6 Cheap Investments to Upgrade Your Learning 

“I was in Home Goods with no clear goal” famous last words by all of us 😂

Would you please consider making a video on your Obsidian vault, showing us your workflow?

Obsidian truly is the best at creating your second brain, this video was majestically filled with so many gold nuggets of information it would be rude not to let the whole world know. Keep up the brilliant work

I like the more personal approach to this video, makes me feel like we are getting to know you!

The cheapest whiteboard is whiteboard contact paper. I've converted work file cabinets to whiteboards when I didn't have an available wall.

00:00 📚 Invest in index tabs for efficient note-taking and quick reference in books. 01:38 🗒 Utilize a whiteboard for planning, organizing tasks, brainstorming, and maintaining focus. 03:57 ✏ Always keep a pencil handy to actively engage with reading material and organize thoughts effectively. 05:09 🗄 Declutter your workspace and increase productivity with a desk organizer. 06:33 🛠 Invest wisely in tools and environment for efficient learning and working, considering long-term benefits. 08:11 📚 Consider using a bookstand for easier reading and note-taking during analysis. 09:10 💻 Build a digital second brain using note-taking apps like Obsidian to organize and connect ideas for effective learning and writing.

Use a mechanical pencil instead of a normal wooden one... It erases better and is always sharp

This man is finally getting more recognition. Awesome bro.

Better than a book stand is a desk top easel with height adjustment, they’re more rugged more adjustable. You can clip things to them and they have a base to put pens on. I also use a professional sturdy music stand which doesn’t require a table. Oh and have reading glasses enough for each major room. When going out take noise cancelling Bluetooth over head ear phones. These don’t need to be plugged into music but quieten distractions magnificently whilst signaling to others you’re busy. Clear pencil case is essential for going out you know what you have and a small rucksack with plenty of pocket leave a charging brick and lead in one pocket. Then find a coffee shop with free refills. I have a visual timer on my table I can see the minutes going down, I doesn’t tick and flashed and gives just 3 beeps when it’s done. That way it doesn’t annoy other much either. To stop me becoming lost or exhausted I give myself 20 to 40 mins on a subject then I ask myself to do a summary of what I’ve leaned quickly writing bullets points without reference to notes. At the start of a session I ask myself a few questions ..my main emotion right now now, just acknowledging it helps me know and what’s my aim and what am I going to do after this. The next bit may sound crazy … when did I last eat when will I eat/drink have a pee again. I can easily forget all of these questions.

these are all amaaaazing tips! I’ll add mine-don’t be afraid to highlight & write directly in your books. it helps me tons to make the important things stand out.

I have discovered you recently and you have inspired me to take learning to another level.

I love this video. I have found a kindle helpful in that I can underline and make notes for those underlines. Then I can go back and revisit them. I love paper books, but my life is simpler with e books. Thank you for this thoughtful video!

I really need to get started on my Second Brain. I have so many notebooks and sticky notes. Best part is I’m seeing connections between certain ideas across books… even from books in separate genres That second brain is really gonna help

I concur with the utility of the desk organizer. When I had to work from home on a desk with inadequate space for my tasks, I did get a desk organizer (actually, a spinning makeup organizer - it had a smaller footprint) and it was a significant help. Whether it’s struggling to use an ineffective interface, or having to find a highlighter on a cluttered desk, you shouldn’t have to expend any mental energy on the tools you use. Ideally, no aspect of the tools you use should distract from the process.

As a creative with ADHD, I'm finding your videos full of helpful tips Ive already begun doing to help me cope with adhd, or things I should absolutely start doing.

i love the way you talk your ideas.. i guess you're the living proof of how effective obsidian can be

I really like the second brain idea. I'm going to try that. Thanks

yes im inspired. thanks for confirmation of what i do now and things to grow into

Photograph your whiteboard regularly and keeps the photos in a separate folder on your phone you can swipe through

Pls make a video focused on obsidian. Want to set it up and like to learn it from you. Thx for the knowledge

I have used the page-markers in recipe books - and often add notes to them so I know which tab to go to without having to flick through them all. I will definitely start using them in other books.

I found your channel just yesterday, it's the second video that I am watching. I must say that the quality and content that you are delivering is what exactly fits my appetite and that i love to consume. Keep it up with the work buddy❤️.

is feels nice to see a book with two colors of tags coming everywhere from the book somewhere outside my room, but what is very interesting and also "comforting" about your videos, is that you decided to make videos and did it without making the whole experience feel so fancy, with lighting or the desk, or any item that feels so "aesthetically pleasing", thank you for reminding me with the golden age of RU-vid, when it was less superficial, and more real, and lastly, it is too bad that i cant share a picture of my books that expel blues and greens.

I also started building a second brain in Obsidian last year and it is LIFE CHANGING!!!

Love it. Right up my street. Brilliant 👍

Great recommendations on using simple tools to enhance learning effectiveness! 📚 Incorporating index tags, a whiteboard, and a pencil into your study routine not only organizes your thoughts but also deepens your engagement with the material.

Genuinely one of the most useful RU-vid videos I have ever watched

Thanks and great video and recommending it for my friends

Have heard so much good about Obsidian, but I’ve always been intimidated by taking the leap. Might just have to start and adapt now!

Thank Odysseas for such a PRATICAL video. The 4 things that benefit me are: White board, desk organizer, bookstand and the book titled "Building a second brain" by Tiago Forte.

Im happy youtube recommended me your channel this morning

The book stand is essential. Really good for reading & study, as well as improving posture & minimizing neck strain.

