Ask HN: How Do You Optimize Your Intake of Information?
25 comments
I can relate to this. I have always wished I could find one thing to be passionate about and become an expert on. I seem to become obsessive about one thing for a short while and then gradually loose interest. There seems to be a "honeymoon" effect for me. This goes for hobbies, side projects, work projects.
I think I enjoy the discovery and research aspects and have romanticized visions of the end goal but end up never going deep enough before moving onto something else.
I studied and worked in journalism for a while. This was interesting work to me, because I could dive into a topic for a story and then move onto the next one. It helped to be a generalist. Perhaps you can blog about being a generalist and whatever interest you at any given time. Maybe something will really resonate that will lead to deeper dives.
Having "seasonal" interests or ensuring you can leave and return to interests has helped me. Living in the PNW, we have actual weather seasons. I love to ski in the winter, grow a garden in the spring, be on the water in the summer and go to football games in the fall. I get excited as these seasons change and can easily leave the last behind, knowing it will return.
Similarly, when I get into something, I try to make it manageable to dive back into it without starting from scratch by maintaining things or information I have collected along the way. The foundations will be there.
I think I enjoy the discovery and research aspects and have romanticized visions of the end goal but end up never going deep enough before moving onto something else.
I studied and worked in journalism for a while. This was interesting work to me, because I could dive into a topic for a story and then move onto the next one. It helped to be a generalist. Perhaps you can blog about being a generalist and whatever interest you at any given time. Maybe something will really resonate that will lead to deeper dives.
Having "seasonal" interests or ensuring you can leave and return to interests has helped me. Living in the PNW, we have actual weather seasons. I love to ski in the winter, grow a garden in the spring, be on the water in the summer and go to football games in the fall. I get excited as these seasons change and can easily leave the last behind, knowing it will return.
Similarly, when I get into something, I try to make it manageable to dive back into it without starting from scratch by maintaining things or information I have collected along the way. The foundations will be there.
> I think I enjoy the discovery and research aspects and have romanticized visions of the end goal but end up never going deep enough before moving onto something else.
I think I recall reading somewhere this is a sign of intelligence; so embrace it ;)
I think I recall reading somewhere this is a sign of intelligence; so embrace it ;)
I relate to this so much.
- Yes, life is often too short to pursue all interests. This is a feature, not a bug.
- One's life is constrained in all sorts of ways. (By language, geography, family, acquaintances, genetics, accidents, illness, etc.) While we can try to break free from these constraints, it is often constraints that point us in interesting directions that we might not have otherwise entertained.
- Always have both long-term and short-term goals to help you point in a direction. It is okay to change these goals.
- After a certain age, certain topics will mean less to you. You will consider them either "solved," or simply older ideas that are being rehashed yet again.
- Occasionally reflect on how you find and approach new ideas. It is okay to throw out old ways of working to invent or discover new ways of working.
And finally, never forget that as each second goes by, you are literally a different person.[1] We are all inherently dynamic.
[1] https://www.sciencealert.com/your-body-makes-4-million-cells...
- One's life is constrained in all sorts of ways. (By language, geography, family, acquaintances, genetics, accidents, illness, etc.) While we can try to break free from these constraints, it is often constraints that point us in interesting directions that we might not have otherwise entertained.
- Always have both long-term and short-term goals to help you point in a direction. It is okay to change these goals.
- After a certain age, certain topics will mean less to you. You will consider them either "solved," or simply older ideas that are being rehashed yet again.
- Occasionally reflect on how you find and approach new ideas. It is okay to throw out old ways of working to invent or discover new ways of working.
And finally, never forget that as each second goes by, you are literally a different person.[1] We are all inherently dynamic.
[1] https://www.sciencealert.com/your-body-makes-4-million-cells...
It took me forever to realize that it's the process, not the outcome that matters. There's a saying: 'Enjoy the journey, not the destination'. Because the destination is fleeting, but the journey takes longer and you should revel in it.
I suffer from what you suffer from It's called Analysis Paralysis[0] or overthinking. You should go all chips in on what sets your soul on fire and focus on that.
[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analysis_paralysis
I suffer from what you suffer from It's called Analysis Paralysis[0] or overthinking. You should go all chips in on what sets your soul on fire and focus on that.
[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analysis_paralysis
In an infinitely differentiable journey, forward progress is all you need.
I just started using zettelkasten method using org-roam. Since I just got started, my notes are not big yet. But it's amazing experience for me, that writing what I've just read in my own words made it stick longer rather than just reading without writing about it. Before I started using zettelkasten, I read the book How to Take Smart Notes by Sönke Ahrens. Then applied what I read.
Currently, I'm learning deep reinforcement learning and I have to deal with computer programming and mathematical equations in my notes. Fortunately, emacs org-mode supports org-babel, latex and latex fragments. My learning got better with this experience.
