podcast

Choosing a Degree For You – TUB-Thump 012

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Are you thinking about what subject to study at university? Are you already at uni and worried that your degree may not have enough “direct job prospects”?

Whatever your situation, there are always questions over the choices you make.

Should you study a subject with good job prospects right now, or should you focus on what you like doing already?

If you’re like most people, you don’t have all your plans laid out perfectly. It’s rare to have no questions and no doubts.

That’s why Episode 012 of TUB-Thump is here to reassure you that the most important thing is to find your own context. Unless you’re studying Medicine or something with a well-worn and required path, a lot of the situation boils down to making the most of what makes you tick.

You’re worth more than the subject you study. There are lots of stories you can tell about yourself. Today’s episode is a brief reminder of that, to help you start thinking about getting the most out of what you’re doing, no matter what you’re studying.

Here are the show notes for the 6-min episode:

  • 00:35 – Get a degree with best job prospects, or study a subject you already enjoy? The first thing to do is to look at what is behind that question.
  • 01:30 – The act of undertaking a degree, as well as everything else associated with your experience, makes more difference than the course itself. Some vocations need a specific route, but the majority aren’t that set in stone.
  • 02:10 – Jobs change. It may not matter what you study now for the roles that don’t yet exist. Education isn’t simply a route to a job anyway.
  • 03:10 – What does “direct job prospects” mean?
  • 04:20 – Your achievements and stories from outside of your degree work are also important. Employers increasingly look to the wider story of who you are. The more you can use this, the more chance you have of distinguishing yourself.
  • 04:55 – The question of job prospects versus a subject you enjoy is a bit of a straw-man. It needs more context of you as an individual to be able to answer properly. Look at your own attitude, your own wants, and your own strengths.

Music for TUB-Thump is Life, by Tobu, which is released under a Creative Commons license. Check out more of Tobu’s great sounds on Soundcloud, YouTube, and his official site.

TUB-Thump is part of the Learning Always Network.

Keep being awesome!

Don’t Fear Feedback – TUB-Thump 011

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Feedback is a double-edged sword.

You want all your tutor’s comments about your coursework to be good. But you need the feedback most when there’s room to improve.

Hard is it can be, you can go a long way when you act on advice. That’s what it is…advice. Instead of thinking of it as negative feedback, give it a positive edge and use the advice to do better in your next assignment.

If you’re finding it difficult to take a peek at those comments, let Episode 011 of TUB-Thump give you a helping hand. It’ll be far less painful if you look forward rather than back.

There’s a lot of advice out there on how to use feedback. When you’re ready to tackle it, check out these links too:

Here are the show notes for the 8-min episode:

  • 01:25 – Think of feedback as help. This isn’t about where you went wrong, it’s about where you can go right next time.
  • 02:05 – Do you understand the feedback? If it’s vague or if you don’t understand it, find out more.
  • 02:50 – Check out online and library resources regarding feedback. This should help you get an initial idea.
  • 04:00 – Look for feedback as you go. Don’t wait until after you’ve got the assignment marked. Preliminary feedback lets you know if you’re going in the right direction and can help you build an even better piece of work.
  • 05:00 – Direct and relevant questions are far better than asking for vague advice. Go in prepared and you’ll get a much better reception. Plus, it’ll be advice tailored to your specific issues.
  • 06:00 – Feedback is about looking forward. It’s a tool to reach further in the future, not a retrospective on the past.
  • 06:50 – Summing up the episode’s main points.
  • 07:10 – It’s difficult to engage with feedback, but it’s worth your while embracing it for your next piece of coursework.

Music for TUB-Thump is Life, by Tobu, which is released under a Creative Commons license. Check out more of Tobu’s great sounds on Soundcloud, YouTube, and his official site.

TUB-Thump is part of the Learning Always Network.

Keep being awesome!

How to Take Action When It’s Tough (and Be More Creative in the Process) – TUB-Thump 010

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Is there something in your life that stops you in your tracks? You wish you could do it, but you feel blocked.

It may be through embarrassment, overwhelm, worry…Whatever it is, it’s getting in the way of you being the best version of yourself.

Episode 010 of TUB-Thump looks at how to work on this. Find that drive, work out the why behind your why, and get more creative in the process.

Here are the show notes for the 12-min episode:

  • 00:50 – James Clear on how creativity is a process, not an event.
    More James Clear articles – http://jamesclear.com/articles
  • 01:40 – Why the fear of making mistakes can stop you from taking action.
  • 02:40 – Procrastination is about more than putting things off.
  • 03:15 – Beautiful Voyager on when the problem isn’t what you think it is.
    On unpacking the issues so you understand what’s truly bothering you.
  • 04:40 – Finding the why behind your why. The importance of asking “Why…?” several times.
  • 05:50 – “If you don’t take action, there is no creation.”
  • 06:30 – These feelings aren’t surprising. Overwhelm can be tackled, but only when you step back for a moment to work out the key issues. If you don’t identify the overarching themes, it’ll feel like everything is overwhelming. The reality is usually different.
  • 08:10 – You can recover from most things, as James Clear says. What can you challenge yourself to do?
  • 09:45 – Once you’ve found the big issue, it’s easier to act in the other situations. By removing them from the overwhelm, they no longer feel like such a big deal.
  • 10:40 – It’s better to tackle things head-on than it is to let them swamp you.

Music for TUB-Thump is Life, by Tobu, which is released under a Creative Commons license. Check out more of Tobu’s great sounds on Soundcloud, YouTube, and his official site.

TUB-Thump is part of the Learning Always Network.

Keep being awesome!

And a P.S. – The joy of scheduling posts in advance for when you’re not around. The woe of realising that didn’t happen when it’s too late to do anything about it. Oh well! One day late is better than not at all. 🙂

Have a great weekend. See you on the flipside!

5 Great Ways to Improve Your Grades (That Don’t Need Extra Studying) – TUB-Thump 009

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Study tips go way beyond the studying itself.

Sometimes all it takes is sitting somewhere else. Or having a refreshing cup of tea.

And that’s what I look at in Episode 009 of TUB-Thump. 5 ways you can put your best foot forward (not just by having a walk!) and build the best mindset for your study.

Ready to get those good habits going? Happy listening.

Here are the show notes for the 12-min episode:

  • 01:30 – Simple tips, so long as you commit to them and build these useful habits.
  • 01:25 – Tip No.1: Have a quick walk. It’s the only exercise you need to get those cogs turning in your head.
  • 02:10 – Tip No.2: Stop with the all-nighters. The most important of the tips, in my opinion… Yep, it’s my usual rant. 😉
  • 03:20 – Tip No.3: Shift your location regularly. Find as many different areas as possible to alternate with. Even if you only visit the library to work, sit in different places within the library. Build your own ways of mixing up where you study.
  • 04:30 – Tip No.4: Get the right sleep for you. Listen to your body rather than the voice in your brain that’s tempting you to stay up as long as possible!
  • 06:45 – Tip No.5: Drink tea. Go crazy and make it loose leaf. Green teas, oolong teas, etc. The extra time spent making loose leaf (just a few seconds) is well worth it for taste if nothing else. It’s funny just how much you can change the flavour based on the amount of leaf you use, the time you brew it for, the temperature you brew it at, and so on.
  • 09:10 – Bonus Tip! List things, plan things, schedule things. Obvious, yes. But also challenging.
    Are You a Planner or a Structured Procrastinator?

Music for TUB-Thump is Life, by Tobu, which is released under a Creative Commons license. Check out more of Tobu’s great sounds on Soundcloud, YouTube, and his official site.

TUB-Thump is part of the Learning Always Network.

Keep being awesome!