'll start setting aside an hour or two daily to study. Even if I don't study every day, this gives me enough time to absorb material, and extra time for if I have a busy day and don't study.

3. Decide on Your Study Methods

As you progress through college, you should build unique methods of studying for different types of exams.

Based on my experience, most college exams fall into these four categories:

Multiple choice exams
Short answer vocabulary exams
Short answer written exams
Essay exams

Usually, for multiple choice exams, you won't have to study for as long, and for short answer written exams and essay exams (that are timed or no notes are allowed), you'll have to study the most.

4. Find a Time Tracking Method That Works for You

The hardest part when it comes to studying for me is deciding when I've studied enough. If I can never cross studying off my to-do list, then I'm going to procrastinate doing it... a ton.

If you are like me, you are in luck! I've developed a system that's pretty reliable, but you will have to do some experimenting as well to see what works for you.

This is what I do for the first exam of a class:

For multiple-choice exams, I'll study for around 5-7 hours (Sometimes less if the exam content is really easy)
For short answer vocabulary and short answer written exams I'll study for 7-10 hours based on how hard it seems the exam will be and how much material I need to cover
For essay exams the amount of time I study depends on whether the essay is timed or not

This is where collecting a little data really helps. When I get my grade for the first exam, I know how much I need to adjust my study plan for the second or third exams, and the final.

For the final exam, I aim to double the amount of time that I spent studying for the midterm exams and usually end up in the 12-16 hours range.

5. Set Aside Time to Study Daily + Actually Study

There are many different methods for studying so you'll have to do some experimenting, but I'll share what I've found to work well for me.

Here are the study methods I use most often:

Review textbook chapters by rereading or scanning and writing down bullet point lists of important concepts
Transfer those notes to Knowt and make flashcards
Study all of the flashcards using the quiz features
Rewrite the most important vocabulary and formulas, but condense all the information into just a couple of pages
Rewrite and review those couple of pages as many times as possible
Review all the flashcards and the couple of pages right before I go to bed the night before

During study sessions, I switch back and forth between these study methods to help fight off boredom. I take regular walk breaks while reviewing material.

The Night Before + Morning of the Exam

6. Prioritize Sleep + Try Not to do Last Minute Cramming

Sometimes, prioritizing sleep can be a challenge, especially if you don't feel prepared for a test, but I've heard it repeated many times that your time is better spent sleeping.

I always like to pack my backpack with everything I'll need for the test the night before, so I don't have to feel rushed in the morning.

This also gives me a chance to double-check that I have all of the required materials for the test in the morning to make sure I don't forget anything.

7. Have a Before Exams Routine You Can Follow

It depends what time of day you take your exams, but I take most of my exams in the morning. Whatever time of day you decide to take your exams, come up with a calming routine you can follow to help relieve the stress.

It's easy to always feel like you are underprepared for exams, but even if you haven't prepared enough, the extra stress probably isn't going to help you.

Everyone's routine will look a little different, but these are a few things I like to do to make exam taking as stress-free as possible:

Review my main vocab/formulas briefly
Listen to calming music as I walk to the testing center
Have a quiet and relaxing meal
Double check that I have all my required test materials (scratch paper, pencils, laptop charging cord, calculator)
Don't study for other tests or do homework (If the exam is in the morning, and I don't have a ton of other homework assignments due that day)

Creating a routine you follow before each of your exams will help you feel more prepared and help to relieve stress.

During the Exam

8. Use the Exam Strategy That You Planned

You probably won't actually decide on your exam taking strategy during the exam, but you should figure out an exam-taking strategy that works for you.

One of my strategies is if I know a test will probably require frameworks or formulas, I'll write as many of those down as possible (if scratch paper is allowed) before I start looking at the test.

Writing down the main things I need to know helps me get everything out of my brain before I need it, which helps me minimize stress.

Here are a few ways you might approach your exam:

Flipping or scrolling through the whole test before starting
Putting down a guess if you aren't sure what the question is and coming back to it
Leaving questions you aren't sure about blank and coming back to them
Filling out a section at a time and then reviewing it as you go
Filling out the easiest or hardest section first

The only tip I would give is to make sure you review your entire exam, even if you don't change any of your answers. Sometimes, you might catch easy errors or have time to write down an additional sentence or two for short answer questions.

After the Exam

9. Take a Break if You Have Time

I don't know about you, but whenever I get out of an exam, I always take a break if time allows because exams are so mentally exhausting.

If you don't have time for a relaxing break, try to at least give your mind a break by exercising or doing homework that isn't similar to what you were doing on the exam.

No matter how you feel like you did on your test, be kind to yourself and remember that grades aren't everything!

