Why did I take this class?

As someone who is always looking to improve myself, I am regularly on the lookout for books, videos and classes that can help me get better at the crafts of DJing and making music. When the Covid-19 pandemic struck, it meant that my normal means of generating income was no longer viable. Every wedding, club gig, festival, etc. was postponed indefinitely.

In the spirit of making lemonade, I decided to work on myself, to expand my skill set in areas that have been on my mind for far too long! For example: gaining a deeper understanding of music theory could help me to write better songs; diving into investment strategies could help me secure a brighter future; learning to build a (long-overdue) website would finally give me a centralized home on the internet – hopefully improving my brand and business, AND save me money! The thing that plagued me? I have tried to do ALL of these things in the past, with a variety of mostly subpar results. Sure, I’d learned things, and have put them into practice, but was I really getting all I could get from the endless books, podcasts, and videos I’d been consuming? Not really. I was only getting part of the picture. And those parts faded over time.

My cousin Scott brought Coursera to my attention a few summers ago. He suggested it because he knew of my passion to learn, but was also aware of the financial strains that come with living in a big city (NYC) while chasing a dream. I signed up for a course in music production and sound design. It was during a very busy summer, and admittedly, I dropped the ball. I didn’t feel I had the time to dedicate to the course, even though I was deeply interested in the subject matter.

The concept of learning to learn better was not lost on me. I’d come across the ideas of meta-learning, memory palaces, and others in my studies. The ideas always intrigued me, and made me believe that it was possible for me to get more out of the subjects I explore. In the first paragraph of this article, the author Isabella mentioned the class Learning How to Learn: Powerful Mental Tools to Help You Master Tough Subjects (LHTL for short). I’d heard of the class before, and decided that now is the perfect time to take it! (For a clearer understanding of what you will be reading about, I highly suggest taking this fun and FREE 4-week class.) I’ve fully immersed myself; reading/watching every optional bit of material offered. They demonstrate simple and powerful techniques to help anybody squeeze the most out of the subjects they are studying! It’s awesome. Now, I feel better equipped to move forward in my career.

Why am I writing about taking this class?

Below are a few insights I’ve gleaned from the course. I use some terminology that would be better understood by someone who took the class (do it!). This is how I’ve decided to present my final project. Because I’m a DJ, I sprinkled in some musical links. It’s just how I think. My classmates are the intended audience, but all are welcome to read. Here we go…

August 19, 2020 – Housework vs. Creative Work + Meditation vs. Distraction.

There’s always plenty of work to do. Whether it be homework or housework… not to mention any sort of aspirational work. If I’m studying or working on some creative project, and begin to feel overwhelmed or in dire need of a break, I can hop to some housework or a more physically active task. This engages the brain’s diffuse mode, and allows my brain to continue to work – in the background – while I’m moving around and keeping my attention off of the deeply focused work. For example, I might do some dishes, or go out for a run. The difference between running and doing housework is all of my tools are nearby, meaning I can quickly and easily jot down an idea in a notebook (or laptop) and quickly get back to work on the physical task at hand – or even just allow myself to revel in the flow that the physical activity has just unblocked. The things I am writing here came to me while vacuuming cobwebbed ceiling corners and putting away laundry.

“Sometimes I sprinkle a few tasks that involve physical motion on my (to-do) list, like pulling weeds, or sweeping the kitchen. These aren’t generally my favorite kinds of tasks, but somehow, because I’m using them as diffuse-mode breaks, I often look forward to them. Mixing other tasks up with your learning seems to make everything more enjoyable and keeps you from prolonged and unhealthy bouts of sitting.”

From instructor Barbara Oakley‘s book A Mind for Numbers – a recommended supplement for class participants.

