Learning How To Learn
How The Brain Works
Modes of thinking. Use the right one depending on the task you need to acomplish
Diffuse Mode is good for being creative and coming up with new ideas and concepts, solving new problems
Focused Mode is good for doing work you are familiar with
Memory
Long term memory is like a messy warehouse. Chunking and practice makes it less messy.
Working memory
Learning Blockers
Procrastination
Illusion of learning
Learning Hacks
Energy and Brain Hacks
Physical
Mental
Working out
Sleeping makes your brain great again
Habits are a great way to save mental energy. Get more things done. Automatically
Cue
Routine
Reward
Belief
Task and time management
Have a clear plan with doable goals #
Plan your day the night before
Eat your frogs first - do the most unpleasant (and usually most important task) first thing in the morning. At least one pomodoro
Focus on process rather than product. Focusing on the product too much might give your brain signals of physical pain and be the reason for procrastination #
Use the Pomodoro technique. Set a timer for 25 mins. Work for 25 mins and then relax for 5. Repeat if necessary. #
Has just 4-5 slots. Chunking is a good way to have more information at hand.
Do not overwhelm yourself with tasks. Be realistic about your capabilities
Planning quitting time is as important as planning everything else
Memory training
Memory palace technique
Switching to often between tasks and thinking modes. Multitasking
Taking a nap (10-20 mins)
Anki cards
Chunking. Chunks are pieces of information bound together through use and meaning. It is a network of neurons that compactly synthesizes key ideas or actions. Chunks can make one understand concepts and other chunks in different fields - this is called transfer.
A chunk is a way of compressing information more compactly. The more experienced you get, the more info you can compress in one chunk.
Basically, learning is about building a library of chunks. # #
Interleaving
Simple Recall #
Spaced repetition
Use willpower to change reaction to a cue #
Have a plan
Learn yourself and build a reward system that suits you
Problem solving
Believe in the system you use, surround yourself with like-minded friends
Surround yourself with creative and inspiring people
Zooming in and zooming out of a problem
Stay focused, fully understand what your are doing, practice.
Deeper ingrain the material by recalling it in different environments
Interleaving is mixing learning with different kinds of approaches, concepts, solving different kinds of problems. This helps learn more deeply and understand which technique (chunk) should be used at each time. Interleaving promotes creativity and flexibility.
Einstellung. Our mindset might prevent us from seeing new solutions or grasping new knowledge
Switch between focused and diffused modes
Sleep over a problem. You might wake up with an answer Your brain works even at sleep.
Deliberately practice material that is harder for you to grasp
Be aware of the Law of Serendipity. Each time you approach the topic it is getting easier for you to understand it.
Take a break
A great deal of things we want to learn are completely abstract like maths. Use metaphor and visualisation to better understand new material.
Test yourself from time to time #
Broaden your passions #
Plan your week before it starts