Dealing with Disappointment

Yesterday was a bit of a Rollercoaster.

Have you ever woken up to an email, call or message with some really good news in relation to a task or situation that you have been trying to resolve? Whoo hoo you think!

Later on you realise after a lot of hard work to finish that task you are going to need a particular document from someone else.  You've found this out through a long and difficult phone call that has left you feeling physically and mentally drained.  The trouble is by the time you have the information you need it is often too late in the day to get the document you need.  Compound that with it being a Friday comes the realisation is that you will have to wait until Monday.

What a massive disappointment.  You have gone through all those emotions, from happiness, relief and elation to tired and deflated. Just as you thought you had broken through and solved a problem that has been going on for some time it seems another obstacle has been placed in your way.  It would have been great to have started the weekend differently, but in truth compared to the beginning of the week you may not realise it, but you have moved forward massively and the end as they say is getting nearer.

Disappointment comes in many shapes and forms and yes it can feel like a slap in the face, but all you can do is to keep pushing forward.  Count your successes. Don't count things that have not gone as you expected as failures. There is still plenty you can learn from them.  Keep positive and remember every little change is a step forward in the right direction.

Social Learning Techniques

We all learn differently and you may find you use different learning techniques. Social learners use the the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain that handle much of our social activities. The limbic system also influences both the social and solitary styles. The limbic system has a lot to do with emotions, moods and aggression.

There are many different types of learners. Each one has their own dominant learning preference. Some people learn best through listening. Others have to work hands-on in order to figure something out. In addition, learning styles can be divided broadly into social learners and those who prefer a more solitary approach. Let’s take a look at the characteristics of social learners and discover some study strategies that can help you to become more successful if this is your preferred method.

Characteristics of Social Learners

As a social learner, you are probably a good communicator with others. Whether it’s spoken or in writing, people tend to receive your message well and may even come to you for advice. You thrive on inter-personal interactions and feel energized by them. You’re also a good listener who is able to reflect upon the words, feelings and motivations of others in order to best respond to them. Therefore, it makes sense that group learning works well for you. The opportunity to bounce ideas off of your classmates or the instructor is welcomed, and such collaboration helps you to form an opinion or understanding of the information at hand. In pursuits outside the classroom, you may find yourself on a sports team or involved with clubs in which you can pursue a particular interest with other like-minded people. You may be a social butterfly who seeks out parties or gatherings where you can meet and engage with others. Even if large crowds aren’t your thing, you may find yourself in the corner of the room chatting with one person or a small group. Some of your favorite games are multi-player ones, like board games or cards.

Common Careers

Your preference for social interaction may lead you to certain types of careers. Social people often work as teachers or counselors. Being able to teach, lead and help groups can be very satisfying for many with a strong interpersonal leaning. Coaching or training, whether it be in the fields of sports, industry or consulting, are others areas at which social learners themselves often excel. Sharing information with others is something that may provide you a sense of fulfillment. Social people are often good at sales because they are able to capitalize on their strength in interpersonal communication to inform buyers and to gain their trust. Those in human resources are usually strong in social skills. These professionals have to relate well to others and provide leadership, as well as maintain diplomacy handling negotiations or disputes among groups. One final example of a career in which many social learners excel is politics. Politicians must enjoy engaging with people and be sensitive to meeting the needs of their constituents.

Learning and Study Strategies

Because you thrive on interpersonal interaction, it makes sense that you would learn and study well in a group. If you are not able to meet with classmates in person due to geographical constraints, consider forming virtual study groups through Skype. When studying in groups, one particularly useful technique may be to teach each other. Each person can take a chapter or portion of the material and create a lesson to share with the group. This approach allows you each to become an expert on part of the material and allows interaction between members similar to that of a traditional learning environment. You will also want to be sure to take advantage of any collaborative activities your instructor sets up for the class online. A discussion forum can be just as satisfying and helpful as bouncing ideas off of people in the brick and mortar classroom.

