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My Study Plan Template: Rotating Topics + Focused Slots for Maximum Coverage, Retention, and Engagement

A structured yet flexible study plan built around a rotating daily topic order and a slot-based decision loop. Each slot starts with a concrete default task, adapts on the fly using a collectively exhaustive set of activity types (Identify gaps / Strengthen skill / Deep dive), and ends with detailed notes to refine future sessions.

Note: Review isn’t scheduled as its own phase — instead, it often occurs naturally when identifying gaps, strengthening skills, or diving deep into a topic. This keeps it relevant and purpose-driven rather than routine for routine’s sake.

Structure​

This plan has two layers:

  1. A rotating order of topics so each subject gets fair coverage.
  2. A slot template that forces a concrete decision on how to spend the time, using a collectively exhaustive set of activity types.

Layer 1: Daily Rotation​

Each day has three slots that cycle through different topics so no topic is always at the same time of day:

SlotTopic CodeExample Default Task
1OSSkim pages 15–30 of OS prep guide and note any syscalls you don’t recognize.
2PSDo a random medium LeetCode problem (unknown category).
3SDRecreate a past design diagram from memory, then check for missing pieces.

Rotation example:

  • Day 1: OS → PS → SD
  • Day 2: PS → SD → OS
  • Day 3: SD → OS → PS
  • Repeat.

Layer 2: Inside Any Slot​

Every slot runs on the same decision loop:

  1. Default Task Start with the slot’s default, which is a specific action, not just a topic label.

  2. Still Best Use Now?

    • Yes → stick with it.

    • No → swap to another task in this slot’s topic, chosen from one of three activity types:

      1. Identify gaps — surface weaknesses. Examples: Random problem, open-ended design prompt, skim unfamiliar OS chapters .
      2. Strengthen skill — targeted practice. Examples: Re-attempt problems you’ve failed before, timed drills on a known weak category.
      3. Deep dive — explore one gap in detail. Examples: Step through fork() in kernel source, analyze DFS stack behavior on large inputs.

  3. Execute Commit for the full slot. Avoid switching mid-way unless blocked by missing prerequisites.

  4. Log Outcome / Notes — This is the refinement engine. Logging isn’t busywork — it’s where learning compounds:

    • New gaps found → feed them into future “Identify gaps” sessions.
    • References for the future → page numbers, code snippets, diagrams.
    • Traps you fall into → patterns like forgetting to check input size constraints or missing edge cases in system design.
    • Process tweaks → anything that improved your focus or workflow in this slot.

Why This Works​

  • Collectively Exhaustive task set — every productive learning activity fits into Identify → Strengthen → Deep Dive.
  • Rotation for fairness — no topic gets stuck in the same energy slot every day.
  • Concrete actions over vague goals — “figure out why DFS fails” beats “study trees” every time.
  • Logging closes the loop — today’s notes become tomorrow’s roadmap.