Since the start of the year, I’ve been doing some freelance work. So it’s just 4 months since I started doing it yet I learned a lot of things.

1. Set clear deadlines. There are some clients that gives you the freedom to have a flexible deadline. I’ve noticed that it’s not effective. I work faster better when I know there’s a clear deadline. You can set your deadline yourself to finish it.
2. Put an end in mind. Stick it to your mind; what will you get after finishing the job? A good way to stay motivated.
3. Instant Messaging software can kill your time. I’m aware of this but I only started signing out my IM accounts before doing a job.
4. The Internet is a good resource; but can kill productivity. Yep yep, whenever I work I always get tempted to surf my way to the Internet. Unplugging the cord is not effective ’cause it’s also helpful especially when things are turning not right.
5. Take breaks. Read the (10+2)*5 method. It’s a good way to spend an hour. Ten minutes work; two minutes break — do it five times to complete an hour. It’s very effective.
6. Flexible workhour is what I am good at. Yes, I can easily adjust to new sleeping and waking up habits. I usually start my work at 11pm; finish it out by 5am to sleep. In some rush cases, I do it from 11pm to 12nn — then sleep (zzzzzz).

I do have a lot more things to share but I still have to work on a project. See ‘ya after I finish the job.

After three long days of Internet deprivation, I’m back blogging. The main culprit is the three-day achievement test, too bad. Now, you understand why I’m writing this post.

Students just like multiple-choice type of questions, right? If you don’t know the answer, you still have a 1/n where n is the number of choices chance of getting the right answer.

Here are some tips (from a standardized test achiever, I guess) in answering those multiple-choice standardized exams (also applicable on non-standardized exams):

• Try to start at the back. Some standardized exams have the easiest questions at the back. Just trust me!
• Read the questions as fast as you can. Try to answer the easiest questions with obvious answers. In subjects dealing with numbers such as Math and Physics, try to answer the questions that doesn’t require solving.
• Don’t stay too long in a problem, unless those hard questions are the ones left. Try to skip them as much as you can, you can answer them later anyway.
• Use elimination method. This is a method in which you try every answer. If it turns out to be wrong, then eliminate it. It increases the chances of getting the right answer on unsure questions.
• When you don’t know the answer to a solving problem, try to multiply, divide or add all the given data. Sometimes you find the product, quotient, sum or difference on the choices.
• Find the most realistic answer. For example, more than a thousand Kelvin is an unlikely answer in Chemistry problems. Standardized exams uses realistic problems, not idealistic.
• If you don’t know the answer, trust your instinct as much as possible.
• Lastly, rely on your luck. I recommend you doing this on the last minutes of the exam when you’re hopeless to answer the remaining questions. Don’t leave a single question unanswered, unless if there’s a deduction for a wrong answer.

I hope it helps! Sorry, I’m no good writer!

Ideas just pop out of our minds, right? They often come unexpected! Admit it: it’s always harder to generate ideas when your trying to generate one. [idea bulb stock belongs to its owner, ]

As an insomniac, my mind journeys through the vast galaxy of “Cyberspace” before I actually get to sleep. It’s like ideas here, ideas there and ideas everywhere. Those ideas just run through my mind, until I get to sleep. Then when I wake up in the morning (actually, the right term is noon), everything is gone. Continue reading “Keep a Handy Notebook” »