At this point, you’re always thinking about the next steps, right?
- Apply to grad school:check.
- Sign up for classes: check
- Graduate: check
- Study for the exam…
I challenge you to target studying like you would any other behavior. Ready?
Target behavior: commit to a study schedule
Current Behavior
Get a snapshot of what your schedule looks like right now and get specific with your time. Avoid ambiguous phrases like “I’m going to study evenings and weekends.” This could mean a wide range of things, from 15 minutes to 15 hours per week.
If you say, I’m going to study 10 hours a week, do you really have 10 hours a week to commit? Or is 8 more realistic?
First, fill out a calendar of what your typical week looks like without studying.
Analyze
Now, look for pockets of time to study. Be real with yourself. If you normally wake up at 7 a.m. to be at work at 8:30 a.m., is it realistic for you to wake up at 6 a.m. to study? Who is going to wake you at 6 a.m. – your phone, your friend, your partner? If you’re optimistic about it, try it out for a few days and report back.
Get creative with your schedule, too. For example, if you’re in the car a lot during the day, I bet you could download Rogue’s audio download.
Block off those times you can commit to and color code it.
Count the amount of reasonable time you’ve got to study. This is your target number.
Next step is to plan your time.
Your Behavior Plan
Align your time to the BACB task list and create a 30, 60, or 90-day plan. Roughly plan out what you’re going to study week by week. Don’t worry, I made it simple for you by creating a free Google Sheet template that you can use.
Get a bird’s-eye view of what the weeks leading up to the big day look like (video tutorial below).
If you’ve enrolled in Rogue’s study groups, you’re in good hands! Plug in all your live sessions, download their audio files for the car, and get started on their SAFMEDS deck.
The wonderful thing about Google Sheets is it can be accessed via web or mobile by grabbing the direct url.
Hold yourself accountable by adding this link to your mobile calendar and creating recurring sessions.
Re-evaluate
Consider the initial plan your “ideal schedule.” You and I both know things will come up or certain time slots will not work out. After the first week, evaluate your new schedule. How did things go? What can be changed? How will you make it work?
Once you’ve got your study routine in motion, I suggest visiting the template on a weekly basis. This time, ask yourself:
- What areas on the task list can I check off?
- What items do I need to revisit?
- What materials do I need to download, print, or pull out to have ready for next week?
This template provides you a framework, but your behavior plan is only what you make of it. Visit it often and customize it to fit your needs.
Tackle it
You’ve got this! Like I said, you’re in good hands with Rogue ABA. Beyond this behavior plan, they’ve got a wonderful community supporting you and cheering you on.
Happy Studying,
Christina Conner, BCBA.
Owner of Paradigm Behavior
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