I love exploring new things, even if that sounds strange. I only learn things that interest me at that moment, but my interests change a lot. Ironically, writing this blog post is my way of procrastinating from studying machine learning (a subset of AI). I enjoy it, but I’m currently experiencing a form of “study block” like how authors have writer’s block.
I’ll admit that this form of procrastination isn’t helpful for what I’m supposed to be studying. But it’s still productive in a way. I’m hopefully helping someone become more productive by them reading this post. Plus, I can view this as a writing exercise.
You’ve probably been told not to go down “rabbit holes” when studying. What are rabbit holes? They’re just small pieces of information in a vast sea of knowledge you should be learning. Let me clarify. When studying history, you generally learn about great people who lived in the past, what they did, and why they did it. You don’t need to go into detail about their bathroom routines.
You might be thinking, “But isn’t going down rabbit holes unproductive, especially if you have an exam coming up?” Well, in this post, I’m actually recommending rabbit holes over efficiency. Hear me out. The main way I keep myself engaged in my studies is by asking questions about what I don’t know and where my interests lie. I don’t like the unknown; it makes me feel like I haven’t learned the topic at all if there are gaps in my knowledge. And as you can imagine, this approach can lead to tangents in my studies. It can be a problem, but I can usually steer myself back on track whenever I’ve gone too deep. So, whenever I have a question, I hop onto ChatGPT and ask. If I find the answer nonsensical, which is rare, I’ll search for the question online. Whenever you have a question, ask ChatGPT to explain it to you “simply” or “as if I’m a child.” The second suggestion will dumb it down to the level of using Lego bricks as an example.
You may be wondering, “How do you know when to steer yourself back?” That’s pretty simple. If you haven’t touched your book, course material, etc, for a while, then you’ve gone too deep. Generally speaking, the topics you cover are usually revisited or referred to a couple of times throughout the material you’re covering. This means you can revisit questions you had which have still yet to be clarified.
This is a form of procrastination. You can follow your curriculum and only dive into topics with a moderate level of understanding. Or, you can run through one rabbit hole and out another like a crazed hare.
From my perspective, you shouldn’t learn the bare minimum unless it’s necessary. If you gain a deep understanding of a topic, it can help with other topics. If you want to avoid your studies, do something related to them. Watch a video, read a book, or take a break.
In conclusion, asking questions and exploring rabbit holes can be a valuable way to stay engaged and curious in your studies. Don’t settle for the bare minimum; strive for a deep understanding of the subject matter. By doing so, you’ll be more equipped to tackle related topics and make connections across different areas of knowledge. And, if you need a break, try doing something related to your studies, like watching a video or reading a book. By keeping yourself immersed in the subject matter, you’ll be able to approach your studies with a renewed sense of curiosity and energy.
If you’re interested in note-taking, check out my weird digital note-taking system!