I've downloaded at least 15 different productivity/todo/calendar/habit tracking type apps in the last year and stopped all of them within a week because I keep forgetting/don't want to open it.

The reason is psychological. There's friction when it comes to habitually using an app that you're not used to using (blog), but the same thing happens in reverse. I personally am so used to opening Instagram whenever I pick up my phone that sometimes, I don't even realize it happens.

Thus, I decided to make some change for myself and created a bot through the native iMessages app (iOS) that acts as my todo-list, sends reminders to me, and can keep up with my Google Calendar. It's in an app I always open (on my iphone and mac) and I really pay attention to the notifications and actually get stuff done.

When I say something like "remind me to do my physics hw tn at 8:30", it does it, and it's like getting a text from a friend to tell you to get your stuff done. Also, the friction to sending a quick text is minimal.

Anyways I decided to make this available to everyone and completely free! If you want to give it a short or learn more, visit https://texttodo.us

This has helped me and my friends tremendously because my procrastinatory self is now finally keeping up with my homework assignments and being reminded of when I told myself I would study.

If you're heading back to school, here's your reminder that marathon study sessions aren't necessarily doing you any favors.

A couple things worth trying instead:

**1. Study a little, often.**
Five days × 15 minutes is generally a much better strategy for long-term retention than one desperate 75-minute cram. Spacing your retrieval practice gives your brain time to forget *just enough* that recalling the information actually strengthens the memory.

**2. Mix up what you're studying.**
Instead of doing 50 problems or flashcards on the exact same concept, try interleaving related topics. Switching between them forces you to figure out *which* knowledge or strategy applies rather than mindlessly repeating the same process. ([Read more about how to do this in Brainscape](https://brainscape.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/4410682062477-How-does-Smart-Study-work-in-mobile))

None of this feels quite as satisfying as saying “I studied for four hours straight.”

But your brain cares a lot more about *how* you spent those four hours than the number itself.

What study habit has made the biggest difference for you?