Author: Graham Taylor

EPPP success starts before you open your books and begin studying. Like ancient artifacts can help us rebuild cities, figments of human thought and speech might be able to predict the future of our mental health. Is it possible, then, that preparing for the EPPP encompasses much more than actual studying?

Neuroscientist Mariano Sigman presents a Ted Talk called “Your words may predict your future mental health.” By creating an algorithm to explore the roots of human introspection, and by testing that algorithm in a study on how a group of young people’s speech predicts psychosis, Sigman theorizes that our words today can give us insight on where our minds will be later.

Our friends in the Pacific Northwest are covered in more snow than usual, likely affecting some of their EPPP productivity. Schools and employers have closed their doors for multiple snow days in a row. It’s so unusual, in fact, that elementary-aged kids are itching to be back in the classroom. I don’t know about you, but, as a kid, just one snow day would have been a dream come true, let alone multiple. As an adult, specifically one studying for the EPPP, a couple of snow days would be appealing as a chance for EPPP productivity. However, there’s something that happens when outside circumstances hinder our typical schedule. In the winter, cabin fever kicks in and EPPP productivity can diminish.

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Have you returned to your EPPP studies after the holidays only to find that you can’t remember a thing?

Are all the key terms that you carefully memorized before break now slipping from your memory?

Does it feel like you are starting over from scratch?

If your experience is anything like the many others I have worked with, you probably know exactly what I’m talking about, and the answer to all the above questions is an unequivocal yes.

I have good news for you: forgetting isn’t always a bad thing. In fact, forgetting can be a good thing if it forces you to engage in the type of spaced learning that is the basis for long-term memory retrieval.

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Eat, drink, and be merry… and study. Balancing holiday fun with EPPP prep can be a challenge worth taking on. So can balancing a diet that’s both festive and brain friendly.

Here are six foods that Food Network mentioned are good for brain function:

1. Spinach and/or leafy greens

Research claims spinach has time-turning powers, making your brain function like it did when it was five years younger.

2. Eggs

They are rich in choline for memory, protein for muscle, and lutein for eyesight. You had better grab some deviled eggs off the appetizer table before they’re all gone.

3. Salmon

Omega fats are good for brain development and function as well as a decrease in inflammation. Go ahead and get one more sliver of smoked salmon for your plate.

4. Berries

Antioxidants are to blame for improved short-term memory.

5. Oatmeal

A smart breakfast choice for your morning EPPP study session, oatmeal wakes up your brain.

6. Broccoli 

With vitamins C and E, broccoli boosts immunity. Fight that flu you can’t seem to avoid every winter season. 

It sounds like a power smoothie with berries, spinach, and oats would be a great way to start your day. But since it’s the holidays, perhaps something fresh out of the oven might taste more like home for the holidays. Check out Food Network’s breakfast casserole containing eggs and spinach, here.

Further Reading:

• How to Continue EPPP Study Over the Holidays (Part 1) 
• How to Develop an EPPP Course of Study Over the Holidays (Part 2)