Ask HN: What things do you wish you discovered earlier?

#1

Post by arikr » Mon, Sep 09, 2019, 6:03 PM UTC

Where things = products, services, tools, strategies, books, systems, etc.

For me:

* Internal Family Systems made me more peaceful

* "The Sleep Book" by Meadows made me sleep better

* Apps: Otter for taking notes, Superhuman for email

* Websites: Wirecutter

* Books: How to Get Lucky, Self-Therapy

Re: Ask HN: What things do you wish you discovered earlier?

#2

Post by molteanu » Mon, Sep 09, 2019, 6:18 PM UTC

That cheap mice and keyboards will ruin ones hands beyond repair after years of heavy use.

Don't be that person. Learn to type and invest in your hardware early on.

Re: Ask HN: What things do you wish you discovered earlier?

#3

Post by jseliger » Mon, Sep 09, 2019, 6:22 PM UTC

All of these: https://jakeseliger.com/2010/03/22/influential-books-on-me-t.... Although if I'd read some earlier, maybe they wouldn't have been so influential.

Re: Ask HN: What things do you wish you discovered earlier?

#4

Post by martindbp » Mon, Sep 09, 2019, 6:34 PM UTC

I dearly wish I had used something like Anki throughout college instead of many years later. And actually focusing on understanding and long term recall rather than passing tests. It would have been difficult though, since having multiple difficult classes simultaneously often requires cramming at the end followed by focusing on the next course. But if I went back to school now that's what I would have done.

Re: Ask HN: What things do you wish you discovered earlier?

#5

Post by otras » Mon, Sep 09, 2019, 6:37 PM UTC

Learning How To Learn (https://www.coursera.org/learn/learning-how-to-learn) and Barbara Oakley's book A Mind For Numbers. Completely changed my approach to studying and learning, and my academic efforts after taking it were tremendously better than before.

Also related: highly recommend Anki. It feels like magic when the spaced repetition works!

Re: Ask HN: What things do you wish you discovered earlier?

#6

Post by sethammons » Mon, Sep 09, 2019, 6:43 PM UTC

I wish I had discovered interval training and olympic lifting earlier.

Re: Ask HN: What things do you wish you discovered earlier?

#7

Post by misiti3780 » Mon, Sep 09, 2019, 6:45 PM UTC

Anki or space repetition, exercise every day, natural low-sulfer wines

books: thinking fast and slow, black swan/antifragile, why we sleep, the organize mind

Re: Ask HN: What things do you wish you discovered earlier?

#8

Post by minexpert » Mon, Sep 09, 2019, 6:55 PM UTC

I wish I had discovered interval training and olympic lifting earlier.

Re: Ask HN: What things do you wish you discovered earlier?

#9

Post by algaeontoast » Mon, Sep 09, 2019, 6:56 PM UTC

How to effectively learn and balance my use of mental energy.

My diagnosis of depression and ADD inattentive-type (my parents were great, but denied that mental health was a factor until I decided to at age 22). I don't fault them, but I know for a fact my years in highschool and college struggling to learn / focus but knowing I had cognitive ability will irk me until the day that I die.

Re: Ask HN: What things do you wish you discovered earlier?

#10

Post by jszymborski » Mon, Sep 09, 2019, 6:58 PM UTC

molteanu wrote: post #2

That cheap mice and keyboards will ruin ones hands beyond repair after years of heavy use. Don't be that person. Learn to type and invest in your hardware early on.

Do you have specific suggestions re: peripherals. I've been using the Logitech MX Vertical Wireless lately and it's been a huge improvement from my previous bulky Logitech G600.

I'm wondering if there are keyboard set-ups people really like? I'm enjoying my Gigabyte mechanical keyboard, but would be willing to give it up for something that'll let me get more mileage out of my hands/arms.