The fourth week went fine. i studied for Physics plus i had lots of sleep so i was able to think fast and finish the test early even if it was moderately hard.
So here's a conclusion to my behavior modification program.
let me just summarize how my program goes:
goal: to be able to remember scheduled tasks for the whole week without using a planner.
positive reinforcement: when i successfully remembered and done a tasks at its scheduled time and date, i will earn 30 mins of PSP playing time.
negative reinforcement: when i dont remember the tasks i have to do, the stress of hurriedly finishing these tasks and the lack of sleep thereof is what i will suffer.
Changes made:
at first i awarded myself 1 hour psp playing time but it was too much, so i reduced it to 30 mins.
What worked?
I believe my whole program worked for me although at first it was hard and forgetting a task is too costly, i was only able to turn that consequence into a motivation to modify my behavior. By using classical conditioning, i was able to overpower my forgetfulness in an unconscious way by using stress as a negative reinforcement.
What didn't work?
I believe that my negative reinforcement was much stronger than my positive reinforcement. in the whole program, i did not find my self feeling that i wish i had more psp time when i didn't earn any psp time because when i didn't earn psp time -- or in other words, failed to remember a task -- i am too busy cramming up for that task that i dont find a space in my mind to wish for psp time. I'm not even persevering to remember tasks because of the psp time im going to earn because of it, I was only persevering to remember tasks because i don't want to end up stressed and tired.
I couldn't say that my positive reinforcement did not work at all. it just wasn't as strong as my negative reinforcement. Whenever i play my psp during the program, all i could think of is that i earned that fun im having with my psp without having to worry that i might be eating up some time that's supposed to be for another task.
Influence of Heightened Awareness
Heightened awareness, theoretically, should have a big influence in my program because this awareness could help me remember tasks. At first this heightened awareness helped me remember tasks. That's why in the first day of my program i have perfected my schedule. But, after the first week, i was able to just go on my program without worrying about it. I just do what i remembered to do and record the times i did them and by the end of the day, i check them if i did them right. If this heightened awareness influenced me, it could only influence me in a good way, which is by helping me remember.
I have three main results i got from my program:
Improved Self-Confidence and Less Stress
Because I know I could follow the schedule i set for myself at the correct times and days, i became less stressed and more confident about the day ahead of me. My worries about forgetting something is less bothersome now compared before when i was so worried that i might forget something I had to do that sometimes i actually forget a lot because of my worrying. With less worry, i became less stressed and thus, less tired.
More Productive and Creative in my Tasks
Because i have set enough time for my tasks (i.e. a project, test, or homework) I was able to add on some creativity to boost my grade. Also my productivity increased a great deal because i have more time in my hands. In addition, instead of the usual stress i feel when im doing these tasks, i'm having more fun and learning more from the school work i had to do. As a result, i get better grades than a crammed up work just because i was forgetful.
Improved time of sleep and health
By accident, I was able to observe my health during the course of time of my program. i wasn't been able to drink my vitamins for almost 3 weeks now because of the eating schedule changes in our house. Usually, when i fail to drink my vitamins for an entire week, i will surely have a cold after. But since, i had more sleep, less stress, and have been eating 3 meals a day, i haven't even felt the difference in my body to remember that i haven't been taking my vitamins!
The Possibility of the Changes to be Long Term
The behavior i modified in my program -- to be less forgetful -- has a high possibilty of being a long term change. After this program, why would i need to use my planner when i could remember my tasks? It is easy to continue my program because it's not much of a bother. In addition, the results weigh more than doing the program itself. actually, i am planning to continue with my program until remembering tasks for me could be second nature.
The most challenging part of this assignment is when i fail to remember tasks because not only i would be stressed and tired but my grade could suffer also. Nevertheless, this challenging aspect of my assignment is also the key to making it more effective. without this aspect of my program, the program wouldn't have worked.
I am glad to have participated in this assignment and to have reaped the results from this program.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Monday, May 26, 2008
the last week of the program...
Again, i'm expecting to remember all the tasks i have for this week because there's not much i have to do. I just have an exam for physics on Thursday and another extra credit I'm planning to write for psychology. Maybe i could even add some studying time for my history class just to lessen the load for my finals. So probably, i'll devote Tuesday and Wednesday to study for Physics and then write my extra credit on Thursday and on Friday i could read for History.
