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

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

#221

Post by otras »

Valk3_ wrote: post #199
otras wrote: post #5

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!

What would you say are your biggest take-aways from that course?

Here are a few:

* Diffuse mode vs. focus mode. After focusing hard on a problem, letting your brain wander can do wonders for coming up with insights and ideas. The classic example is coming up with something in the shower after working on it throughout the day. I've focused much more on giving myself some of the non-focused time after focused periods (ex. going for a walk/run/swim, taking a nap or shower, etc). I've started doing this more for work, as well.

* How memory works (short-term vs. long-term) and along those lines, spaced repetition. All through undergrad I would cram, but spacing it out (with the help of Anki for flashcard-focused topics) really does wonders.

* Importance of actively quizzing yourself, practice, and working through problems as you're learning something.

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

#223

Post by gadders »

gadders wrote: post #222

The book How to Win Friends and Influence People and weight training for strength - Starting Strength, 5/3/1 etc.

Also, if you have a regular work task you need to do, block out time in your diary for it.

And the absolute joy than can come from having children.

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

#225

Post by rcavezza »

csallen wrote: post #89

I've spent a ton of time as a developer trying to make money from various side projects and businesses. So most of my top "wish I'd discovered this earlier" list revolves around tech+business stuff: * Strategy #1: Charge more. patio11 has been shouting this from the rooftops for years, but it didn't sink in until after I started Indie Hackers[0]. If you charge something like $300/customer instead of $5/customer, you…

The mom test a million times over! When people hear the name, they assume it's about usability (i.e. make something easy that your mom understands it), but it's not - its' the best book on customer development that exists. I recommend it to every startup person I meet.

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

#226

Post by LastManStanding »

algaeontoast wrote: post #29
wufufufu wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So what did you do about it

Paid to be diagnosed by a neuro-psych and neurologist (which my insurance didn't cover). Worked to find the right stimulants and antidepressants (fortunately I no longer take antidepressants) and most importantly focus on what I really valued in life which oddly made understanding how to learn more effectively much easier. I understand there are arguments against ADD / ADHD being "real" ailments, but I can personally…

Diagnosed at 65 for the first time. It is effing real - not sure I knew what "attention" was before - not calm attention anyway. Don't take stimulants if you don't have the condition - or you just might give it to yourself. If you must try ephedrine - possibly illegal but still available online.

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

#227

Post by sharadov »

algaeontoast wrote: post #210
ljf wrote: post #151

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wish I'd learnt about investing before I was in my late 30s - and same about value of a good pension. Still - it is never too late.

What exactly do you mean by “investing”. The notion of “investing” in a few index funds or shoveling money to a financial advisor?

I mean really understanding the subject of investing. A good book teaching this is "The Intelligent Investor" by Benjamin Graham ( Buffett based a lot of his philosophy on Graham's "value investing").

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

#228

Post by MattLeBlanc001 »

mooreds wrote: post #175

I wish I'd discovered writing ebooks earlier. I enjoy doing it and have completed one, but haven't carved out the time to do another. Earlier in life it would have been far easier to write a number of them, which would likely have led to more career opportunities, if not more "passive" income.

Do you have any advice on where to start? any course?

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

#229

Post by algaeontoast »

wufufufu wrote: post #184
kls wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The problem is it's not about the productivity, it's the clarity and it's profound for someone with ADD/ADHD. So I started abusing nicotine at a young age (a very common ADD self medication) and I quit several times over the years and every time I quite my mind would be in a fog and never come out. I am not talking about 5-30 days, I am talking about 5 years later and I wake up every day feeling foggy. I tried everyt…

What other stimulants did you try and which ones worked the best?

I've only tried Ritalin and Adderall, both in small 5mg doses (at max 2x per day with breaks on weekends).

I've found personally that switching between the two every 5-6 months seems to be a productive course of action. I have not encountered any need to increase my dose due to building up a dependency.

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