Simple solution to a complicated study problem

In the post I wrote recently about transitioning to a more self-motivated form of studying, I presented a fairly complicated problem. When you leave the comfy confines of rigorous acaemic life, it becomes difficult to keep focused on scholarly achievement. Okay, that sounds simple. Really, it isn’t. It’s complicated by a whole host of life factors, personal habits and actual needs. I started to work my way through the problem, and ended up a bit more confused than I started out, as friend and blogger G. Michael Reynolds probably could have predicted. :)

Ultimately, the issue is that I’m pretty good at figuring out what’s wrong but not so fantastic at finding solutions. Sometimes. When I do find solutions, I’m sometimes a little dense when it comes to implementing those solutions. But, this blog is - in part - about solutions! What a conundrum. So this is a short post to indicate that I’m trying a new solution for my vexing problem.

For the next eight weeks (until school at NCNM starts back up and things change) I’m going to study for an hour every morning, right after my Qigong practice. It’s only an hour, what harm can it do? This doesn’t mean I’ll never study more than that - but it does mean I won’t feel bad for not doing so. Why only an hour? Well, I’ve got several other obligatory hours in my day and it’s also an amount of time I can fit into even the busiest days in my schedule. An hour also seems to be the minimum amount of time I can study and actually get something out of it.

For this simple study method, I’m going to be dividing my work into fourteen subsections (okay, so maybe it gets a little complicated - but actually just so it gets easy again):

Acupuncture Points
- Section 1 : locations and cautions
- Section 2 : categories and relationships
- Section 3 : basic (tcm) and advanced (ccm) functions
- Section 4 : important combinations
Chinese herbs
- Section 5 : single herbs - basic set, wei (flavor) and qi (temperature) both according to TCM and according to the Shennong Ben Cao Jing
- Section 6 : single herbs - advanced set, which basically includes all the herbs we need for the board exam but haven’t learned yet
- Section 7 : formulas - formula names (english and chinese), herbs included, dosages
- Section 8 : formulas - associated pulses (tcm and arnaud)
- Section 9 : formulas - basic and advanced functions
Chinese medical symbolism and pathology
- Section 10 : symbolism - twelve organ networks and all associated symbolism
- Section 11 : TCM/Zangfu basic physiology and pathology
- Section 12 : The Liuqi (Six conformations)
- Section 13 : Five element physiology/pathology and the 19 Lines of pathology (Neijing)
- Section 14 : Cancer (research project)

Is there other stuff to learn? Sure, but this is the stuff that’s the most important to me right now. I’ve taken all of my notes (electronic and paper) and flashcards and put them in stacks. Obviously the electronic and paper-based information resides in different places. Every day after Qigong, I’ll sit down, pick up a stack and go for it. That means I’ll get through the entire cycle of section 4 times. I’ll report back how it goes. If you have a method for studying such a diverse amount of material in a systematic and effective way, I’d love to hear about it in the comments. Anyone? Anyone?

Eric

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Tags: chinese-medicine, erics-habits, scholar, Student Life, study, studying

July 29, 2008 · Filed Under Student Life

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7 simple ways to be a great student AND not kill yourself during Finals week

This has been my most successful term yet in my education in Classical Chinese Medicine. I’d like to pass on some of the reasons why while also offering the both of us some advice on how to make next term even better. What do I mean by better and best? Well, this relates to my goal during every term in Chinese medicine school - the same goal I had when I was a student of Biology and later of Philosophy. This goal is to achieve fantastic grades on my exams (or other final projects) while managing to actually learn the material in a way that I can access it later, while also staying healthy and happy. It’s a tall order for anyone - particularly in medical school or another graduate program! But I believe it is an attainable goal.

Which actually leads me to my first simple way to avoid sudden death during finals week …

1. Realize you can’t do it all. It’s hard, I know. This is probably the one thing I have done this term that has saved me despite some setbacks outside of my control. I want to be the best student in the universe. I want to do this while being a great father, partner, small business owner AND save the world while I’m at it. I want to get top grades in every class and leave every teacher impressed with my intelligence, stamina and general awesomeness.

