Stage 3 · Lesson 1 of 7
If-then plans
Psychologist Peter Gollwitzer studied what he called implementation intentions: plans that say exactly when, where and how you will act, in the form "if X, then I will Y". For example: "If it is 8 pm on weekdays, then I will sit at the desk and do two practice questions", or "If I open Instagram during study time, then I will close it and read one paragraph".
Many studies have found these plans make people more likely to follow through than goals alone, because the decision is made in advance and the situation becomes the cue. A goal like "study more" leaves you deciding every day.
Common trapmaking vague plans, like "I will study in the evening", which still leave all the decisions for the moment you least want to make them.
A question to check yourself and an AI practice session come when you add the roadmap to your account. Add it
Resources for this stage
Start with
- CourseFreeLearning How to Learn (Coursera)
Deep Teaching Solutions on Coursera · Beginner
Barbara Oakley explains procrastination and the Pomodoro Technique, free to audit
Practise
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