for the one whose exam week plan is "study 14 hours then crash"
Goal
Pass exam week with play and sleep scheduled first so cramming doesn't spiral into burnout.
Source principle
Even in high-pressure weeks, block sleep and play first so work fills bounded gaps instead of expanding into burnout. : from The Now Habit by Neil Fiore.
The plan
- 😴SunBlock 8h sleep per night first. Non-negotiable. Real calendar slots.
- 🍽️SunBlock 3 meals + 1h play per day before anything else. Non-negotiable.
- 🧩SunSlot 3× 30-min focus blocks into the remaining gaps. Just 3, not 6.
- 📝Mon-ThuRun 3 focus blocks per day. 30 min each, single-tasked.
- 🎮DailyTake a real play break after every 2 focus blocks. Not 5 min of phone: real play.
- 🎁DailyName the play reward out loud before each focus block. 'Work earns ___.'
- 🌙WedKeep Wednesday evening work-free. No exceptions. Recovery is non-negotiable.
- 📓NightlyReview what got done tonight. Not what didn't.
- 📅NightlyPlan tomorrow's first start before bed. Just the first, not the whole day.
- ✅Exam dayWalk in rested. Cramming is a signal the Unschedule failed.
- 🔁Sun (post)Re-run the Unschedule debrief. Did work fit in the gaps? Adjust for next week.
Reward
One full guilt-free evening in the middle of exam week, scheduled in advance.