As students, we’re often pushed to excel in school, and success is often measured by our ability to memorize rather than truly understand. The pressure to achieve perfection, or at least close to it, is ingrained in us from a young age. Yet, upon reflection, I realized that for me this approach doesn’t lead to sustainable success.

Transitioning into adulthood, I stumbled upon the Pareto Principle, which states that a small percentage of efforts often yield the majority of results. This principle resonated with me as I observed various types of situations where a disproportionate amount of output came from a fraction of input. For instance, in a workplace, 80% of productivity might stem from 20% of tasks. Understanding this principle prompted me to reevaluate my values and beliefs shaped by my school experiences.

In school, I admired those who effortlessly achieved perfect scores, often at the expense of sacrificing valuable time and energy for marginal gains. However, I came to recognize that this mentality wasn’t sustainable for me. While I managed to glide by with minimal effort, I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was a better way to approach learning and productivity.

It wasn’t until college that the flaws in my study habits became glaringly apparent. Relying on last-minute cramming sessions, I barely scraped by, not understanding the importance of consistent effort over time. This approach seeped into other aspects of my life, from job interviews to household chores, leaving me feeling constantly stressed and overwhelmed.

Somewhere in my mid-20s, I reached a tipping point. I realized that if I wanted to achieve long-term success and well-being, I needed to unlearn my ingrained habits and adopt a more sustainable approach. Thus began my journey of breaking tasks into manageable chunks and working steadily towards my goals.

Starting small was crucial. Rather than aiming for lofty goals and feeling discouraged when I fell short, I learned to focus on incremental progress. For instance, I applied this approach to something as mundane as doing laundry, breaking down the process into manageable steps and building the habit of consistency.

Today, I approach every challenge with a mindset of gradual progress. By breaking tasks into daily and weekly goals, I ensure that I stay on track without succumbing to the temptation of procrastination. While I still aim high, I now understand the importance of sustainable effort and patience in achieving lasting success.

In essence, unlearning the cram approach has been transformative. It’s taught me the value of consistency, patience, and resilience in pursuing my goals. By embracing small steps and incremental progress, I’ve discovered a more fulfilling path towards success in both academics and life.