I admit that having too little to do to forget things is what i didn't expect to happen when i planned my program. Honestly, this is the first time that has happened to me that the last 2 weeks of the semester is just breezing by. And maybe its because of this program. Because of this program i was able to avoid cramming just because i remembered to do things more.
I hope this week will be fine. I wish i could still remember my tasks and not forget them because i'm relaxing too much!
I admit that having too little to do to forget things is what i didn't expect to happen when i planned my program. Honestly, this is the first time that has happened to me that the last 2 weeks of the semester is just breezing by. And maybe its because of this program. Because of this program i was able to avoid cramming just because i remembered to do things more.
I hope this week will be fine. I wish i could still remember my tasks and not forget them because i'm relaxing too much!
Friday, May 23, 2008
new idea...
Third week was not so bad. I only had to do my performing madness paper and that's it. So, i spent more time into doing some more extra credit for psychology. Next week will also have a loose schedule with just an exam for Physics. So maybe i'll schedule some time to study in advance for History since that gives too much reading load.
Overall, I think my program is working although there might be too much changes around my schedule to really be certain about the effectiveness of my program. At the start of my program, i really was struggling to remember things i have to do but now, i remember doing them right before their scheduled time. But, there could be a number of confounding elements to the results of my program. For example, the first two weeks of my program were the critical two weeks in the semester. Those were the times were all the exams are happening and all sorts of papers had to be passed. Those two weeks were crucial because it's the last chance to catch up with classes and the last chance to earn points. Since stress could be one of the factors that causes forgetfulness, i might have been more forgetful at that time. In addition, my physical condition at that time wasn't all that good because i've been sleeping late and skipping meals. So now in the third and fourth week, when all things are starting to calm down while going into the finals, i remember more of my tasks at their correct times. Bottom line is, i am not sure if I'm improving because of my program or just because i have lesser stress right now compared to the last 2 weeks.
This doesn't mean that it is all or nothing with my program. i'm sure the program is a big help because i survived almost a month without a planner or anybody reminding me what to do and when to do it.
Overall, I think my program is working although there might be too much changes around my schedule to really be certain about the effectiveness of my program. At the start of my program, i really was struggling to remember things i have to do but now, i remember doing them right before their scheduled time. But, there could be a number of confounding elements to the results of my program. For example, the first two weeks of my program were the critical two weeks in the semester. Those were the times were all the exams are happening and all sorts of papers had to be passed. Those two weeks were crucial because it's the last chance to catch up with classes and the last chance to earn points. Since stress could be one of the factors that causes forgetfulness, i might have been more forgetful at that time. In addition, my physical condition at that time wasn't all that good because i've been sleeping late and skipping meals. So now in the third and fourth week, when all things are starting to calm down while going into the finals, i remember more of my tasks at their correct times. Bottom line is, i am not sure if I'm improving because of my program or just because i have lesser stress right now compared to the last 2 weeks.
This doesn't mean that it is all or nothing with my program. i'm sure the program is a big help because i survived almost a month without a planner or anybody reminding me what to do and when to do it.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
into the third week...
The third week of my b-mod program will be starting tomorrow alongisde the slight change i did to my positive reinforcement, which is rewarding myself 30 mins of psp playing time instead of the original 1 hour.
So far, the results of my behavior modification program are fluctuating. There are numerous interferences that could be the cause of my forgetting and also another factor is the stress and my physical condition.
I had a couple of comments in my blog that reminds me to watch my health, and honestly when i was formulating this program, i didn't think about my health at all. In fact, I don't think about my health at all! If there is one thing i worry aboutmy health, its endurance because with my crazy schedule, i need to be able to last long enough to finish everything. To do this, I play badminton to improve my physical endurance and after an hour break i go straight to my physics class, which, on the whole, also improves my mental endurance. Endurance comes in handy whenever my schedule is so tight there is literally no time to sit down and breathe. Like what happened last Wednesday when i only had 2 hours of sleep and basically no time to nap before my psychology exam. And yet, i didn't feel any sort of tiredness... The only side effect of my having too little sleep is that i get dizzy easily. And that's it.
