How to Stop Procrastinating and Study for Your CCNA CCNP

About this video

Chuck, speaking as a working network engineer with kids and an hour-long commute each way, explains how he stops procrastinating on CCNA/CCNP study using the Pomodoro Technique instead of brute-forcing willpower after work. The method: pick exactly one study task (a lab, a video, or reading — no multitasking), work on it for 25 minutes with a timer (he uses the Be Focused app on iPhone, dedicating his phone to the timer so he does not check social media), then take a 5-minute break away from the study area. Repeat four times, then take a longer 20 to 25 minute break. A key step, credited to Thomas Frank of College Info Geek, is writing down any distracting thought or to-do the moment it pops up instead of acting on it — including urges to lab a concept mid-video or log into work equipment, both of which he says derail whole evenings; those items are saved for a dedicated later session. He argues the technique works because a certification is overwhelming as a whole, but anyone can commit to 25 minutes, and one session often tricks him into doing several. Sessions can be adjusted to 30-40 minutes maximum, breaks can be longer if needed, and rotating study locations (desk, kitchen table, outside) helps him stay energized.

Key takeaways

• Use Pomodoro: one task only, 25 focused minutes on a timer, then a 5-minute break away from the study area; after four rounds take a 20-25 minute break.
• Write distracting thoughts and to-dos down immediately instead of acting on them, a tip Chuck credits to Thomas Frank of College Info Geek.
• Do not multitask study methods, lab mid-video, or log into work equipment during a session — note the idea and reserve it for its own session.
• A single 25-minute commitment lowers the barrier on exhausted days and often leads to several sessions in a row.
• Session length is flexible up to about 30-40 minutes, and rotating study locations helps fight monotony.

Episode details: published April 1, 2017 · 16:58 long. Summary written by Self Growth Videos from the episode itself. Business results and any income figures mentioned are NetworkChuck’s own claims, shared for education — they are not typical or guaranteed.

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