But, I can’t. Neither can you. Pick your battles. Realize that non-academic setbacks (like your basement flooding) are probably some kind of sign that you need to re-evaluate your priorities. If you really internalize this advice, I can practically guarantee you will cut your stress in half or more.

2. Figure out within the first two weeks of the semester what classes matter to you the most. If you’re already suffering in Finals week, this advice may come a little late, however it is applicable for the semester coming up! Some people at school are really into Chinese herbs and formulas, some people find themselves more drawn to acupuncture. Still others thrive when studying theory as is present in Chinese pathology or even some Western medicine classes. Regardless of your field of study, there are bound to be some classes that are absolutely central to your interests, goals or program. Create constant reminders to yourself that these are the classes that get your attention when attention is scarce. It can be hard to let others take lesser priority, but if you let everything be #1, there really won’t be a #1. Your grades and your interest in what you’re doing will suffer.

3. Once you’ve figured that out, work on your most important classes at least a little every day. Work on the rest at least a little every week. The most surefire way to get something embedded deep in your memory is to review it consistently. If you have flashcards for a given class, review them daily on the bus on the way to school. Read through your assigned chapters before going to bed. Whatever works for you. But do it. I know it’s hard to remember, and even harder to actually DO. But I promise you it makes all the difference. This IS helpful in finals week as well. Regardless of what final I’ve got coming up, regardless of its perceived importance, I always work a little on other material every day.

4. If you’re going to procrastinate, resolve to do so using something school-related. I know this sounds strange. Let me explain. I often get the urge to procrastinate. I’ve found that most often, I’m really just burned out with the current thing I’m working on. So, I have a cache of books and other materials that I work on when I get that familiar yearning to play Risk or Puzzle Pirates! While I’m not saying you should never veer from school-related work, when you’re preparing for finals or working on an important project - procrastination can be deadly. If you’re just sick of sitting and reading/writing, try something more artistic or physical that is somehow related to your material. If you’re in Biology, go for a walk and identify some plants. If you’re in Chinese medicine, do some Qigong or contemplate the workings of the five phases in the natural world.

5. Designate at least an hour every day for guilt-free non-academic funtime. Yes, even if your most important final in the world is tomorrow. Take an hour out of every day to do non-academic things you enjoy. Take your dog for a long walk. Play darts with your best friend. Play football in the street. Read a novel. This will help recharge you and avoid TOTAL BURNOUT - a student’s worst enemy.

6. Please don’t forget to SLEEP. But, but, but - you just HAVE to get that project in tomorrow at 8am!!! I know that all-nighters are a common feature of college and graduate school existence. But they shouldn’t be. My opinion on this has changed over time. At this point, I cannot think of anything more damaging to your long-term academic health than forgoing sleep for the sake of a grade. From a Chinese medicine perspective, skipping sleep is only going to damage your Qi and Blood, harass the heck out of your Shen and deplete your entire body. Adding tons of caffeine on top of this is only going to make matters worse. You’re likely to ultimately impede your ability to retain information, make yourself vulnerable to illness and make yourself a highly unpleasant person to be around. Don’t do it. Get *at least* 5-6 hours when you’re studying hard.

7. Do 10 power breaths and quickly walk around the block for every 60-75 minutes of study time. What’s a power breath? The ratio of breathing in, holding your breath and breathing out is 1:4:2. So, if you breathe in for a count of 7, hold your breath for a count of 28, and exhale over a count of 14. Take a couple of regular breaths between each power breath. Then take a brisk walk around the block, the yard, the dorm, whatever. This will re-oxygenate your blood, get your Qi flowing and you might be surprised how much focused and alert you are when you return to your study place. I’ve noticed a steady increase in my ability to comprehend difficult information and retain huge numbers of facts just by doing this consistently.