I told you about my health because I am considering it as one of the causes of my forgetfulness. And I was just thinking that if I, alongside this program, try to improve other aspects of my health and not just endurance, it might maximize the possibility of making the improvements of this program more permanent.
Since it is already the third week of the program and health improvements take more time to kick in, i will not have any reinforcements for sleeping earlier and eating the right food. But, i will note the changes i did to my health as tasks that i might or might not forget. For example, I might forget to eat lunch even when i scheduled to eat at a certain time. And when i remembered this lunch task, i might also remember this additional information that good health improves memory. By remembering this, i would choose something healthier than the usual pizza that i get for lunch. It's still about remembering tasks so its not like I'm leading away from my b-mod program. It might just help me remember things better.
The incoming week is not that much of a stress so i guess results of my b-mod will be better this time.
So far, the results of my behavior modification program are fluctuating. There are numerous interferences that could be the cause of my forgetting and also another factor is the stress and my physical condition.
I had a couple of comments in my blog that reminds me to watch my health, and honestly when i was formulating this program, i didn't think about my health at all. In fact, I don't think about my health at all! If there is one thing i worry aboutmy health, its endurance because with my crazy schedule, i need to be able to last long enough to finish everything. To do this, I play badminton to improve my physical endurance and after an hour break i go straight to my physics class, which, on the whole, also improves my mental endurance. Endurance comes in handy whenever my schedule is so tight there is literally no time to sit down and breathe. Like what happened last Wednesday when i only had 2 hours of sleep and basically no time to nap before my psychology exam. And yet, i didn't feel any sort of tiredness... The only side effect of my having too little sleep is that i get dizzy easily. And that's it.
I told you about my health because I am considering it as one of the causes of my forgetfulness. And I was just thinking that if I, alongside this program, try to improve other aspects of my health and not just endurance, it might maximize the possibility of making the improvements of this program more permanent.
Since it is already the third week of the program and health improvements take more time to kick in, i will not have any reinforcements for sleeping earlier and eating the right food. But, i will note the changes i did to my health as tasks that i might or might not forget. For example, I might forget to eat lunch even when i scheduled to eat at a certain time. And when i remembered this lunch task, i might also remember this additional information that good health improves memory. By remembering this, i would choose something healthier than the usual pizza that i get for lunch. It's still about remembering tasks so its not like I'm leading away from my b-mod program. It might just help me remember things better.
The incoming week is not that much of a stress so i guess results of my b-mod will be better this time.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
second week - The Lesson I Learned
This week gave a good start with a disaster in the middle but ended with a good finish. My week is super packed with an important psychology exam and an essay i have to perfect. So i did the essay all weekend and planned to study for psychology Monday and Tuesday night BUT, Monday backfired on me.
Previously i said that in my observation of my routine in the whole week, Mondays are the worst days to shedule something very important and tiring because i spend 12 hours in school starting from 6:30am-6pm.. But i had no choice but to include studying on Monday for my psychology exam because there was just too much study load for me to study all that in one night. But, i was too tired on Monday that i slept really early. I didnt entirely not study. I was able to open my book and notebook for a quick review and overview of what might be on the test. I was also able to strategize how im going to study such a big load of stuff to balance in my head. But, this studying that i did last Monday wasn't done at the scheduled time therefore it is not considered as correct. Therefore, the negative reinforcement hit me on the face on Tuesday.
Last Tuesday, as my negative reinforcement, i have done an all nighter for studying psychology. I slept only two hours. i studied from 7pm until 1:30 slept 2 hours and woke up again and studied until 8am.
I had to cancel the first hour of my show and my meeting with my counselor on Wednesday. And Thursday is for doing this psychology blog and tomorrow Friday is to do some extra credit for psychology.
This domino effect failure of my second week is a lesson -- a very hard lesson -- i must learn. Even if i failed to remember the times when i have to do my tasks plus, that worst mistake of it all, neglected a remembered task just because im so tired, I can only conclude one thing: The lesson I learned this week, although it was tough and risky, can only prove that my program is effective and perfect for me.
I'm feeling positive for next week.