10. Revise Your Study Plan for Your Next Exam

The last step in learning how to prepare for exams in college is to use what you learned from preparing for this test to prepare for your next one. Once you've gotten your grade, keep in mind that it's just feedback about how well you studied for the test.

Your grade is not a reflection of how smart you are or how good you are in that subject because grades will often improve with more practice and additional time studying.

You can use a simple tracker to keep note of the class, how long you studied, the methods you used, and your score. After a few exams, you'll be able to start seeing patterns about what's working and what's not as effective.

If you did worse than you wanted to, now you know what you can do to improve on your next exam.

If you received a grade you're proud of, you now have a basic idea of how much you need to study for the next one.

Final Notes on How to Prepare for Exams in College: Build a Simple Step-by-Step Plan

Preparing for exams is an ever-evolving process, so you'll have to tweak your plan as you continue throughout college.

When preparing for exams, try to keep in mind that with most of the classes you are taking, you are learning so you know the material for life, not just to pass a test. This perspective helps me focus on learning the material without cramming!

Here's a quick recap on how to prepare for exams in college:

Take notes (almost) every class
Do all of the homework
Decide on your study methods
Find a time tracking method that works for you
Set aside time to study daily and actually study
Prioritize sleep and try to not do last minute cramming
Have a before exams routine you can follow
During the exam, use the exam strategy you planned
Take a break if you have time afterwards
Revise your study plan for your next exam

If you enjoyed reading this post about how to prepare for exams in college, you might enjoy these posts too!

Good luck with your exams! I hope you enjoyed learning how to prepare for exams in college!

Make sure you save this post about how to prepare for exams in college, so you can refer back to it!

August 29, 2026 No comments

When you choose classes for the semester, you are designing what your life will look like for the next four months. While building a college schedule can be super fun, it can also be intimidating if you've never done it before. In this post, I'll share how to design a college class schedule, including how to build your weekly timetable along with other things you should include in your weekly routine!

How to Design a College Class Schedule That Helps You Succeed

I've had semesters of 8am classes every day, six classes in a single day, four hours of class in a row, and evening classes, though not all in the same semester!

Designing an effective college class schedule can determine how stress-free, productive, and enjoyable your semester will be.

Should you take 8am classes? How many classes is too many? What about laundry and cooking?

Over the past few years, I've learned a few things about building an effective college class schedule so that's what I'm going to share with you today!

How to Design a College Class Schedule That Helps You Succeed

If you use a bullet journal, I recommend sketching out your schedule and routines using a pencil, so you can see everything visually and use it as a prompt for the first few weeks of the semester!

As you build your schedule, keep in mind what your priorities are for the semester. If you want to spend twenty hours a week at work, your schedule will look very different from if your priorities are getting good grades and attending campus events.

1. Choose Your Classes

I love trying new things, so a new semester filled with a lot of new possibilities and exciting opportunities is really fun for me. I always want to maximize my experience and explore my options.

Here are a few tips for building a class schedule that you'll enjoy. Everyone is different, so take this advice with a grain of salt.

Decide on a Courseload

I usually take around 15-17.5 credits per semester with 12 credits of hard classes and then easier classes and exercise classes on top of that. If I've taken a dance class before, I usually try to audit the course so I can just attend class without having to do any homework.

The main thing I'd recommend is scheduling your classes right next to each other if you don't like sitting around on campus or want to avoid traveling. One of the most exhausting things at college is when you have to travel to and from classes four or five times each day.

The only caveat is when I have a dance class because I need to have enough time to change between classes.

If you are working as well, add that to your schedule right now too if you can! Currently, I work remotely, so I work in the evenings and try to work during free moments throughout the day.

Choose Class Times

I've read a couple of other blogs that advise against taking 8am classes, but I've done M-F 8am classes for multiple semesters and haven't had an issue with it.

The most important thing is knowing what is realistic for you. In high school, I woke up at 5:30am regularly, so it wasn't a big deal for me.

I will say that it is nice to have a day or two when I don't have to get up for an 8am class, but I prefer having classes in the morning because it forces me to get up. Usually, I'm more productive in the morning anyway.

When choosing class times, you have to decide whether you like having a packed schedule some days and lots of free time on others or having balanced days every day.

Choose Which Classes to Take

Usually, I try to do a combination of a few easier major classes, a hard major class, general education requirements, and some fun classes.

I always look at Rate My Professors when deciding which professor to take from, but I also consider what will fit well into my schedule. While I keep in mind that generally, these ratings will be skewed, sometimes students mention what the homework load is like.

Personally, I don't mind busywork or difficult tests, but I avoid classes with lots of presentations and speeches when I can. 😂

At the end of the day, some classes are only offered at certain times by a single professor, so then you just have to take them!

