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How to find time to learn after work (2017)

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Re: How to find time to learn after work (2017)

#11

Post by presentinmoment »

warkanlock wrote: post #8

Interesting observation. I too often find myself in this oscillation between soaking up new knowledge and actually using it. This cycle between passive/active consumption is intriguing but might have its drawbacks IMHO. There are moments when I question if I should be buried in learning new topics instead of tinkering with what I already know. Learning is invaluable, no doubt—certainly better than mindlessly scrollin…

I'm switching to a more focused approach about this.

I too love to soak up on new knowledge, regardless of it has practical use or not. I just love to learn about things in general.

The problem is that I have limited capacity.

So instead of subscribing to dozens of newsletters, listening all new episodes of podcasts, etc... I'm reaching for that knowledge when I need it.

The flow I'm trying to implement is this:

1. Want to actually DO something

2. Look for information about that

3. (harder) Actually do it.

Whereas before it was (still is):

1. Learn about ALL THINGS, maybe I'll need it

2. Don't actually need it, forget 99% of what I read/watched

3. Want to actually DO something

4. Look for information about that

5. (harder) Actually do it.

Re: How to find time to learn after work (2017)

#12

Post by zogrodea »

presentinmoment wrote: post #2

I prefer to be present in the moment. I'm slowly leaving my phone behind and just trying to be present. Actually experience reality and not get my brain busy all the time. Because of that I'd say, just don't try to be productive at all times. That "downtime" you're trying to cram another podcast into is actually necessary.

That's a nice username you have, and the advice you're giving seems good too.

Re: How to find time to learn after work (2017)

#13

Post by rozenmd »

My "hack" is to wake up earlier (easier said than done, but I picked up the habit while trying to get things done before the Australian heat kicked in), and work two hours on whatever interests me, before my work day starts.

I've shipped several books, and currently run a SaaS product this way.

Re: How to find time to learn after work (2017)

#16

Post by Decabytes »

I’ve found that if I really want to learn something, I just get up an hour early, makes some coffee/tea and get to it. It’s the only thing I can control with any certainty. The quiet time while everyone is asleep provides a distraction free environment.

I also like giving my most productive/energetic time to my own projects/learning, as opposed to work, but that is just me.

After work time is for dinner, family, and fun projects that I don’t need additional motivation for

Re: How to find time to learn after work (2017)

#17

Post by markus_zhang »

Decabytes wrote: post #16

I’ve found that if I really want to learn something, I just get up an hour early, makes some coffee/tea and get to it. It’s the only thing I can control with any certainty. The quiet time while everyone is asleep provides a distraction free environment. I also like giving my most productive/energetic time to my own projects/learning, as opposed to work, but that is just me. After work time is for dinner, family, and…

Can relate. Recently I have grown some interests in building Neverwinter nights EE modules so I get up early to read DND source books and look at the scripts of the official campaigns.

After work usually there is too much noise to get a large chunk of time. I do have 60-120 mins after my kid falls to sleep but I'm always in a gameplay only mentality during that time.

Re: How to find time to learn after work (2017)

#18

Post by gibspaulding »

FirmwareBurner wrote: post #3

>"For example, I’m commuting every day 2×45 minutes to my workplace and back home. I need 5 minutes to get to the train station with my bike, 10 minutes to wait for the (connecting) trains, 25 minutes actually on the trains, 5 minutes to get from the train to my working place" There's a big one right there. Time lost due to commute times are actually much longer than the door-to-door time. It's not just the 90 min th…

Don't forget the workday is not just 8 straight hours for most folks, there's a 30 to 60 minute lunch in the middle of it which if you're in the office is 100% wasted time.

Re: How to find time to learn after work (2017)

#19

Post by avocabros »

FirmwareBurner wrote: post #3

>"For example, I’m commuting every day 2×45 minutes to my workplace and back home. I need 5 minutes to get to the train station with my bike, 10 minutes to wait for the (connecting) trains, 25 minutes actually on the trains, 5 minutes to get from the train to my working place" There's a big one right there. Time lost due to commute times are actually much longer than the door-to-door time. It's not just the 90 min th…

WFH is one solution, but it's not free in terms of collaboration costs. There's a reason no one thinks college is better remote, for example. Sure, it's fine for some jobs but it's not super obvious that it's a net positive for output.

People can also live closer to work, or use other methods (biking, running, etc.) to combine exercise + commute. Many studies have indicate that people overestimate the happiness of a larger house and underestimate the daily happiness toll of a long commute

Re: How to find time to learn after work (2017)

#20

Post by safety1st »

presentinmoment wrote: post #2

I prefer to be present in the moment. I'm slowly leaving my phone behind and just trying to be present. Actually experience reality and not get my brain busy all the time. Because of that I'd say, just don't try to be productive at all times. That "downtime" you're trying to cram another podcast into is actually necessary.

Leaving your phone behind is really where it's at.

Your parent is making this point about how when you go to the office, in addition to your commute, there's an extra 30 minutes of stuff like getting dressed and making coffee.

OK - 30 minutes.

This year, I went from an average of 4.5 hours a day of phone time to less than 2.5 (it's still dropping).

Two more hours every day to do whatever I want!

Show me any other "time hack" that saves 14+ hours per week.

I think I'll get my phone time down to 60-90 minutes eventually (basically just time spent eating meals alone, plus a few essential app tasks).

My days feel positively endless now. I finally read books again. 250 pages this weekend on a whim.

You can squeeze a phone addiction or a commute into your day, but not both. Of course preferably you have neither...

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