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Expecting too much of yourself is a sure road to discouragement. But setting modest goals, and rejoicing in meeting them, cheers the heart. It just requires starting early.
Hold out for a reward
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If you have trouble focussing, then promise yourself a reward if you can keep your head down just a few more minutes: I might make myself a coffee (only a couple in a day, though), or have a piece of (dark!!) chocolate.
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Likewise, Written? Kitten! is an effective bit of silliness for when you find it hard to write. Type 100 words in the box, and Presto! You are rewarded with a picture of a kitten. Of course, if you are like me, you will change that to a beagle or some other noble animal.
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(And thanks to Katherine Firth of Melbourne, who writes, “I know a serious Biblical scholar who finished a difficult book in a really busy semester by ‘just writing one more puppy before lunch’.”)
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Increase your good hours by getting enough sleep. Besides, good sleep is vital to consolidating knowledge and improving analytical thinking.
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