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As a college graduate, this book is no longer relevant to me (or is it? We never stop learning…) but if you are in school this is a great book for you to take a good read through and learn how to be the best student you can be.

I had a whole class in college dedicated to learning how to learn, and we used this book as our guide. For me it had a lot of things that I felt were intuitive but I know at least several of my classmates had never thought about learning the way it’s presented in this book.

Why should you buy it?

It has a lot of values and techniques that aren’t just trendy. They work. It helps you learn how to retain information, take effective notes, and gives you a whole fresh look at studying. It also addresses you as a person, and is quite the motivational book as well.

Whenever you’re having trouble studying, or want a new perspective on your education, you can pick it up and find what’s relevant to you. There’s a lot in there, trust me.

What I thought about it

Obviously, I felt it was a good read. It even has little worksheets and things to fill out inside!

What you think about it

Have you read this book? Did you buy it? What did you think? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Tip #1: Update those pieces of cloth hanging on your body.

Quick Fix: Buy a new outfit
Extreme: Buy a new wardrobe

Wearing a new outfit almost always boosts my confidence, but sometimes I realize I never feel comfortable with what I’m wearing. Go out and find something that makes you feel hot, sexy, and confident.

Tip #2: Find your style through the art of hair.

Quick Fix: Get a haircut
Extreme: New hairstyle

Sometimes the drab old me needs a fix. I often find that fix is a haircut, or trying a whole new hairstyle. Getting your hair done makes you feel fresh, and often makes you feel pretty darn attractive.

Tip #3: You are what you eat.

Quick Fix: Eat healthy for a day
Extreme: Improve your diet

There are days when I get to the end and realize all I did was eat junk food all day! It makes me feel disgusting and bloated. Who wants to feel disgusting and bloated? That’s what I thought. Try going through a day eating healthy foods, or at least cutting back on the junk. Even better, try to make it a change in your daily diet!

Tip #4: Fight against the couch potato.

Quick Fix: Workout today
Extreme: Start exercising regularly

I want to get in shape. Maybe you don’t, but it’s good for your soul and your body for you to at least get out and take a brisk walk in the morning, afternoon, evening, or whatever time suits your schedule! Simply take a shower afterward and it leaves you feeling refreshed and ready for whatever comes next.

Tip #5: Clean the pig sty.

Quick Fix: Clean your bedroom
Extreme: Re-arrange and organize your bedroom

I admit, I have a hard time keeping my room clean. Sometimes it makes me feel so claustrophobic! There are few feelings more satisfying than having a clean room, and if you have the time spice it up by re-arranging your furniture and organizing your belongings. It’s a great way to re-evaluate and get rid of things you don’t need anymore as well as refresh your memory as to wear that old [fill-in-the-blank] went to.

I can’t verify that my way of approaching fitness and weight loss is effective (at least not yet!) but here is how I am trying to tackle this:

Don’t try everything at once

The #1 reason I have yet to succeed in any weight loss or fitness program is because I try too many radical changes at once – such as eat completely healthy and work out for an hour every day. I give up after the first 2 days because I can’t keep up or stay motivated.

So far I have been able to work out lightly 2-3 times a week and eat slightly healthier every day for 2 whole weeks. My plan is to make working out something that doesn’t completely wear me down, and eating healthier something of a habit. This coming week, I plan on bumping up my exercise intensity a notch as well as keeping track of my eating habits at LiveStrong.

Stay motivated by picking a goal

My goal is to lose 30lbs, preferably by the New Year. I expect most of the weight loss to happen towards the end, when my overall eating and exercise habits are optimal and I can push myself hard enough to lose the last pounds in a shorter time period. By keeping this in mind, it helps me not become overwhelmed now and makes giving up the little things easier.

Choose fitness activities that match your lifestyle (and wallet)

For me, going to the gym is expensive and makes me feel judged by the other members, so I have opted to get my exercise by running and biking. If you enjoy swimming, get membership access to a pool near your house. If you enjoy using the machines provided at the gym, get a membership at a gym. If you don’t mind running, save yourself membership fees and buy some good running shoes and run! Getting in shape doesn’t have to be expensive.

How do you stay in shape? What works for you? Leave your methods and thoughts in the comments.

The most important thing to remember is:

• Your world will be okay even if you fail

It’s true! This is only not true in very special cases. My guess is that if you have access to read this you are not one of those cases.

In the case of an interview sometimes when we miss out on one opportunity we find another bigger, better opportunity that we would have missed otherwise – a blessing in disguise.

When it comes to tests or performances, think of the worst possible situation – you have to retake the class, take another semester, wait for x amount of time, be embarrassed, lose your first chair place in the orchestra. So what? You have your whole life ahead of you to make changes, get better, and do something with yourself.

Once you have the piece of mind to relax and realize that it’s not the end of the world, you can concentrate on gathering your portfolio, studying, or practicing, or whatever is entailed for your event. Be prepared! This will help you not only be relaxed but also confident when the time of your event arrives.

How do you help motivate and relax yourself before a nerve racking event?

What are the ingredients in your life making you unhappy? Is it work you hate? Get a job you like better. Don’t let the lack of a degree or a lack of training stop you. Go online, go to your library, read, practice, research, maybe sign up for some classes and apply as an intern in the area you’d like a job in. Network, make friends in the industry and work your way up. Even if it means some financial sacrifices now, you’ll thank yourself for it later. Do your friends make you miserable? Lose them. You become like the people you surround yourself with. Find people you can really connect with and trust. Be the kind of friend you are looking for.

See a trend? Don’t be scared to make a change.

The main benefits I’ve noticed are these:

• I get off of work earlier
• I feel happier during the day
• I actually have time to run errands after work

My bedtime hasn’t changed (yet). I am working on developing an actual “morning routine” – like showering, making the bed, etc. – but I am not pushing that. I want to take small steps, and right now my body still isn’t quite agreeing with me right when I wake up.

I recommend that you try waking up at a consistent (if not earlier) time, and see if it works for you.