We explore five essential habits that can transform your academic performance by taking small, consistent actions throughout your studies rather than cramming at the end. Doing these little things well from the beginning will make your academic life significantly easier when exam time arrives.

• Stay organised as you go along – identify and remove your specific bottlenecks to staying organised
• Learn what excellence looks like in your subject from day one – seek examples and guidance early
• Address confusion immediately rather than postponing understanding – don't let knowledge gaps compound
• Create a "tangent list" for interesting but non-essential topics – balance core learning with exploration
• Practice memory journaling daily – spend five minutes retrieving key points to consolidate learning
• Keep your approach simple – start with one or two manageable habits rather than trying to do everything

*

Hosted by William Wadsworth, memory psychologist, independent researcher and study skills coach. I help ambitious students to study smarter, not harder, so they can ace their exams with less work and less stress.

BOOK 1:1 COACHING to supercharge your exam success: https://examstudyexpert.com/workwithme/

Get a copy of Outsmart Your Exams, my award-winning exam technique book, at https://geni.us/exams

Questions? Comments? Requests? Or just want to say "thanks" - send me a text message (I read them all!).

First broadcast as Episode 154, we're revisiting this epic interview with giant of the "science of effective study" world, the great Professor John Dunlosky.

In today's must-listen episode, we discover:

• Why learning should be challenging
• A taxonomy for thinking about 10 popular study strategies - which work best, and for what?
• How to master "successive re-learning"
• Plus an expert's take on whether to use digital flashcards, dual coding, watching online video and more!

Featured today:

• John's book "Study Like A Champ": https://geni.us/dunlosky
• John's original paper: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1529100612453266
• Episode 45 with Learning Scientists cofounder Jude Weinstein Jones https://examstudyexpert.com/yana-weinstein-jones/

Hosted by William Wadsworth, memory psychologist, independent researcher and study skills specialist. I help ambitious students to study smarter, not harder, so they can ace their exams with less work and less stress.

Get more from your host and the world of Exam Study Expert at:

• Six Pillars of Exam Success Cheat Sheet: https://examstudyexpert.com/Pillars
• [FOR SCHOOLS] retrieval practice lesson resource pack https://examstudyexpert.com/retrieval-lesson
• [FOR SCHOOLS] Revision Census research https://examstudyexpert.com/Revision-Census
• [FOR SCHOOLS] student workshops / staff CPD keynotes https://examstudyexpert.com/workshops

*

* As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases on suggested books.

Podcast edited by Kerri Edinburgh.

Questions? Comments? Requests? Or just want to say "thanks" - send me a text message (I read them all!).

Charlie Colenutt shares his journey from disillusioned lawyer to author, exploring what makes work fulfilling based on interviews with 100 people across diverse professions.

You'll learn:
•How the most satisfied workers can see clear, immediate results from their efforts
• That career satisfaction shows little correlation with income beyond meeting basic needs
• Many fulfilled workers had experienced career crises before finding satisfaction
• Career paths are rarely planned and usually involve significant randomness or luck
• Young workers often face disappointment when workplace rhetoric about meaning doesn't match reality
• Being honest with yourself about your motivations is crucial when making career decisions

If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to leave us a review – it means the world to us as creators!

*

Hosted by William Wadsworth, memory psychologist, independent researcher and study skills coach. I help ambitious students to study smarter, not harder, so they can ace their exams with less work and less stress.

BOOK 1:1 COACHING to supercharge your exam success: https://examstudyexpert.com/workwithme/

Get a copy of Outsmart Your Exams, my award-winning exam technique book, at https://geni.us/exams*

*

*As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases on suggested books.

Questions? Comments? Requests? Or just want to say "thanks" - send me a text message (I read them all!).

A simple daily practice to have happier, more productive days: gratitude journalling for students.

*

Hosted by William Wadsworth, memory psychologist, independent researcher and study skills coach. I help ambitious students to study smarter, not harder, so they can ace their exams with less work and less stress.

