Two weeks in and I genuinely didn't expect to enjoy this, not easy at all but it's been way more manageable than I thought. what made the difference for me:
1. Know what you're signing up for: 8 hours, that's more than most people sleep. There will be missed hangouts, skipped plans, and nights in. Accept that before you start or you'll bail two days in.
2. Protect your deep work blocks: Forget ur phone, every hour I give myself a quick check, that's it. You'd be surprised how much more you retain when your brain isn't constantly switching modes.
3. Make every hour count: 8 hours of passive reading is basically nothing so I summarize every lecture and turn the material into quizzes using coursology and it cut the time it takes to lock stuff in. This is pure active recall
4. Build a routine around it: Same start time every day with a short break every 50 minutes or so. The consistency makes it feel less like a grind and more like a job you actually show up to.
5. Track your progress: Even just a simple note at the end of the day, what you covered, how focused you felt. It keeps you honest and makes the progress feel real.
The exact hours don't matter as much as the consistency. Find what works, cut what doesn't. Any tips I'm missing?