When I need to find a document on my computer, I navigate through folders rather than search for it. Even though search seems more efficient. For years, I assumed this was just habit or stubbornness. I believed newer technologies like desktop search and tagging systems would eventually replace my manual organization methods. According to research… Read More »The Science of Managing Our Digital Stuff (Summary)
Reading more won’t make you remember more. I’ve finished hundreds of nonfiction books over the past decade. But the big ideas fade away as soon as I turn the last page. Sound familiar? There’s a straightforward explanation. Passive reading and rereading give us a false sense of mastery. In reality, it doesn’t push us to… Read More »The blank sheet priming method
At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Sarah Chen found herself compulsively scrolling through social media feeds between hospital shifts. What started as professional diligence soon became an overwhelming digital flood. “I couldn’t stop checking my phone,” she later told her colleagues. “Every notification felt urgent, every update seemed crucial. But the more information… Read More »The Perils of Information Hoarding
Reading scientific papers effectively is a skill that can significantly improve your academic writing and overall understanding of your field. With the right strategies, you can remember key points from every paper you read and confidently use that knowledge in your own work. Here’s how: 1. Read slowly and deliberately Focus on quality over quantity.… Read More »How to read a scientific paper
Writing and editing often go hand in hand, but your environment plays a bigger role in your success than you might think. As creatures of habit, we tend to stick to the same routines and spaces, hoping for consistent results. But when it comes to polishing your work, that consistency can backfire. Your brain craves… Read More »Change your environment for better editing
Close your eyes and picture this: An ancient Egyptian scribe, circa 3000 BCE, meticulously carving hieroglyphs into a stone tablet. Now open them and look around. You might see a student typing away on a laptop in a lecture hall, a business executive dictating notes into her smartphone, or maybe just your own scribbled reminders… Read More »The Evolution of Note-Taking from Ancient Scribes to Digital Minds
If you’ve ever conducted a systematic literature review, you know firsthand what a massive undertaking it can be. On average, it takes a team of 5 researchers more than one year to go from start to publication. That’s countless hours spent combing through hundreds of dense academic papers, struggling to identify key findings and connect… Read More »Elicit AI Review: Literature Reviews with AI
For centuries, walking has been the unsung hero of great minds. From Aristotle’s legendary walking lectures to Darwin’s daily strolls. The simple act of putting one foot in front of the other can transform the way you think. But why does walking hold such sway over our creativity and problem-solving abilities? The answer lies in… Read More »Improve your problem-solving skills with a daily walk
Have you ever woken up with the solution to a problem that seemed unsolvable the night before? As it turns out, a good night’s sleep is often the key to unleashing your innate creativity and knack for problem-solving. Sleep scientists have discovered that a specific type of brain activity called spindle events occurs primarily during… Read More »The surprising link between sleep and problem-solving
When it comes to user participation in online communities, the 90-9-1 rule highlights the stark imbalance in online engagement. 90% are consumers, 9% leave a comment here and there, and only 1% are creators. It’s a distribution that would make even the most uneven game of Monopoly look fair. Stop hoarding and start creating! The… Read More »The 90-9-1 rule