BOOK 1:1 COACHING to supercharge your exam success: https://examstudyexpert.com/workwithme/

Get a copy of Outsmart Your Exams, my award-winning exam technique book, at https://geni.us/exams*

Today's references:

Jeliseh, M.T., Valizadeh, M., Zohrabi, M. and Xodabande, I. (2025), Enhancing Language Teachers' Well-Being Through Positive Psychology Interventions: A Mixed-Methods Study Focusing on Gratitude Journaling. Psychology in the Schools. https://doi.org/10.1002/pits.70005

Tolcher, K., Cauble, M., & Downs, A. (2022). Evaluating the effects of gratitude interventions on college student well-being. Journal of American College Health, 72(5), 1321–1325. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2022.2076096

Redwine LS, Henry BL, Pung MA, Wilson K, Chinh K, Knight B, Jain S, Rutledge T, Greenberg B, Maisel A, Mills PJ. Pilot Randomized Study of a Gratitude Journaling Intervention on Heart Rate Variability and Inflammatory Biomarkers in Patients With Stage B Heart Failure. Psychosom Med. 2016 Jul-Aug;78(6):667-76. doi: 10.1097/PSY.0000000000000316. PMID: 27187845; PMCID: PMC4927423.

*

*As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases on suggested books.

Questions? Comments? Requests? Or just want to say "thanks" - send me a text message (I read them all!).

Happiness isn't just about feeling good – it's about living in alignment with your values and purpose while managing inevitable stress more effectively.

• Stress is the primary barrier to happiness, hijacking your brain and making good decisions difficult
• Toning your vagus nerve through humming, breath work, movement, connection and nature helps reset your nervous system
• Self-care doesn't just take time – it expands time by improving decision-making and clarity
• Colour-code tasks as red (urgent), yellow (needs attention), green (ongoing) or grey (time-wasters) to manage overwhelm
• Create space between receiving feedback and responding to avoid reactive decisions
• When confused or uncertain, ask for clarification rather than guessing
• Focus on enjoying the learning process rather than fixating solely on grades

Visit expandyourhappy.com to learn more about Dr. Heather Frederick's work and resources.

Heather's podcast is at https://happydocstudent.com/

Her 5.0-star rated book is at https://geni.us/happy-student*

*

Hosted by William Wadsworth, memory psychologist, independent researcher and study skills coach. I help ambitious students to study smarter, not harder, so they can ace their exams with less work and less stress.

BOOK 1:1 COACHING to supercharge your exam success: https://examstudyexpert.com/workwithme/

Get a copy of Outsmart Your Exams, my award-winning exam technique book, at https://geni.us/exams*

*

*As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases on suggested books.

Podcast edited by Kerri Edinburgh

Questions? Comments? Requests? Or just want to say "thanks" - send me a text message (I read them all!).

Discover the power of clear purpose and a compelling vision with today's double bill episodes featuring two guests: Ian Chamandy and Steve Gamlin.

***

First, we dive into the world of purpose with coach, entrepreneur and author Ian Chamandy:

• Unpack the value of having a really clear view of your purpose in life and as a scholar
• Learn how to distil that purpose into helpful statement
• Discover the tangible effect on confidence and decision making
• Learn how knowing your purpose can help drive your studies and career choices

Visit https://purposeu.ai/about/ to learn more about Steve Gamlin's work and resources at PurposeU.

***

Next up, meet author, coach and vision board expert, Steve Gamlin, and:

• Learn how to improve all areas of your life by visualising where you want to be one year from now
• Discover how to identify your core values
• Learn how to create an effective vision board focused on realistic goals
• Find out the importance of celebrating the small wins alongside the big achievements!

Visit https://stevegamlin.com/ to learn more about Steve Gamlin's work and resources.

Find Steve's podcast the Motivational Firewood Podcast here: https://stevegamlin.com/podcast/

***

Hosted by William Wadsworth, memory psychologist, independent researcher and study skills coach. I help ambitious students to study smarter, not harder, so they can ace their exams with less work and less stress.

BOOK 1:1 COACHING to supercharge your exam success: https://examstudyexpert.com/workwithme/

Get a copy of Outsmart Your Exams, my award-winning exam technique book, at https://geni.us/exams*

***

*As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases on suggested books.