Involve your friends or family in your educational pursuits. Talk to them about what you’re learning or ask them to quiz you before exams. This provides you the social interaction you crave and will make processing the information easier. A way to simulate an interpersonal interaction may be to look online for lectures or interviews regarding the topic you’re studying. Even when studying alone, there are some steps you can take to utilize your preferred strengths. Take time to plan your studying out and set a goal for the kind of information you want to take from the material You can do this in the form of an outline, checklist or graph if it helps. This technique actively involves you in the learning process. It also makes the information more personal and relatable.

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Logical Learning Techniques

We all learn differently and you will find you have a way that you prefer to learn.  You may even find more than one learning technique suits you.  Logical learners use the parietal lobes of their brain, especially the left side to drive logical thinking.

You may know that you learn best in a typical type of environment and respond well to certain teaching strategies. However, you may not realize that there are specific types of preferred learning styles and that knowing your preference can help you to determine the kinds of study skills that will be most effective for you. If you suspect that you’re a logical learner, it’s important that you understand the kinds of actions you should take in your time outside of the classroom in order to maximize your understanding and retention of the course material. These study tips for logical learners will help you to get the most out of your review sessions. A proactive approach to studying will increase your success and lessen your frustration.

About the Logical Learning Style

Sometimes the logical preference of learning is also referred to as the mathematical learning style. Learners with such a preference depend on their skills of logic to guide the intake of information. If you’re a logical learner, you probably excel at seeing connections and relationships between concepts. You may also be excellent at making various kinds of calculations. Using deductive reasoning to solve problems and find solutions is an enjoyable challenge for you. Games of strategy like chess or battle simulation games may be some of your favorite. Though this style may also be considered mathematical, that doesn’t mean that you are necessarily good at math, though many logical learners are due to a strong understanding of sequence, connections and patterns. You are also probably very investigative. You like to investigate further to find the reason or inner workings behind a concept.

Preferred Teaching Methods

While you have no control over the ways in which your professor chooses to structure lessons, you should be aware of the kinds of instruction that may be of most benefit to you. With this knowledge, you can choose to incorporate instances of such teaching into your study sessions and use these types of strategies to your advantage when teaching yourself new material. Logical learners thrive on organization and will appreciate a lesson that is well structured, going from one point logically into the next.

Lessons that utilize problem solving and allow students to develop conclusions based on the information provided will be fun and easy for you. This type of progression capitalizes on your strong deductive reasoning abilities. Graphs, charts and spredsheets are helpful, as well, because these tools visually demonstrate a pattern or calculation that makes information easy for you to follow. Information presented in a timeline will be easier for you to process than paragraphs in a textbook, and you should utilize any opportunity to analyze information such as statistical review or scientific data analysis.

Study Tips for Logical Learners

Based on the ways in which you like to take in and process information, there are some very valuable strategies you can put to use in your study sessions for better comprehension and retention. When it comes to truly understanding the material presented to you in your online lessons, you will have your best results by breaking large amounts of material down into segments and finding ways in which these segments relate. Look for patterns, associations and relationships between concepts in order to maximize understanding. You can even make the information personal to your own life, if possible. If you are able to see a pattern and compare it to personal experience in some way, you will begin to make sense of the information. Having a clear understanding of a concept also makes it more likely to remain in your memory.

If you don’t have visual representations available to you in your textbook to help you organize the information, you can always make your own. In fact, creating your own graphs, charts, outlines and maps is a tangible way to personalize the information, cementing it further into your memory. Lists are another good tool for learners who are logical because you can categorize information in this way. Hands-on activities are also appeal to your logical side. For example, building models can help you to make connections and see patterns in how something works. These don’t have to be actual models. They can be representations such as using poker chips for math problems.

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How to Store Kombucha

If you have been wild and exciting and have made your own Kombucha you'll need to know how best to store it.  There is nothing worse then putting time and energy into making something only for it to go off because it was not stored correctly.

Storing Kombucha

Once your homemade kombucha is complete (or you’ve just returned from the grocery store), you’ll want to store it in a clear glass bottle or jar with a tightly fit lid, preferably not metal, if you have the option. Plastic bottles may swell or harden and colour from dyed jars can get into the drink.