This is what I have to offer for now, folks. Please leave any tips you’ve garnered during your long years of studying in the comments. If you’re a student and would like to hear more tips about how to survive the wild world of academic life, be sure to subscribe to this blog via RSS feed or via email.

Eric

Tags: Acupuncture, chinese-herb, chinese-herbs, chinese-medicine, education, erics-habits, habits, scholar, students, study, studying

December 4, 2007 · Filed Under Personal Development, Student Life

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Five simple methods I use to take advantage of my time in Chinese medicine school

I’ve talked about the habits I’ve formed to be an honors student, I’ve revealed some of the low-tech items I use to stay organized, I’ve discussed various study methods I use for acupuncture and chinese herbs - I continue to use all of this information in my Chinese medicine school experience. But I have to admit that I have been strained nearly to the breaking point with this new year. The information is more complex, my involvement with non-academic school related efforts is greater and I simply haven’t kept up the way I need to. I think even if you aren’t involved in much outside of school, the simple amount of information tossed at us in any medical training program is simply too much to be efficiently absorbed. However, we should make every effort to do so! Instead of suffering from a nervous breakdown, I decided to look at my problems critically and figure out some rules to help guide me from overwhelm to overachiever.

Upon figuring out these five principles, my feeling of desperation immediately dissipated and in just a few short hours I’ve managed to get on top of a lot of what was spiraling out of control. Not bad, eh? Let me share these with you and let me know if you have any additions, revisions or experiences by adding to the comments!

1. Keep up

This is common sense. You need to stay current with your classes. This has been said so many places and in so many ways it has become almost cliche. But it cannot be overemphasized. If you’re feeling overwhelmed right now you need to sit down and list out everything you need to do, class by class, to get to a place where you feel “current.” For me, this includes having the materials read for my next weeks’ classes, having study materials prepared for upcoming exams and being in an appropriate place in the writing process for any projects I have coming up. I repeat - if you are feeling overwhelmed, go through this process. Step-by-step through your syllabi, call professors or fellow students if you have to - and make concrete lists of what you need to have done to be “caught up.” Don’t wait to do this - do it now.

When I have my list put together, I don’t think much about where to begin. I know there are a lot of methods out there for helping you to be most efficient in going down a list of tasks. However, I find it’s best to just start at the top of the list and move down it. You need to get current NOW. Take this weekend to get current with all of your projects and resolve to stay caught up from now on. You can use a system like “Getting Things Done” or simply use to-do lists, do whatever you have to do to avoid slipping behind again.

2. Keep it together

Keep all of the materials you need for a given class or project in one place. For instance, I have a midterm in acupuncture theory coming up. For this class, I have electronic notes as well as paper notes, several books and a few websites that all help me to understand the material. Because the majority of this material is non-electronic, I’ve decided to print off what is electronic and keep all that material together on my desk. I may have to use one of the books for something else, so I’ve made a list of the materials that I consider essential for my test preparation. That way, when I’m ready to study I can consult the list - make sure everything is there - and then study in a focused manner without having to stop and search for something.

To implement this you really need to think through each project, test or course. For instance, if you’re studying Chinese herbs - what do you need to most effectively learn this material? You may have a Materia Medica, a formulas text, a set of class notes, some herb samples, some audio notes and a set of pictures of different Chinese herbs. Think carefully - is this all you would need to study the subject? Maybe pen and paper? Access to the Internet? A pot of boiling water? Make a list of each item you consider essential for study, and keep all such notes together in one place where they can be easily accessed. Do your best to keep the relevant materials together in one place and use your notes to augment when things get scattered.

3. Keep perspective

There are a lot of perspective problems I run into in my Chinese medicine study. I lose my perspective on the importance of a single class, a single test or a particular book or professor. I lose my perspective on my time left in school or the given term. I lose my perspective on the balance of work, school, play and cultivation that I require to stay healthy. To combat this, I’ve created some more lists as well as implemented a Weekly Review as advocated by David Allen in his Getting Things Done. I’ll explain both briefly.