Podcast edited by Kerri Edinburgh.

Questions? Comments? Requests? Or just want to say "thanks" - send me a text message (I read them all!).

The psychological principle of "Cognitive Load Theory" has considerable power to understand how our brain thinks. There are some fascinating and powerful applications when you're taking exams to help your brain thinking smoother and faster.

Discover five of my favourite exam-hall tips and tricks to help your brain work faster, make fewer mistakes, and score more marks when it matters most.

For more, check out Outsmart Your Exams:

>> https://geni.us/exams*

*

Hosted by William Wadsworth, memory psychologist, independent researcher and study skills coach. I help ambitious students to study smarter, not harder, so they can ace their exams with less work and less stress.

BOOK 1:1 COACHING to supercharge your exam success: https://examstudyexpert.com/workwithme/

Get a copy of Outsmart Your Exams, my award-winning exam technique book, at https://geni.us/exams*

*

*As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases on suggested books.

Questions? Comments? Requests? Or just want to say "thanks" - send me a text message (I read them all!).

Join the University of Oxford's Lecturer in Study Skills Dr Alix Hibble for a next-level masterclass on the academic writing process.

Discover how you can save considerable time AND produce significantly better end results with a better strategy for reading, researching, outlining and writing your essays and dissertations.

A must-listen for anyone with any kind of writing to do as part of their academic journey. 

Enquire about academic writing coaching with Dr Alix at:

>> https://examstudyexpert.com/academic-writing-coaching/

*

Hosted by William Wadsworth, memory psychologist, independent researcher and study skills coach. I help ambitious students to study smarter, not harder, so they can ace their exams with less work and less stress.

BOOK 1:1 COACHING to supercharge your exam success: https://examstudyexpert.com/workwithme/

Get a copy of Outsmart Your Exams, my award-winning exam technique book, at https://geni.us/exams

*

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases on suggested books.

Podcast edited by Kerri Edinburgh

Questions? Comments? Requests? Or just want to say "thanks" - send me a text message (I read them all!).

Learn how to overcome procrastination when working on large academic projects with today's guest, Dr Alison Miller.

https://www.theacademicwritersspace.com/

*

Hosted by William Wadsworth, memory psychologist, independent researcher and study skills coach. I help ambitious students to study smarter, not harder, so they can ace their exams with less work and less stress.

BOOK 1:1 COACHING to supercharge your exam success: https://examstudyexpert.com/workwithme/

Get a copy of Outsmart Your Exams, my award-winning exam technique book, at https://geni.us/exams

*

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases on suggested books.

Podcast edited by Kerri Edinburgh.

Questions? Comments? Requests? Or just want to say "thanks" - send me a text message (I read them all!).

Meditation has some fantastic benefits for scholars, including:

- Wellness benefits: managing stress, nerves, anxiety and more

- Productivity benefits: boosting focus and increasing your output each day

But it's not always easy to fit into our busy lives. Our guest today shares a wealth of ingenious tips and tricks for integrating mindful moments to give you a boost throughout your day and at key moments like waiting outside an exam or hitting a challenging question in your studies.

- Read the book "Meditation for The Real World" by Ann Swanson: https://geni.us/qDZ7IZk*

- Get started meditating with the Headspace app: headspace.pxf.io/n15mXM**

- Join the Exam Study Expert VIP supporters club on Patreon for a beautiful rejuvenating deep rest practice and much more: https://examstudyexpert.com/VIP

*

Hosted by William Wadsworth, memory psychologist, independent researcher and study skills coach. I help ambitious students to study smarter, not harder, so they can ace their exams with less work and less stress.

BOOK 1:1 COACHING to supercharge your exam success: https://examstudyexpert.com/workwithme/

*

* As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases on suggested books. **As a Headspace associate, I earn from qualifying subscriptions. All at no extra cost to you :-)

Podcast edited by Kerri Edinburgh

Questions? Comments? Requests? Or just want to say "thanks" - send me a text message (I read them all!).