ESS Podcast Episode 018

Winston coming to peace after overcoming perfectionism, free learning in China

Episode018

0:04:00

Make an effort very small, a matter of seconds.

Summary

In this podcast episode, the hosts discuss the evolution of their approach to incremental reading and overcoming perfectionism. They highlight the effectiveness of small, quick edits using a Vim script to counter perfectionism tendencies. The host emphasizes the importance of finding peace with one's learning style and acknowledges that perfectionism can sometimes be beneficial. They also reflect on their journey with SuperMemo, noting a shift from multiple collection deletions to maintaining multiple collections successfully.

The hosts discuss their approach to merging projects into their main SuperMemo collection. They talk about how they integrate job-related material, such as tutoring notes, into their collections. The conversation touches on subjects like high school topics, including biology, chemistry, physics, and English. Winston, reveals that he has shown his face in recent Chinese SuperMemo community events. They reflect on the evolution of their SuperMemo usage, with a particular emphasis on the benefits of writing collections and the importance of managing the incremental reading process effectively.

The hosts discuss the significance of writing in their SuperMemo workflow, emphasizing its creative and therapeutic aspects. They highlight how writing is an iterative process, promoting a sense of peace and individuality in learning. The conversation touches on the ongoing process of modifying their Vim script and acknowledges that perfectionism is subjective and personal. They also talk about the possibility of creating personalized learning software in the future.

The hosts reflect on the dangers of perfectionism and the tendency to compare oneself to others. They discuss how this mentality can stem from competitive environments and scarcity of resources. They emphasize the importance of self-reflection and finding joy in the learning process. They also touch on the pressure to attend prestigious universities and how it may not always align with optimal learning strategies.

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