Happy New Year! 🎉 How has 2020 been to you? Even if it's been a shitshow like it has been for many, we have to realize everything has its bright side. For me, 2020 was when I decided to leave the corporate rat race and start teaching online. Since September, I've taught dozens of hours online and been building a community in the meanwhile. That has been possible because I started this newsletter in May, wanting to talk about how to become better at learning. While I left university almost ten...
almost 6 years ago • 4 min read
Happy Sunday from rainy Amsterdam! And a special welcome to all 51 new subscribers who will test out the reading guides I'm creating for the books Make It Stick, Ultralearning, and How to Take Smart Notes (see the end of this newsletter if you don't know the project). Today's Sunday School is all about deliberate practice, a way of intentionally practicing that maximizes learning. While challenging to do, it's a crucial tactic to reach expert-level performance in a field. Deliberate practice...
almost 6 years ago • 5 min read
Happy Sunday! Being a knowledge worker with ADHD, it can be extremely difficult to find the clarity and focus to see things through to the end. My mind jumps from topic to topic, getting triggered by what I’m trying to focus on. On the flip side, when I do find focus, it tends to be hyperfocus. It’s not uncommon for me to sit 12 hours straight, working on a project, forgetting everything and everyone around me, even ignoring bodily functions like thirst and hunger. By exploring different...
almost 6 years ago • 4 min read
Happy Sunday from cold and rainy Amsterdam! I've written a lot about learning in previous newsletters and how to make knowledge you own. But what is it good for? For me, a big part of learning new things is the journey itself. I learn because I like to learn. When something interests me, I can spend ridiculous amounts on it. But (luckily), not everybody is like me, and they need a reason to learn. We all learn all the time, but the rate tends to slow down as we grow older. Often because we...
almost 6 years ago • 6 min read