The disadvantage is that the learning curve using emacs and org-mode is steep unless you use emacs and org-mode every day.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zettelkasten
Currently, I'm learning deep reinforcement learning and I have to deal with computer programming and mathematical equations in my notes. Fortunately, emacs org-mode supports org-babel, latex and latex fragments. My learning got better with this experience.
The disadvantage is that the learning curve using emacs and org-mode is steep unless you use emacs and org-mode every day.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zettelkasten
I’ve heard of these (thanks, HN community!) and currently use Anki (for years the Android, Windows, and Linux versions, and recently paid for the iOS version). I mostly use cloze deletion to make multiple cards from one. Low barrier to making cards and reinforcing learning. Making effective cards is a work in practice. I start with small chunks to not hit walls.
The problem isn't the rate of intake but retention. If you are in your 30's chances are you forget things you've learned as fast as you learn new things doing what you currently do, basically constantly moving but never getting anywhere.
So instead of worrying about intake, try to think about what you already know and go from there. Make it solid so you don't forget it, and just build upwards. After a while building a solid foundation you'll likely find that there aren't actually that much information you want to ingest, it just felt endless since you constantly went through the same similar concepts over and over.
So instead of worrying about intake, try to think about what you already know and go from there. Make it solid so you don't forget it, and just build upwards. After a while building a solid foundation you'll likely find that there aren't actually that much information you want to ingest, it just felt endless since you constantly went through the same similar concepts over and over.
Get checked for ADHD.. In the end you will tire yourself out because you won't achieve anything by so much distraction.
But even if you read 1000 things would you really know them? What does it take to know something? Well maybe the Feynman principle applies where you then have to explain it to a 6 year old and teach it. That takes focus and effort.
So instead pick one thing and focus 25% of your time on that thing and do it until it is done. Then pick something else. For the other 75% of your time do the other things you have to do or explore those thousand different directions.
But even if you read 1000 things would you really know them? What does it take to know something? Well maybe the Feynman principle applies where you then have to explain it to a 6 year old and teach it. That takes focus and effort.
So instead pick one thing and focus 25% of your time on that thing and do it until it is done. Then pick something else. For the other 75% of your time do the other things you have to do or explore those thousand different directions.
Wrote about it here: https://wiki.nikitavoloboev.xyz/research/staying-on-top-of-t...
"There's 50 times as much going on than I can keep up up with, and I only operate at 2% efficiency. So there's this factor of 2500 working against me, and every day I fall seven years further behind." I forget who said it. I think he was a physicist, but I'm not sure.
But, yeah, you can't keep up with it all. Worse, with varied interests, you have more than one "all" to try to keep up with. You can't. You just can't. There's too much. It's not humanly possible to keep up with it all.
So you have to cheat. The way I cheat may not work for anyone else, but here's what I do: For general news, I look at Google News and Reuters. I look at headlines, and only read the article if I am interested in knowing more. (Often the headline tells me all I need to know.) For technical stuff, I look at HN. I just look at headlines unless I find the topic interesting. For hobbies, I have similar sites where I can just scan the new topics. This keeps me "up to date" while taking very little time.
For something like a book or a movie, I can read Wikipedia's summary if I want to know what it was about. A couple minutes vs two hours for the movie? (If I actually want to watch a movie, I'll watch it. If I just want to find out what it was about because I'm curious? Wikipedia.)
But, yeah, you can't keep up with it all. Worse, with varied interests, you have more than one "all" to try to keep up with. You can't. You just can't. There's too much. It's not humanly possible to keep up with it all.
So you have to cheat. The way I cheat may not work for anyone else, but here's what I do: For general news, I look at Google News and Reuters. I look at headlines, and only read the article if I am interested in knowing more. (Often the headline tells me all I need to know.) For technical stuff, I look at HN. I just look at headlines unless I find the topic interesting. For hobbies, I have similar sites where I can just scan the new topics. This keeps me "up to date" while taking very little time.
For something like a book or a movie, I can read Wikipedia's summary if I want to know what it was about. A couple minutes vs two hours for the movie? (If I actually want to watch a movie, I'll watch it. If I just want to find out what it was about because I'm curious? Wikipedia.)
"Try writing a novel paper yourself. Does it fill you with joy when some experts half-way around the world consider your work good enough? If so — a PhD might be for you. If this process fills you with loathing, you might want to reconsider spending the next 5+ years of your life on it."
Oof, that hits hard.
Do you think that the PhD makes sense for people who want to do research but not necessarily focus on publishing? Is this a contradiction in terms?
Oof, that hits hard.
Do you think that the PhD makes sense for people who want to do research but not necessarily focus on publishing? Is this a contradiction in terms?