I’ve found that this class has made me a more effective (and excited) self-directed learner. It’s made me more productive in my creative pursuits, and actually willing to tackle household tasks in a timely fashion. Now I understand how the two can feed each other. Before, I definitely dreaded and avoided housework, thinking instead that ALL of my time – or as much as possible – would be best directed toward my creative pursuits. Instead, now I understand that handling menial tasks not only maintains the real world environment that creative acts take place in, but they freshen my mind, enabling for more creative thought to happen! It’s not either/or… BOTH are important! What a great and practical productivity hack! It’s an exciting symbiosis.

One caveat: This oscillation between tasks – being pulled from housework to document an insight, repeatedly – can veer dangerously close to multitasking, which is a potentially brain damaging habit, according to this article. There’s a lot that needs to be accomplished everyday. It’s best to tackle the to-dos one at a time. I’ve found it best to free-write what ever is pouring into my brain, and wait until the trickle stops before returning to housework. Another tip: always have some way to record memos or write down ideas as they come; priceless documentation tools. Capture those insights.

“… using meditation (can) help you ignore distracting thoughts.”

Barbara Oakley, A Mind for Numbers.

In A Mind For Numbers, Barbara says, “… using meditation (can) help you ignore distracting thoughts.” Indeed. It’s a powerful practice. Not every thought that pops into our heads need to be entertained. Not every sound we hear needs to pull us away from our work. Recognizing the difference between a loved one’s sigh of boredom, or their howl of physical pain allows us to discern where our attention is needed. Should I; A) continue my focused work or; B) attend to my girlfriend who just cut her thumb while chopping carrots? I think the answer is obvious. (I like to believe I’m a good boyfriend.) But if she’s audibly overwhelmed by the endless choices that Netflix has to offer and can’t seem to decide what to watch – a common problem of Covid-era privilege – I think it’s safe to say that my attention is better spent focusing on the task at hand. Unbroken attention is crucial to comprehension and deep learning. It can be cultivated and strengthened. I believe the best method for attentional practice is meditation. I know it’s helped me.

August 21, 2020 – The Pomodoro Sandwich + Pineapple Peel Iced Tea.

Today, during a round of focused mode work, I was in need of a break. I wanted to give myself a treat to reward my good behavior, but hadn’t decided what that might be before the work began. Earlier that morning my girlfriend pointed out a perfectly ripened pineapple we bought a few days ago. Admittedly, sometimes I let a pineapple over-ripen because of problems with procrastination. When it’s ripe, we like to process it in a particular way. Obviously we eat the fruit! No-brainer. But did you know that you can make a delicious and nutritious tea from the rind? It’s a natural energy booster, and (in my opinion) better than coffee. It would take a bit of time to chop up, but the tangy-delicious fruit would be an almost immediate reward for my hard work. It would also provide something to reward myself with after similar rounds of focused work in the form of a nice cold, refreshing cup of the delicious pineapple iced tea.

Once the tea was on the stove top, I realized the amount of time it takes to simmer is about the length of a Pomodoro (a procrastination-destroying ultra-focus-for-a-short-while technique that is heavily touted in the LTHL class)… approximately 30 minutes. That insight prompted me to write this, which allows me to cross “Work on LHTL Final” off of my to-do list… (My timer is set, I’m here documenting a diffuse mode insight, and when the timer goes off, I can enjoy a nice hot cup of pineapple tea that will help me power through the rest of the day). This also gave me an idea to look for other activities that might be just like this! Where else can I make Pomodoro sandwiches in my life? It can be while preparing other foods or beverages for the week… or anything else really. Examples: How long does it take to back-up a computer? Go read a book while the computer does it’s thing. Waiting for a layer of paint to dry on some DIY home project? Go through that stack of mail I’ve been meaning to handle. It’s like a 1-2 punch. Where can YOU make Pomodoro sandwiches in your life? I’d love to hear about it – leave a comment!

August 22, 2020 – Rewards + Kicking Bad Habits to the CRRB.

