Unlock Your Potential: Shift from To-Do Lists to To-Learn Lists
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Chapter 1: The Concept of To-Learn Lists
Incorporating a "to-learn" list into our daily routine can significantly enhance our personal growth. Inspired by Austin Kleon's book “Keep Going,” this approach encourages us to think beyond mere task completion.
Leonardo da Vinci famously maintained “to-learn” lists. Each morning, he would jot down everything he aspired to learn that day, as highlighted by Kleon.
Section 1.1: Da Vinci’s Insightful Lists
Jessica Stewart showcased one of da Vinci's lists on My Modern Met, which included:
- [Calculate] the measurements of Milan and its suburbs.
- [Discover] the measurement of Corte Vecchio, the courtyard of the duke's palace.
- [Discover] the measurement of the castello, which is the duke's palace itself.
- Consult the master of arithmetic on how to square a triangle.
- Inquire with Maestro Antonio on the positioning of mortars on bastions during the day or night.
While some items on da Vinci's list were tasks, many were focused on learning. This begs the question: how might our daily lives improve if we prioritized learning alongside our tasks?
Subsection 1.1.1: The Benefits of Learning
Section 1.2: Crafting Your To-Learn List
Vivek Gambhir offers seven valuable insights for creating a to-learn list:
- Venture Beyond Your Field: Explore unfamiliar subjects and be open to new experiences.
- Harness Your Curiosity: Identify topics that pique your interest and allocate time for learning.
- Conserve Your Energy: Document your curiosities and return to them when you can focus, preventing task-switching fatigue.
- Own It, Customize It: Tailor your list to reflect your unique interests and aspirations.
- Turn It Into Action: Like da Vinci, specify who you can consult to gain knowledge on your chosen topics.
- Keep It Accessible: Maintain your list in a handy location, whether in a notebook or on your digital devices.
- Prune and Refresh: Regularly update your list to reflect what you’ve learned and avoid overwhelming yourself.
Chapter 2: Transforming Learning into Action
Learning should not be an end in itself; rather, it should lead to meaningful changes in our lives. The knowledge acquired should inspire action and influence our daily activities.
The first video title is WHY TO DO LISTS DON'T WORK + WHAT TO TRY INSTEAD! - YouTube. This video discusses the limitations of traditional to-do lists and introduces alternative methods for effective task management.
The second video title is Hack Your To-Do List (for less stress & anxiety) - YouTube. This video provides strategies to optimize your to-do list, reducing stress and enhancing productivity.