I have created several lists to keep me grounded. One list shows all of my responsibilities for a given term identified by my role in each. For instance, I am a Student in Chinese herbs IV (Formulas) and I am a Father to my daughter. Another list shows all of the assignments and tests required in each class. Another list indicates my personal priorities when it comes to a balanced life. A couple of lists aren’t really lists - I keep a copy of the academic calendar close at hand and I keep a pristine personal calendar listing dates/deadlines for all academic, work and personal aspects of my life. A couple of times a week, I take an hour and carefully examine all of these items. It seems too simple to work, but just reminding yourself of your responsibilities, priorities and the “lay of the land” as far as your term/year is concerned can have a powerful effect on your ability to keep perspective.

I also instituted a Weekly Review as advocated by David Allen, though I’ve modified it for my own purposes. In the Weekly Review, I check out my “hard landscape” which is composed of things I must do at a particular time. I make notes of potential problems so I can be prepared for any particularly hectic days. I also review my lists of assignments and check my progress on each, normally within the context of my GTD system. I also do a little bit of “visionary” work - just thinking about my place in life, where I’m going and what might need to shift to move me farther along my chosen path. Sometimes that requires I eliminate projects, move deadlines, or add new habits. I don’t think I could do this without GTD - but any system that works for you… works for you. :)

4. Keep focused

Every morning I remind myself why I’m in Chinese medicine school. I read the oath that we will be reading at our graduation out loud and I meditate a little bit on why I am where I am. This little exercise helps me keep focused on what is my goal for these four years I am learning Chinese medicine. Although keeping balance is important, making new friends is vital and being involved in extra curricular activities is a vital part of my life ultimately I am here to learn Chinese medicine in the deepest way I can. I know that my education will continue for my entire life, but this is a special time in the process and I need to make the best of it.

It is virtually impossible to truly keep balanced and still glean everything necessary from the educational environment. In my opinion, entering into a program like this one requires that you abandon your hopes to spend a significant amount of time socializing, doing outside reading or engaging in other non-academic activities. People who need those things to stay whole should look into slowing their program down significantly - may students in my year chose to do this with the program, turning a 4 year program into 5 years or more.

For my part, I’d like to get through this phase of my training so I can get on to more practical experience and individual mentorship with willing professors. I also hope to teach so that I might learn more deeply. This requires intense focus and a willingness to understand that this, too, shall pass.

5. Keep a sense of humor

Human beings are funny. Tiny tiny tiny, but with such big aspirations - we sometimes let our best intentions get the better of us. I am careful not to let my dreams become monsters, devouring my Qi, my joy and my family. I may not be able to keep all the plates spinning that I intend, sometimes they will fall to the ground with a clatter. I may not be able to learn everything I feel like I should learn RIGHT NOW. Sometimes, I just need to take the afternoon off and watch a movie, go for a hike, or laugh with friends and family. Most of all, I need to be able and willing to laugh heartily at myself at every moment because the second I become too serious, I become rigid and we all know how easy it is for rigid things to break.

So far, so good.

Eric

Tags: academics, Acupuncture, chinese-herb, chinese-herbs, education, erics-habits, Learning, Personal Development, scholar, students, study, studying, Technology

October 4, 2007 · Filed Under Learning, Student Life

3 Comments

What is Qigong?

It occurred to me today that although I have made frequent mention of Qigong in articles, I’ve never really discussed the nature of this important pillar of Chinese medicine practice. I guess it’s one of those situations where you don’t know what others don’t know and so fail to explain things! Qigong has become such a normal part of my life that I forget that many people don’t know about it!

I am in no position to provide an even incomplete history of Qigong, nor am I knowledgeable enough to provide a complete description! The best I can do is offer a brief explanation and my observations - I hope it is useful. I’d be happy to hear about your experiences with Qigong in the comments.

