# Principles of Efficient Learning

As individuals who take initiatives to improve our abilities and become a better version of ourselves, our learning can become much more effective and faster if we develop an efficient learning process. Below is a list of principles which can help us in defining such processes:

## The Principles

1. **Learning vs Winning**
    - prioritize long-term learning over short term results
    - [The Lesson to Learn](http://paulgraham.com/lesson.html) by Paul Graham.
    
    > In theory you shouldn't have to prepare for a test in a class any more than you have to prepare for a blood test.
    
2. **Success and obstacles**
    - you need drive and persistence
    - embrace the early obstacles
    - everyone was once a beginner
    - important topics are not easy to learn
    - failures are progress
    - keep a positive perspective. E.g. I'm not there yet but I will get there (by doing this).
    
    > Enjoy sucking at something at first

3. **Quiting is ok**
    - it is possible that the path is not for you
    - it is important to know when to quit in order to find the things better suited to you.
    
    > Sometimes we have to know when to turn around and pick the right path in order to use our resources efficiently.

4. **Compoud learning**
    - learn in small chunks every day.
    
    > If you improve by 1% every day, in 70 days you're twice as good.

5. **Your failures don't count against you**
    - People will not remember how many times you failed in the process.
    - They only care about what you are now.
    - You don't have to be successful a lot of times.
    - Nobody cares about how many interviews you failed. They only care about the one you passed.
    - Do not avoid doing things because of fear of failure.
    
    > The more failures we have, the more feedback we will have for improvement

6. **Choice vs Chore**
    - "I want to do this" over "I have to do this"
    - learning is a choice like watching a tv show and not a chore like washing clothes.

7. **Pareto principle**
    - 80/20 principle - 80% success comes from doing 20% of the work.
    - achieve initial 80% as fast as possible
    - define the 20% you need to do for it
    - Whenever you feel you're going overboard with a topic, ask yourself the below question
    
    > Is this the best use of my time?

8. **Skill stacking - Career strategy**
    - don't lose your curiosity 
    - value learning in your decisions and practices
    - gather and combine skills in unique ways
    - develop many skills that work well together
    - develop combinations that make you stand out 

9. **Happiness factors**
    - To be a good learner, first focus on being happy
    - identify areas that make you feel happy . Examples:
        - physical and mental health 
        - good sleep - to feel energetic
        - learning everyday - gives a sense of achievement at the end of the day and keeps me motivated
        - getting enough leisure time - to relax my mind
        - having control over my work - stress management

10. **Productivity time**
    - Find time of the day when you're most productive.
    - Learn during that time.
    - Do not start learning at that time of the day when you were otherwise not doing anything productive.

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