After a few years of classes, it'll be easier to figure out what classes to add to your schedule, but when making your schedule, there are several other factors to consider as well.

2. Plan for Travel + Meals

There are a couple of things that you'll need to add to your schedule, whether you like it or not. Traveling is one of those things.

I always prefer to arrive at class early in case something unexpected happens, whether that's bad weather or a closed road.

With meals, you don't have to plan as much, as long as you make sure they get into your schedule. I usually don't eat at conventional times because I often have class at noon, but I do make sure to get in my three meals a day.

If I have an 8am class, I might eat a snack before it, breakfast at 10am, lunch at 2pm, snack at 4pm, and then dinner at around 6pm.

I'd aim for around 30 minutes of leeway before and after classes if you need to travel to and from campus.

3. Block Out When You'll Sleep

There's a longstanding myth that college students don't sleep that much. I like to go against the grain by getting at least 7 hours of sleep. I'm sure many other students aim for this much sleep too!

For this reason, I don't recommend taking both early morning and evening classes.

You can also adjust your schedule a little bit day-to-day.

If you do need to take a later class or if clubs are going to go late one evening of the week, you can decide to not take an 8am class the day afterward or at least have one or two days when you can sleep in.

4. Estimate How Long Your Morning/Evening Routines Will Take

I'm a huge believer in morning and night routines because they make my life run smoother!

I'd recommend making a list of everything you want to do in the mornings and evenings. Then estimate how long it will take you.

I prefer having a short morning routine and a long evening routine. Almost everything is already done when I get up in the morning so if something happens, I'll be less likely to be running late. I've already picked an outfit, packed my bag, and decided what I'm going to eat the night before.

Routines go a long way in making sure that I'm prepared for school every day!

5. Block Out Time for Studying + Exercise

I do the majority of my homework in the late mornings and afternoons. When I set up my schedule, I try to make sure there are blocks of time that I'll be able to use for homework.

Unfortunately, I rarely get homework done in 15-minute blocks between classes, but I try! My focus is much better when I study in my room, which is why I group my classes together.

I aim to get around two hours of exercise every day, so I take a lot of dance classes to help make sure it happens!

If you don't take exercise classes, you can still block out time on your schedule every day. You can also check to see if your school offers free workout classes because mine does!

6. Consider When Events + Clubs Are

The next thing you may want to do is consider when the clubs and events you want to attend are usually held.

Doing this will help ensure you have enough time to do your homework and attend events.

The business events for my university are mainly on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, so I plan my homework load so I can get my homework completed in time!

7. Decide When You'll Do Household Maintenance

Living in college comes with a whole host of other responsibilities besides going to class and doing homework.

I like to stick all of these activities on my schedule too, to make sure that everything gets done. This is what my schedule looks like.

Grocery shopping (Saturday morning)
Doing laundry (Saturday morning/afternoon)
Reviewing finances (Saturday afternoon)
Weekly planning (Sunday afternoon)
Cooking and meal prep (Sunday afternoon)

I usually do most of my household maintenance tasks over the weekend, so I can focus on school during the week, but I am flexible with my schedule, especially if I'm going out with friends or to events over the weekend.

8. Leave More Extra Space than You Think You'll Need

Almost every single semester, my schedule does end up changing, so it's a good idea to be flexible! You can always move things around in your schedule, once you know what the building blocks are.

I know how fun it is to add a lot of extra classes to your schedule (dance classes in my case), but I promise that your week will be busier than it actually looks.

Sign up for some fun classes if you can but leave extra blank space so you have time for unexpected fun things, relaxation, and extra time to study.

Luckily, during the first week of school before the add/drop deadline, you'll have time to decide if your courseload is going to be manageable or not!

Final Notes on How to Design a College Class Schedule That Helps You Succeed

Planning out what you want your week to look like during college will help keep everything running smoothly as your homework load increases.

I like building a timetable layout in my bullet journal with blocks for everything I want to do because it makes it easier for me to build a college class schedule that is manageable and sets me up for success.

Even the longest semesters are around sixteen weeks long, so if you do end up with a difficult schedule, you'll be able to design an entirely new schedule the following semester!

This is how to design a college class schedule in a nutshell:

Choose your classes
Plan for travel and meals
Block out when you'll sleep
Estimate how long your morning and evening routines will take
Block out time for studying and exercise
Consider when events and clubs are
Decide when you'll do household maintenance
Leave more extra space than you think you'll need

If you liked reading this post about building a college class schedule, make sure you read these ones too to help you prepare for your next semester!

I hope you enjoyed these tips about building a college class schedule and that you have a productive semester!

Don't forget to save this post about creating a college class schedule, so you can refer back to it later!

August 22, 2026 No comments

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