Learning and habits seem like to separate facts about our psychology. Learning is about knowledge, information and skills. Habits are about routines, behaviors and actions. However, I think the two actually work on mostly the same principles of the brain, and recognizing this connection can help you both learn better and form better habits. Learning […]
Who Has Time for Hobbies?
One of the bigger lessons I got from reading Cal Newport’s recent book, Digital Minimalism, was the importance of scheduling your leisure time. Scheduling time for hobbies may sound unnecessary. Aren’t those the things you do for fun? Yet, I would wager that most of us have activities we’d like to do on the side […]
Why Memorize?
Is memory redundant? After all, the world is just a Google search away. Who needs to memorize facts, dates, terms and definitions when you can pull them up in less time than it takes to wrack your brain to remember them? Some argue that just as teaching cursive or long division is becoming antiquated, so […]
Life’s Wicked Problems (and How to Get Past Them)
Wicked problems are problems that are, “difficult or impossible to solve because of incomplete, contradictory, and changing requirements that are often difficult to recognize.” The classic example of a wicked problem is running a country. The problem is wicked because, nobody can even agree as to what counts as a solution! One person’s solution is […]
I'm a Wall Street Journal bestselling author, podcast host, computer programmer and an avid reader. Since 2006, I've published weekly essays on this website to help people like you learn and think better. My work has been featured in The New York Times, BBC, TEDx, Pocket, Business Insider and more. I don't promise I have all the answers, just a place to start.