Previously i said that in my observation of my routine in the whole week, Mondays are the worst days to shedule something very important and tiring because i spend 12 hours in school starting from 6:30am-6pm.. But i had no choice but to include studying on Monday for my psychology exam because there was just too much study load for me to study all that in one night. But, i was too tired on Monday that i slept really early. I didnt entirely not study. I was able to open my book and notebook for a quick review and overview of what might be on the test. I was also able to strategize how im going to study such a big load of stuff to balance in my head. But, this studying that i did last Monday wasn't done at the scheduled time therefore it is not considered as correct. Therefore, the negative reinforcement hit me on the face on Tuesday.
Last Tuesday, as my negative reinforcement, i have done an all nighter for studying psychology. I slept only two hours. i studied from 7pm until 1:30 slept 2 hours and woke up again and studied until 8am.
I had to cancel the first hour of my show and my meeting with my counselor on Wednesday. And Thursday is for doing this psychology blog and tomorrow Friday is to do some extra credit for psychology.
This domino effect failure of my second week is a lesson -- a very hard lesson -- i must learn. Even if i failed to remember the times when i have to do my tasks plus, that worst mistake of it all, neglected a remembered task just because im so tired, I can only conclude one thing: The lesson I learned this week, although it was tough and risky, can only prove that my program is effective and perfect for me.
I'm feeling positive for next week.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
a slight change
i've decided to change my positive reinforcement. Iadmit that I'm not really sure if this change will be effective or not but it does apply as to how i understand a positive reinforcement should be.
From the way I understand it, I believe that a positive reinforcement must be something I should be looking forward to when i do a specific action that would reward me of this positive reinforcement.
Currently, my positive reinforcement is that whenever I remember a task and do it at the correct scheduled time, I'll reward myself an hour of playing my psp. Playing my psp is an effective reward and also a retrieval cue because my group of friends, including me, play psp during our breaks. So if i deprive myself of playing psp while i envy them playing their psp, i would work harder to remember my schedule. Plus, seeing a psp could be a retrieval cue that could pressure me into trying to remember if i forgot a task to do or not.
But, sometimes i am thinking that it was 'okay' if i didn't remember a task for that day because i have won psp playing hours from the past days that i remembered a scheduled task. So, to make it a more effective positive reinforcement, instead of 1 hour, i'll reward myself only 30 minutes of psp time. i chose only 30 minutes so that i will work harder to remember tasks for more psp time.
This change will be effective tomorrow Monday, May 12th.
From the way I understand it, I believe that a positive reinforcement must be something I should be looking forward to when i do a specific action that would reward me of this positive reinforcement.
Currently, my positive reinforcement is that whenever I remember a task and do it at the correct scheduled time, I'll reward myself an hour of playing my psp. Playing my psp is an effective reward and also a retrieval cue because my group of friends, including me, play psp during our breaks. So if i deprive myself of playing psp while i envy them playing their psp, i would work harder to remember my schedule. Plus, seeing a psp could be a retrieval cue that could pressure me into trying to remember if i forgot a task to do or not.
But, sometimes i am thinking that it was 'okay' if i didn't remember a task for that day because i have won psp playing hours from the past days that i remembered a scheduled task. So, to make it a more effective positive reinforcement, instead of 1 hour, i'll reward myself only 30 minutes of psp time. i chose only 30 minutes so that i will work harder to remember tasks for more psp time.
This change will be effective tomorrow Monday, May 12th.
Friday, May 9, 2008
two oopsies
So, last time, I said that this past Thursday and Friday are going to be crazy.
Well, I did what i have to do on Thursday but it wasn't at the right time. I remembered to do the task 2 hours later, at 9:30 because i watched a movie with my aunt. So, instead of doing my stuff for my radio show at 7:30pm, i did it after the movie, which is at 9:30pm.
