Motivate yourself to practice in subtle ways: Always have your
machine/equipment set up and out visible rather than in its case so you're encouraged to practice when you might only have 1/2 hour.

While exercising or out walking, washing your car or making meals, just "listen" (no machine) to speed tapes or recorded dictation that is 20 wpm higher than you're currently practicing. The first part of being able to report faster is for your ears and your brain to recognize words and phrases faster. This tip usually works best at the 180 wpm speed because that is about speed of regular conversation we hear daily; hence, the
reason we often plateau there.

Using the Post-It notes, each week pick a few words or phrases that are giving you trouble, stick them on your equipment, your car visor, your bathroom mirror or your computer screen and remind yourself the correct brief every time you see it.

Always read back a few sentences or a paragraph for 3 or 4 minutes during every practice session. This will allow you to note where your errors are but, even more motivating, where your accuracy is!

Most important, do not quit on yourself. It's tough to get through school but it's so worth it! Make practicing a priority. Use good posture each session. Put the phone/iPad away so there's no distraction. Take a few, long deep breaths and relax and smile. Remind yourself this is what you "want" to learn and go do it.

My motto is "If you think you can or you think you can't, you're right."
 

Submitted by Laura Lynn Murphy