Keystone habits are habits from which all other habits stem – good or bad. An example of a good keystone habit is exercise. Once you’ve paid for a gym membership, bought some work out gear, hired a personal trainer, and agreed to regular gym trips with your homey, you’ve created a lot to be accountable for! Once you’re actually in the practice of working out regularly you’re far less likely to toss away all that hard work – break that good habit – by eating some greasy-salty fast food meal. You may even find that the thought of a McWhopper Supreme Burrito Bowl + Double Big-Gulp of Coke repulses you. Procrastination, on the other hand, is a bad keystone habit. For example: you put off paying your internet bill, which means tacked on late-fees, which might also effect your credit score, which means your internet gets disconnected, which means you can’t post a video about a new album you just released, which means you won’t hear from people that want to book you and pay you, which means that it will be difficult to buy a house, etc. Not doing what needs to be done will snowball and become very destructive. Since procrastination is a habit, the good news is habits can be changed! The LHTL class teaches you how to change bad habits. Essential knowledge for anyone who wants to become a better version of themselves.

There are four elements to changing a habit.

• 1) Cue: This is what triggers the habit you want to change. Identifying this out can be difficult. A little mindful attention will help you figure it out. A cue is usually a location (i.e. your couch), a feeling (i.e. “I’m sleepy”), a time of day (i.e. “nap time!”), or a reaction to some sort of external stimuli (i.e. “I’m always tired after eating ramen”). Note: nap time is NOT a bad thing, but if you’re using it to procrastinate, it definitely is.
• 2) Routine: This is your point of reaction to a cue. This is where the work of changing a habit actually occurs! And best of all, this is the ONLY time you need to exercise your will power, and a little goes a long way! You can act out the same old routine, or you can change your routine. The choice is yours. (i.e. don’t eat the ramen if you know it makes you sleepy!)
• 3) Reward: For dogs or brains, you have to reward good behavior! Letting your dog eat off your plate is sure to lead to behavioral issues. How about instead of eating that delicious, steaming bowl of ramen before you’ve actually done something productive with your day, you wait. Delay your gratification. You can still have the ramen, but at the end of the day, when being sleepy is desirable and appropriate. The best reward of all is a good night’s sleep. Train your brain to wait for it’s rewards, and it will behave well, the way you need it to.
• 4) Belief: Essential for changing a habit… or getting anything done EVER, truly. You must believe that you can change your habit in order to do so. It won’t be easy, but it also won’t be as hard as you think, either. Knowing that you are not alone in facing the dragons of procrastination – and that countless others have defeated their own – is a hopeful reminder that you can win. Successful bad-ass author Steven Pressfield has a handful of thin, inspiring books (like The War of Art) that will arm you for battle against self-destructive habits. Maybe you can read it before you head over to your favorite ramen shop.

An easier way to remember this information, with examples.

I coupled the knowledge of the Four Elements of Changing a Habit with a something taught in the LHTL course: grouping; a memorization technique that helps us recall complex material by simplifying it into something memorable.

Taking the first letters of each of the words – Cue, Routine, Reward, Belief – I came up with CRRB. It sounds like “curb“. In the 90’s, if you had a no-good-lying-cheating romantic partner, and decided to part ways, you might tell your friend, “I kicked [insert name here] to the curb.” You got them out of your life… and it’s for the better. What do we want to do with bad habits? Habits that don’t serve us? I know for me, I want to kick them to the CRRB. I will never forget how to do that now. Never.

I also think of that scene from the 1999 movie Office Space where they take the malfunctioning, obsolete fax machine to a nearby field and destroy it with a Brand Nubian style beat down.

When trying to learn something, the more visceral you make it, the better. Engage as many senses as possible, and it will stick with you… like the memory of a critical beatdown.

A closing note regarding learning and rewards.

Heavily engaging with the material in this class – via regular practice – has made me realize that learning is it’s own reward. It has invigorated my mind and created positive changes in my life. It’s reminded me how much I love learning, and equipped me to do it better. I’m not saying that learning alone can replace a piping hot bowl of Ichiran ramen (one of my favorites – a hell of a rewarding meal), but it will help me power through the day’s tasks – at least until dinner time.