Author: TSM Admin

Leveraging the Changing Leaves Towards Productivity in your EPPP Study Schedule

Posted on in EPPP Study Tips by TSM Admin

Labor Day weekend, a time that marks the end of summer for many, can mean a shift in your daily routine and EPPP study schedule, though fall doesn’t officially begin until September 22nd.

As autumn approaches perhaps new commitments arise that demand a change in your current schedule or perhaps you need a routine altogether after a summer of rest. Whether you are in need of a routine or your current one needs adjusting, autumn approaching can be as good a reason as any to evaluate what’s working, and what’s not, in your daily EPPP study schedule. The changing leaves can mark a fresh start to gear you up for EPPP success. Continue reading →

Think Outside the Box with Your EPPP Study

Posted on in Brain and memory, EPPP Study Tips by TSM Admin

Imagine you have a piece of paper in front of you.

Now imagine folding that piece of paper in half. Now fold that imaginary paper in half again. Repeat this process 42 times.

This is a thought experiment because in real life you would run out of paper before you could fold a single sheet 42 times. But assuming that you could fold a piece of paper 42 times, guess how high would it be?

Would it be lower or higher than your hand? Would it be as high as your head? Would it be higher or lower than the ceiling of the room you’re in?

Continue reading →

Emotional Intelligence and Your EPPP Score

Posted on in Psychology News by TSM Admin

Emotional intelligence (EQ) could predict a successful EPPP score.

EQ is the measure of a person’s capability to identify and manage his or her emotions as well as the emotions of others. Dr. Travis Bradberry, co-author of Emotional Intelligence 2.0, spoke at the 2016 Global Leadership Summit explaining why EQ is important when it comes to success.

According to Bradberry, EQ be broken down into four parts: Continue reading →

The CBT Triangle and You

Posted on in Brain and memory by TSM Admin

There is ancient precedent for believing that disordered feelings often arise because of prior problems in thinking and behavior. For example, the desert fathers in the tradition of Christian monasticism often taught that the way to address problems in one’s emotional life is to attend to what is happening in the realm of thinking and behavior. Even before them, the 1st century Stoic philosopher Epictetus taught that our interpretations of events have a greater impact on us than the events themselves, so that the way to avoid unnecessary suffering is to engage in correct thinking.

The basic idea is that there was a web of multiple reciprocities between how we think, what we feel and the way we behave.

On one level, this is common sense: it doesn’t take a PhD in psychology to know that because we are whole people, a change in one aspect of the human ecosystem will have an impact in other areas. However, psychology hasn’t always traded in common sense, and for much of the discipline’s history too little attention was given to the notion of changing maladaptive feelings through addressing thoughts and behavior. Continue reading →

Gratitude as a Way of Seeing

Posted on in Brain and memory by TSM Admin

Complaining is one of those things we do without even thinking about it. Some researchers have suggested that during an average conversation we complain to each other about once a minute.

From a health perspective, this should be concerning. When we complain, stress hormones are released that harm healthy neural connections in the brain. This also occurs when we aren’t actually complaining ourselves but are exposed to someone else grumbling.

In his book Three Simple Steps: A Map to Success in Business and Life, Trevor G Blake shared some Stanford studies showing that being exposed to 30 minutes of complaining each day physically damages the brain by peeling back neurons from the hippocampus (the part of the brain used for problem solving and higher cognitive functions). Over time this can actually lead to the hippocampus shrinking, resulting in decline in memory and adaptability.

Continue reading →

Relieving the Stress of EPPP Study

Posted on in EPPP Study Tips, Mindfulness by TSM Admin

 

Whether caused by a full schedule or life circumstances, stress can be an unwanted guest at your EPPP study session. There are quick ways to relieve stress that won’t get in the way of the time you have carefully set aside to study.

Psychology Today published 7 Stress Relief Strategies You Can Do in 10 Minutes or Less  Here are some highlights of the quick tips author Paula Davis-Laack J.D., M.A.P.P suggests to cope with stress. Continue reading →

Gratitude and Your EPPP Prep (Peace of Mind Part 2)

Posted on in EPPP Study Tips by TSM Admin

Anxiety and stress are a normal part of any EPPP preparation regime. When preparing to pass the Examination for the Professional Practical of Psychology (EPPP) you not only have to contend with normal test-taking blues, but also the stress that comes with trying to stick to an intensive study regime. Stress can become especially acute when you need to protect your study time from friends and family who may not always understand and who may even feel like you are neglecting them.

I know because I’m a struggling PhD student.

As if that isn’t bad enough, when preparing for the EPPP you may also begin to feel like your value and self-worth are hanging in the balance. For example, when you fail a practice test, you may find yourself thinking “I’ll never make a good psychologist – I’m a worthless person.”

Thankfully you’re not alone with these types of challenges. At TSM we have your back. We not only provide you tools that guarantee EPPP success, but we also provide resources to help you navigate these types of emotional and mental stressors. For example, last September we provided 10 steps for succeeding at the EPPP without ruining your life in the process. In our more recent post on peace of mind we shared 6 steps for keeping a positive mindset no matter what is happening around you…including the stress of EPPP test preparation.

Continue reading →

How Boredom Stands in the Way of EPPP Test Prep Success

Posted on in Brain and memory by TSM Admin

Constant lack of motivation or distraction could be a sign that boredom-induced stress has taken over your ability to thrive in EPPP test prep. These signs also point to burnout but, when paired with disengagement or frequent avoidance of your EPPP study materials, it could also mean that it’s time to rediscover the joy of learning.

A classic example of how boredom can override the ability to focus is with elementary aged children. Have you noticed the excitement of a child preparing for his or her first year of school? Learning is associated with discovery and newness. Any hesitation to go to that first year of school is often rooted the fear of being separated from parents. At some point in some children, a shift can be made from excitement towards learning to being unmotivated to complete school work.

Perhaps you have similarly felt disengaged with your EPPP test prep materials or constantly find yourself procrastinating what you have set out to do on your study schedule. Continue reading →

Transform Your Life With Baby Steps

Posted on in Brain and memory, EPPP Study Tips by TSM Admin

In our last post ‘The Kaisen Way to EPPP Success,’ we talked about ways to overcome the human brain’s resistance to change. Although human beings have a side that loves change, innovation and newness, we also have a side that resists change and always seems to revert back to the status quo. This dynamic constantly creates challenges when it comes to implementing changes in our lives.

While it’s easy to commit to big goals that will introduce important changes in your life, it’s much harder to take the steps necessary towards reaching those goals. It’s not difficult to begin taking steps – the difficulty comes with follow-through over the long-haul. If you’ve ever tried to lose weight, get out of debt, keep a regular exercise routine, learn a new skill, then chances are you know what I mean. No matter how committed you might be to changing something in your life, you always tend to revert back to what you’re used to.

Continue reading →