Friday is worse. Today, i'm supposed to wake up at 6am to call my friend from the Philippines. But since it was cancelled yesterday, i decided to wake up at 7am. BUT, since i slept late last night because i started my radio show stuff 2 hours behind schedule, i decided to wake up at 8am... and at 8am, i hit the one hour worth snooze button because i was thinking that it was Friday anyway and i have no class so there's no need to wake up early. So i finally got myself out of bed, STILL 2 HOURS BEHIND SCHEDULE and that was all because i watched a movie yesterday.
so... yeah. my negative reinforcement of stress and tiredness did happen... and i screwed up my whole homework day because of it. Today, i'm supposed to do some psychology extra credit at 7am then start my history essay at 10am. I started my essay at 10am. I wasn't expecting to finish my history essay today because its my homework for the weekend. But all the planning, reading and outline, i finished today. I finished all these at the exact schedule, 1pm. and ate my lunch and got ready to do some grocery and chores. Lastly, I had a little task i had to do at night, i just finished doing it actually, i didn't allot a time for it because its my mother's day gift for my mom so i had to do it in secret... =) and then the last task, is doing this psych blog.
Not bad for the first week of my program. I only missed one task and forgot to do another task at the correct time. Let's see if I have more improvements next week.
Well, I did what i have to do on Thursday but it wasn't at the right time. I remembered to do the task 2 hours later, at 9:30 because i watched a movie with my aunt. So, instead of doing my stuff for my radio show at 7:30pm, i did it after the movie, which is at 9:30pm.
Friday is worse. Today, i'm supposed to wake up at 6am to call my friend from the Philippines. But since it was cancelled yesterday, i decided to wake up at 7am. BUT, since i slept late last night because i started my radio show stuff 2 hours behind schedule, i decided to wake up at 8am... and at 8am, i hit the one hour worth snooze button because i was thinking that it was Friday anyway and i have no class so there's no need to wake up early. So i finally got myself out of bed, STILL 2 HOURS BEHIND SCHEDULE and that was all because i watched a movie yesterday.
so... yeah. my negative reinforcement of stress and tiredness did happen... and i screwed up my whole homework day because of it. Today, i'm supposed to do some psychology extra credit at 7am then start my history essay at 10am. I started my essay at 10am. I wasn't expecting to finish my history essay today because its my homework for the weekend. But all the planning, reading and outline, i finished today. I finished all these at the exact schedule, 1pm. and ate my lunch and got ready to do some grocery and chores. Lastly, I had a little task i had to do at night, i just finished doing it actually, i didn't allot a time for it because its my mother's day gift for my mom so i had to do it in secret... =) and then the last task, is doing this psych blog.
Not bad for the first week of my program. I only missed one task and forgot to do another task at the correct time. Let's see if I have more improvements next week.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Miracle Monday
Monday, May 5th - the first day of my program gave an unlikely result -- a miracle! Previously, i observed that Mondays are the most undesirable day to schedule a lot of stuff because of my weekend hang over (again, i'm not talking about artificial GABA) and because i wake up too early and i'm too tired after 12 hours of school to do more tasks at home.
But the first challenge happened to me on the first day on my program and the risks are too costly for me to take just because i forgot to do these tasks. But, there's no other day to do these tasks but Monday. And guess what? I did all of them. I repeat, ALL OF THEM. At the exact right time and ended at the exact scheduled time. Perfect. It was just plain perfect. 3 tasks for Monday, i remembered it all perfectly. 3 hours of psp time for me! whoo!
Tasks I did on Monday
10:15 - Library - take physics homework answer key and photocopy
10:30 - Student Services - set an appointment for my counselor
7:30pm - study physics
I guess this is a good start for me on my program! Everything's working great!
Tuesday and Wednesday worked fine too! but i haven't got much to do on these days. Tomorrow, Thursday, and Friday will be crazy days for me. Wish me luck!!
But the first challenge happened to me on the first day on my program and the risks are too costly for me to take just because i forgot to do these tasks. But, there's no other day to do these tasks but Monday. And guess what? I did all of them. I repeat, ALL OF THEM. At the exact right time and ended at the exact scheduled time. Perfect. It was just plain perfect. 3 tasks for Monday, i remembered it all perfectly. 3 hours of psp time for me! whoo!
Tasks I did on Monday
10:15 - Library - take physics homework answer key and photocopy
10:30 - Student Services - set an appointment for my counselor
7:30pm - study physics
I guess this is a good start for me on my program! Everything's working great!
Tuesday and Wednesday worked fine too! but i haven't got much to do on these days. Tomorrow, Thursday, and Friday will be crazy days for me. Wish me luck!!
