Drowning in Reviews? Here's How to Find Your Sweet Spot
One of our community members, Andrew, asked about handling the growing pile of flashcards, especially during the intermediate course.
Let me break down a strategy that actually works:
First, we need to think about this mathematically (don't worry, it's simple math):
Your Daily Active Study Time Budget = Review Time + Learning Time + Card Creation Time
The number of reviews you face tomorrow depends on how many new cards you add today. It's like a bank account where today's deposits become tomorrow's bills.
So if you're feeling overwhelmed, here's your action plan:
1. Hit the Pause Button
- Temporarily stop adding new cards
- Focus purely on reviews until they become manageable
- Let's say you have 1 hour - aim to get reviews down to 40 minutes
2. Find Your Balance Point
- Once reviews are under control, use remaining time wisely
- Example: In a 60-minute session
• 40 mins: Reviews
• 10 mins: Learning new content
• 10 mins: Creating/unsuspending cards
3. Monitor & Adjust
- Watch how many reviews you get the next day
- If reviews start creeping up again, dial back new cards
- If reviews decrease, you can gradually add more new content
It's like lifting weights - you wouldn't try to deadlift 400 pounds on day one. Start light, build gradually, and find the weight you can consistently handle.