Basic Explanation through Chinese character etymology

Many people start their explanations of Qigong with a comparison to Taiji (also known as Tai Chi). While this comparison is certainly useful, I’d rather start with a little etymology. Qi Gong : 氣功 is made up of two important characters. The first, Qi 氣 is ubiquitous in Chinese medicine texts, but has a wide variety of interpretations that have sometimes been the subject of controversy. Most dictionaries list Qi as having the following set of meanings: air, vapor, energy, vital energy and spirit. The character is composed of two portions, the uppermost 气 a picture of steam rising or simply air moving. The bottom portion of the character, 米 is a picture of rice. So many interpretations suggest that the first understanding of Qi developed from this idea of vapor rising from something cooking. What does this mean? For me it evokes the multiple meanings of Qi. Qi is nourishment, but it also has ethereal qualities - it is vaporous, but not simply air, but air with something IN IT. Palpable air. It is moving and warm. It is in an “in between” state between fully material and fully etheric.

Gong, the other half of the term Qi Gong, is a very simple character but is likewise full of meaning. It is composed of two portions, the leftmost being 工 which is often simply translated as work or labor. Some sources suggest that it is a picture of a tool used to flatten earth. The right portion of the character 力 is usually translated as strength and is a picture of an arm doing something that uses muscle. So Gong as a total character refers to work that involves strength, or work that creates strength. Put together, Qi Gong simply means work using and/or creating strength that involves the Qi. You could think of this as work with Qi, so to manipulate and strengthen the Qi but there are certainly other interpretations possible.

How Qigong is practiced

Just as with other martial arts, Qigong has many many schools. I don’t know the exact number, but one of our professors suggested that there are many thousands of schools of Qigong in China. Some of these may be practiced only by one family, passed along from generation to generation. Others are published in books and DVDs! Originally, as with most martial arts, Qigong knowledge was passed from Master to Student and often involved an element of secrecy. Qigong has been and can be used for a variety of purposes from increasing longevity to dispelling particular elements of disease to simply exercising the body for general health purposes. As with many martial arts, the packaging and distribution for mass consumption almost always removes many elements that make it most effective.

For this reason, if you are interested in Qigong, I suggest you search carefully and find a Master who you can study with in person. Find out from the teacher or other students the nature of the Master’s background and their connection to the lineage they are teaching. Qigong practitioners can vary widely in personality and temperament, but you should feel comfortable with the instructor and the form they are teaching.

There are forms of Qigong that are quite strongly moving and will give you a workout. On the other hand, there are sitting forms of Qigong that focus on internal movement and meditation. The lineage that I am privileged to learn has the full range of sitting, standing and moving forms. Qigong seems to almost always involve the intentional opening and moving of Qi in the acupuncture channels. This may involve stretching, striking of the channels with the hand, shaking or even simply internal focus on the movement of energy through the channels. Qigong is also often a very balanced activity. If you do quite strong motions they will often be followed by something quieter. If you do a lot of activity with the upper body it will often be followed by a lower body focus. You get the idea…

My experience with Qigong has been wonderful. I have done quite a bit of Yoga and Taiji in my life, but didn’t do Qigong until I came to NCNM. While I still enjoy both Yoga and Taiji, nothing has been as wholly positive as Qigong. I find it really helps to keep my energy flowing, boosts my productivity and serves as a convenient vehicle for me to do my daily meditation. I am quite fortunate to have access to the very special form I have access to - but I know that others have had great success with other more widely available forms. I hope this brief introduction will encourage you to seek out a Qigong practitioner in your area. If you have any questions, suggestions or personal stories please do contribute to the conversation in the comments - no registration is necessary.

Edit: If you cannot find a Qigong class near you that you are interested in - you can consider learning from DVD. It’s not ideal, clearly, but I do know of one great product: Master Wu’s 5 Elements Qigong DVD. This incredible man is a true master and used to teach at NCNM. Check it out.

Eric