Sunday, May 4, 2008
May 5 - what i've got so far
i know i talked about my program but i haven't started it yet. I'm going to start it tomorrow, May 6th, Monday. The past week, i only observed how my day goes if i don't have anything to do. Because, luckily, i didn't have anything much to do last week! Hahaha! it was a miracle... but i got a lot out of my daily routine to help me write a better schedule that will give me retrieval cues so i can remember better.
I observed that on Mondays is when i usually forget most of my duties because...
1. it's a Monday - weekend hang over (im not talking about artificial GABA)
2. I wake up really early (6am) because i had to be at school at 6:30.
3. My last class for the day ends at 6pm.
so basically im at school for 12 hours on Mondays and is also under stress most of the day because I do an on air live radio show at 8am to 10am, then i have a super boring class at 11:30 that i really struggle to stay up on, and after that class i only have 20 mins. rest because my next class will be at 3pm and that will be 3 hours in front of a really big Mac Monitor editing sound waves. By the time i go home, all i want to do is to just sit back and relax. Usually i sleep for an hour between 7:30-8:30pm and then i'll start my homework if i'm able to wake up! So there's a lot of causes during Mondays why i forget the things i must do.
I have the same schedules on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I wake up at around 7am, and my first class is at 9:45am then an hour break from 11-12pm then my last class ends at 3pm but im able to go home at around 4:30pm.
there's not much interference for Tuesdays and Thursdays which makes those days perfect for hardcore scheduling.
Wednesdays are also flexible too but i have to wake up an extra early that day, 5:30. I arrive at school at 6:45 and then I do my on air live radio show at 8am-10am then i go to Psych at 11:30 then i go home right after.
Friday is usually my homework day. This is the day i do the tasks that i forgot to do during the week or tasks that i do in advance in case i forget them. but i only have the morning until around 3pm, after that i go to my relatives.
Saturdays and Sundays are more focused on house chores such as doing the laundry, vacuuming the house, cleaning the bird cage and doing the groceries. I only add in between the tasks that i should finish. So I guess, Saturdays and Sundays are bad days to hold a tight schedule.
Now that i have a good idea of when i should be scheduling a lot of tasks and when i should schedule easy tasks, i think it would be easier for me to remember because the tasks doesnt go against my daily routine.
Good luck to me on my first week of my program!
I observed that on Mondays is when i usually forget most of my duties because...
1. it's a Monday - weekend hang over (im not talking about artificial GABA)
2. I wake up really early (6am) because i had to be at school at 6:30.
3. My last class for the day ends at 6pm.
so basically im at school for 12 hours on Mondays and is also under stress most of the day because I do an on air live radio show at 8am to 10am, then i have a super boring class at 11:30 that i really struggle to stay up on, and after that class i only have 20 mins. rest because my next class will be at 3pm and that will be 3 hours in front of a really big Mac Monitor editing sound waves. By the time i go home, all i want to do is to just sit back and relax. Usually i sleep for an hour between 7:30-8:30pm and then i'll start my homework if i'm able to wake up! So there's a lot of causes during Mondays why i forget the things i must do.
I have the same schedules on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I wake up at around 7am, and my first class is at 9:45am then an hour break from 11-12pm then my last class ends at 3pm but im able to go home at around 4:30pm.
there's not much interference for Tuesdays and Thursdays which makes those days perfect for hardcore scheduling.
Wednesdays are also flexible too but i have to wake up an extra early that day, 5:30. I arrive at school at 6:45 and then I do my on air live radio show at 8am-10am then i go to Psych at 11:30 then i go home right after.
Friday is usually my homework day. This is the day i do the tasks that i forgot to do during the week or tasks that i do in advance in case i forget them. but i only have the morning until around 3pm, after that i go to my relatives.
Saturdays and Sundays are more focused on house chores such as doing the laundry, vacuuming the house, cleaning the bird cage and doing the groceries. I only add in between the tasks that i should finish. So I guess, Saturdays and Sundays are bad days to hold a tight schedule.
Now that i have a good idea of when i should be scheduling a lot of tasks and when i should schedule easy tasks, i think it would be easier for me to remember because the tasks doesnt go against my daily routine.
Good luck to me on my first week of my program!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)