The paper is the end result in some sense, or just the documentation of what you did. So the real point of research is figuring things out... the paper is basically the argument that you did. To get a PhD you'll have to publish but you can work in a research lab and not have to publish after that. I mean you will likely still be a coauthor but not have to worry about writing per se.
I struggle with this as well. I came across this on page 13 after opening 14 tabs on 14 different topics, so I wouldn't really trust my advice on this topic.
One thing I'm going to try is to switch back and forth between project mode and explore mode for fixed lengths of time. I'm not sure about the right lengths yet but the idea would be to have two weeks (or a month or whatever) where I let myself explore aimlessly, and then two weeks where I work on a specific personal project with specific goals.
I think I'd feel better for having accomplished some of the things I'd like to do, while hopefully not fighting too much against my own personality. Ideally I'll get into a good cycle where I am able to take the things I discover in explore mode and put them into practice in project mode. No idea if this will work though.
One thing I'm going to try is to switch back and forth between project mode and explore mode for fixed lengths of time. I'm not sure about the right lengths yet but the idea would be to have two weeks (or a month or whatever) where I let myself explore aimlessly, and then two weeks where I work on a specific personal project with specific goals.
I think I'd feel better for having accomplished some of the things I'd like to do, while hopefully not fighting too much against my own personality. Ideally I'll get into a good cycle where I am able to take the things I discover in explore mode and put them into practice in project mode. No idea if this will work though.
You can shorten articles with summarizing algorithms, saves you some time
I avoid social media, only read scientific articles or books. Quality > quantity
I avoid social media, only read scientific articles or books. Quality > quantity
By reducing that intake as much as possible.
And taking what intake I take in and committing it to my notes ASAP, so I can offload it from my brain.
Don't follow every curious whim. Or do, and deal with the anxiety. There isn't a way around that.
And taking what intake I take in and committing it to my notes ASAP, so I can offload it from my brain.
Don't follow every curious whim. Or do, and deal with the anxiety. There isn't a way around that.
Specializing entirely in one area is a bit overrated. It's good to be competent in one or more things for sure, but there are surprising synergies / crossovers between seemingly unrelated domains.
The most successful people (CEOs, billionaires, political leaders, senior managers) are usually somewhat competent in many areas, rather than an expert in one thing to the exclusion of all others.
The most successful people (CEOs, billionaires, political leaders, senior managers) are usually somewhat competent in many areas, rather than an expert in one thing to the exclusion of all others.
I have the same problem and am struggling mightily with it daily. OP, I would love to correspond more with you. Can you please reach me through my email that is in the profile. Perhaps we can exchange tips and I can learn from you.
Check with your therapists if you have ADHD.
Seriously, so often people seeking for smart answers about their minds when it’s just some biological/medical/chemical feature/issue.
Seriously, so often people seeking for smart answers about their minds when it’s just some biological/medical/chemical feature/issue.
Why, only ADHD sufferers have access to an ever growing amount of information that no other generation faced before?
It's more about the distractability and the dopamine surge when seeking novelty. This is caused by decreased executive function common in ADHD.
related ted talk on dopamine, the internet, and novelty seeking
https://youtu.be/wSF82AwSDiU
also related: the modern diet contains alot of calorically dense food, which means less stomach and intenstinal stretching, which means more ghrelin, which activates these novelty-seeking dopaminergic systems in the brain
as for the original question: a) as far as optimizing, I think that approaching the optimal state is less important than making improvements to a consistent performance ethic. Better to do something a little better every day than to miss days trying to do it better than everybody else. b) with information, I tend to focus on information that relates to a particular goal relevant to job performance or general wellbeing and then take notes on any new information and review prior notes relevant to the newest information in order to build an intuitive mental logical structure of the problem/goal and all of its moving parts. But since so few things are scientifically provable, I try to "bet" on certain things based on how more or less likely they are and an informal cost-benefit analysis
as for the original question: a) as far as optimizing, I think that approaching the optimal state is less important than making improvements to a consistent performance ethic. Better to do something a little better every day than to miss days trying to do it better than everybody else. b) with information, I tend to focus on information that relates to a particular goal relevant to job performance or general wellbeing and then take notes on any new information and review prior notes relevant to the newest information in order to build an intuitive mental logical structure of the problem/goal and all of its moving parts. But since so few things are scientifically provable, I try to "bet" on certain things based on how more or less likely they are and an informal cost-benefit analysis
Of course not. But adhds suffer from it like no one else )
Why do you care? Just do what you want. Anxiety problem solved.
Ideally, I'd make peace with that fact and choose one or two parts of the Universe to really care about, but my mind just doesn't seem to work that way. I'm not even sure I'd want it to.