When bottling kombucha, leave an inch or less of air at the top of the bottle. This should allow for an appropriate amount of carbonation.

It’s important never to shake a bottle of kombucha and risk exploding its container. Try holding your entire hand over the lid as you open it to prevent it from popping off unexpectedly.

Be sure to refrigerate your completed kombucha to extend its shelf life. If you’ve added flavoring, consider that when storing the kombucha. For example, fresh fruits will go bad in the kombucha long before the drink.

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Physical Learning Techniques

We all learn in different ways and you may find you learn in more than one way.  Physical learners use the cerebellum and the motor cortex (at the back of the frontal lobe) part of their brain, which handles much of our physical movement.

There are various types of learning preferences. Kinesthetic learning, also known as tactile learning, involves a preference for learning by doing or engaging in physical activities. Taking in information through sitting still in lectures is not ideal for a kinesthetic learner. However, there are ways that students with this learning style can capitalize no the trait in order to improve their intake and retention of information. If you feel this learning style applies to you, read on to learn more and for some helpful study tips for the kinesthetic learner.

Characteristics and Strengths

Kinesthetic learners are most engaged while moving. Therefore, it makes sense to try to incorporate some kind of activity when studying or learning something new. One tell-tale sign of these learners is that they often grip their pencil or pen tightly and push down hard when writing. They also may find themselves jingling keys in their pocket, twirling a ring or tapping a pen while studying. Snacking, chewing gum or smoking is common for kinesthetic learners. If these characteristics sound familiar, you’re likely a kinesthetic learner. 

Kinesthetic learners have a number of strengths, and you can benefit by incorporating them into your study strategies. They tend to have great hand-eye coordination and quick reaction, so taking notes while reading may benefit you. Tactile learners have remarkable motor memory. This means they can usually pick something up quickly after only trying it once. They also excel at experiments. One characteristic that is probably most advantageous to the lifestyle of a busy college student is the high energy levels of this type of learner.

Now let’s look at some practical study tips to help meet your preferred learning style needs.

Find an Ideal Study Space

Having a regular place to study is beneficial for most students because it trains your brain to engage in the work at hand. However, for active learners it is especially important to find a type of study space that accommodates your particular need for movement or engagement. Experiment with different spaces and styles to see what works for you. For example, you may benefit from a standing desk so that you can pace a bit. Maybe you like to spread out and would feel more comfortable lying on a bed. Some tactile learners lounging in a cozy chair, while others may prefer a straight back chair so they can tap their foot. Find what feels best for you.

Take Notes

Taking notes while reading online or studying is one of the best ways to keep yourself engaged and take in the material as an active learner. Your notes should be personal to you. So if you like lots of color, use different pens or highlighters in your note taking. Draw diagrams, stick figures or symbols in your notes to help retain concepts. Kinesthetic learners tend to understand information best when they personalize it and use representative tools as visual cues.

Teach Others

That’s right. Teaching the information you just studied is a fantastic method to help you remember it. If you can find a study group of classmates to meet with over Skype, that would be great. You could each take part of the material and teach it to each other. If this won’t work for you, grab a willing friend or family member to teach. Teaching ensures that you are familiar with the material and allows you to actively engage in using it.

Find a Way to be Active

Kinesthetic learners are physical and tactile. It truly does help to incorporate some of the characteristics mentioned earlier into your study routine. If it helps you to physically be on the go, grab that textbook and walk around. Reading out loud may even be beneficial in helping the material to stick with you. Tap your pencil or your foot. Fidget, play with your keys, bounce a tennis ball or wrap a rubber band around your wrist. Chewing gum is surprisingly effective for many active learners. Any kind of repetitive movement is usually good. Do what feels right and seems to work best for you and your lifestyle.

Take Regular Breaks

Physical learners don’t like sitting still for long periods of time, so don’t force yourself to do so. Every hour, or as often as needed, get up from your study spot and do something else. Take a walk. Grab a snack. Talk to a friend. This will help you clear your head and feel renewed when returning to your studying.

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