It’s easy to get lost in the shuffle in the last days of the year. Everything is happening all at once. We’re trying to stuff our stockings while already resolving to do better next year.

In the midst of all that, we squeeze the lemon life gives us (or in this season -clementines) for all their worth. We try to mix in not just what we’re supposed to do, but also more of what we crave. Whether it’s more date nights or alone time, or perhaps long overdue socializing with friends. Maybe you’re an avid reader like me and your TBR list is growing and you can’t seem to finish a book unless it’s listening to it on your commute to work.

Whatever your guilty pleasure may be, I’m sure there are things you would rather be doing than last minute holiday shopping for your third cousin twice removed. Was he the one that was allergic to candy canes? Or just asking on repeat if they were gluten free. Or was it the spiked egg nog that didn’t go over so well last year?

We all have that one thing that takes the back seat. For myself, it’s my love of reading and writing. Instead, I should be focusing on my clinician educator program, aka CEP, three letters that have been weighing heavily on my to-do least ALL YEAR.

What does it entail, you ask?

Well, let me tell you. It’s a program for physicians like myself who also love to teach. And to do it properly, well, one must study the art of teaching. And learning. So it’s time to hit the books once more, and this time, to combine my love of writing with my compulsion to learn, I’m taking you guys along for the ride.

First stop, we’ll have a look at various “learning theories”: specific frameworks that psychologists have come up with over the years to try to categorize and demystify how our brains operate.

I want to hear from all of you. Have you found any particular studying tips and tricks.? Are you more of a note taker or a flashcard fanatic? Is it through group work that you learn best or do you just like to hit the books with a highlighter held too tight.

Let me know!

Sincerely with a side of holiday cheer,

MJ