Comment by surfsvammel | Hacker News Reader

Comment by surfsvammel | Hacker News Reader

I’ve spent the better part of my adult life trying to become more productive, more efficient, to retain everything I read, to gain one up on life. I’ve used flash cards, different note taking techniques, meditation, lucid dreaming, bullet journaling, inbox zero. I’ve woken up early, listen to podcasts at 1.5x speed while working out, I’ve used the best notebooks, the best pens. I have practiced speed reading, in various forms. Different keyboard layouts to maximise typing speed. You name it.

I’m not sure that any of it improved me nor my life. Maybe it did and I just don’t realise it. But, honestly, if anything, it probably made everything less enjoyable. More of a chore.

Nowadays, I read what I find interesting, maybe I’ll remember it, maybe I won’t. I’ll work on what I find interesting, maybe it will be helpful for my career, maybe it won’t.

Altogether life has just become much more enjoyable when I am not trying to squeeze as much as possible out of it.

Of all the "life hacks" tricks I've tried, there is only one that I can think of that has really made a huge difference for me -- a faster way to tie shoes. I'm a product of the 1970's school of thought (overhand knot, make a loop, wrap and tuck). But it would just long enough that if my shoe became untied, I'd have to ask the group I was with to stop for a moment while I fixed it. Or run to catch up.

There was a technique I found on a web site somewhere a couple decades or more ago -- can't remember which one, but it gave a method of doing the initial half knot (which is still typically present when laces become undone), you essentially pick up the laces in a specific method (certain way you twisty-grab with your fingers), and it does the drawstring knots (the two rabbit ears) instantly. Now I only fall maybe 2 - 3 steps behind a group when I need to fix a shoe lace.

I think you're describing the Ian Knot[1] or the Secure Ian Knot[2]

I use the first for apron strings and draw strings, and the second for tying my shoes, and both knots are pretty much guaranteed to never come undone by themselves. The first one can be tied in like two seconds once you're used to it. And in fact, it may be just as "secure" as the more complex secure knot, so maybe I don't even need that one...

[1]https://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/ianknot.htm

[2]https://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/secureknot.htm

Yes, that's the one. I knew it was _somename_knot, just couldn't remember the "somename". Definitely changed my life for the better (and I'm not really exaggerating that much).

Yeah, most of the things you mentioned are borderline useless. I think it is useful to learn faster, but this is more a matter of being organized and concentrate on your work. Pretty much the rest is made up to sell you products and courses.

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