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
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
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
I thought I knew how to take notes. Capture the key points, write them down, and review them later. Simple, right? But my notes were a jumbled mess, and I forgot the material as quickly as I learned it. Not surprisingly, that approach failed me time and again – until I learned about the RRR… Read More »The RRR (Remark, Reflect, Reference) Note-taking technique
Think back to the last time you tried to pick up a new skill. Maybe it was a foreign language, a musical instrument, or a programming language. Remember those first disorienting hours, staring at unfamiliar symbols, your fingers fumbling over the strings, strange sounds stumbling off your tongue? Did you feel clumsy, slow, or even… Read More »The power of the struggle in learning
I’ve always been a bit of a productivity geek, forever searching for the perfect system to keep me organized and on track. I’ve tried countless apps, planners, and methods, but nothing quite seemed to stick. That is until I stumbled upon the 4-step weekly review. This deceptively simple routine, consisting of reviewing my email, calendar,… Read More »The 4-step weekly review routine to stay on top of your tasks and responsibilities
I thought brain-training games were the key to a sharper mind and have spent hours hunched over my phone, tapping away at memory challenges and mental math puzzles, convinced I was giving my brain the workout it needed. But a recent study reveals a simpler and more robust path to cognitive enhancement: embracing unfamiliar challenges.… Read More »Learn a new skill to boost your brain power
Back when I was a bright-eyed, bushy-tailed undergrad, my idea of “reading a scientific paper” involved printing out a hard copy, grabbing a highlighter, and scribbling all over the pages as I read it from start to finish. I’d get sidetracked by unfamiliar terms, bogged down in the background, and glazed over by the graphs.… Read More »How to read scientific papers faster with the Reverse CIA Method
Sick of information overload? Drowning in digital notes? Meet your new productivity hero: The Fanny Pack! This tourist staple is a minimalist’s dream tool and its tiny size is a superpower. By limiting what you can carry to a micro notebook and a few cards, it acts as a built-in bullshit filter. Suddenly, only truly… Read More »The Fanny Pack: A surprisingly powerful productivity companion
The power of 3 What do a captivating story, a memorable speech, and an engaging lesson have in common? More often than not, they rely on the potent yet understated Rule of 3. This ancient principle suggests that ideas presented in threes strike a perfect balance – substantial enough to form a pattern yet not… Read More »Use the rule of 3 for effective learning and communication