Book stand seriously saved my neck. I got on that is height adjustable and I can put books at eye level when my neck gets sore.

I write a keyword on the index tabs as I add them, makes it much easier to find which tab you want.

Glad to have stumbled on your channel, your videos are eye-opening and have helped me a lot. You have a bright future on RU-vid, and I hope you gain the notoriety you deserve. All the best to you.

Really, really appreciate your efforts ! And there's no doubt, obsidian is the grandfather of notion 😂 and some other grandchildren, keep on, keeping on mate!

I used index tabs a lot in college books especially for chapter summaries and review. 👍🏼very helpful

You're the only RU-vidr i comment on. Your videos have immense value.🌟

My biggest helper is to always have a notebook and pen or SOMETHING to write with manually when I get some kind of idea. It can be literally any idea, but when it comes to learning I will often write down a question to delve deeper into a subject. Also if I'm using pencils I either have multiple sharpened at once so I don't have to stop in the middle of something to sharpen. If I'm using mechanical pencils I check the barrel at the beginning of each session to make sure there is at least one extra stick of graphite loaded into it. It may seem like overkill to check every time, but if that habit is developed you will never make the mistake of running yourself out of graphite. Especially if you keep multiple pencils in multiple locations. So I suppose a big part of this suggestion is to keep backstock. Or "have more than you need." Not in a hoarding kind of way, to be clear. Just make sure you have enough around that if you go over what you expect to need for a project or any given month, or whatever your metric is for what is need, you are not detrimentally resolved to end your session/study/learning to go get more supplies. When that happens it feels somewhat similar to when you go to the store for ingredients to make a special dinner and after getting home and starting to cook the meal you realize you forgot to get the single onion you need.

I use Roam for my second brain. Use it every day, as I like to learn every day. Big fan.

I wanted to get a bookstand and this is my sign

Appreciate your videos , very inspiring .

Love the content! Followed you after your modern renaissance man video. Could you PLEASE make a video on your Obsidian workflow? There are so many videos explaining what it is and how to use it but it will be refreshing to see a video by someone who uses it practically to which I can relate to and perhaps many others. Perhaps also go into how to setup the graph and use maps of meaning or tabs. Cheers :)

Get the plastic version of the sticky tabs. The paper ones tend to rip off if you carry your books around with you

Brilliant. Ty 🎉

Very good, indeed!

May God bless you my friend for creating such a beautiful content ❤❤❤

Great video, Keep up the good work 👍

Interesting! Half tempted to check out Obsidian. Still haven't tried tabs though.

a place for inspiration!! keep walking ody!!

A man after my own heart. Do you have a video on 6 expensive investments to upgrade your learning?

Awesome video keep up the good work👌

That book stand looks awesome!

I would like to recommend you to buy kuru toga mechanical pencil, it saves you from the mess of sharpening your pencil over and over again and because of the technology/mechanism in it it lets you write with a fine consistent lines. Hope this help.

I recommend spiral bound notebooks and ballpoint pens. I do a lot of my writing that way. At one point I bought Moleskine or other expensive journals, and expensive pens as well. I've found that the cheap materials are as good, if not better.

Awesome video, some of those tips are really useful! I've struggled on previous attempts to build a second brain exactly because of lack of structure. I really enjoy Obsidian (and recently I've learned how to use Notion as well), but I've always felt kind of overwhelmed when reaching about 150/200 notes. I've still to find a MoC that fits me. Any good video recommendation that helped you? Also, I would love to see a deeper analysis on your process in 11:03 of using your notes in a practical way, if that's something you're ever interested in sharing. Thanks a lot!

Awesome video!

I use my fridge as a whiteboard.

thank you

Looking good Yay

that little χωριατικη on your board reminded me (as a reference to one of your previous videos) how I consciously abandoned learning greek in favor of more useful for me due to my occupation chinese and turkish, which pains me greatly, what a dramatic switch, but alas... My brain is not getting any younger and those two are way easier (judging by my tiredness after a lesson). Next on my quit list is the church choir, which is very demanding in terms of time and especially weekend time, it also reminds me of quitting greek which is very hurtful just like that whiteboard of yours.

Great tips

The whiteboard as a war room is an awesome way of thinking, I should be using mine more. Do you use a calendar app or todo list app as well or just the whiteboard?

Index tags are the BEST! Can't believe people write in their books

You sold me on obsidian. Obsidian sponsor this man.

Damn I’m a yoga girlie who got your video in recommended feed and now I wanna learn to use that second brain thing (also subscribed obv, great video)

The barely noticeable Chi Square statistic on the whiteboard...intriguing

So interested to know in detail how you use obsidian effectively Make a detailed video I look forward to see it. I tried Obsidian twice but left as interface wasn’t working for me

Obsidian is great!

item 1 is the one i need to use it .. hahaha all the rest ive already used it

Can you create a video on obstedian like what plugin , fonts, some hacks etc you uses

Please make a video on how to write and manage your knowledge (all of it)

0:41 The thing with this is I wouldn’t go through many books at all if it weren’t for audiobooks. I’ve employed your mini essay strategy with obsidian and have finished ~47 books this year and written mini essays on about a 3rd of them( series’ like Harry potter or Divergent got only one essay). Anyway I’m not sure how to effectively bookmark audiobooks but I’ve been trying to become more diligent about writing my notes on interesting tidbits while I listen, which can be difficult because perhaps I’m driving or working out. Are all the books you consume physical or do you listen to Audiobooks as well?

Hi interesting video. Please can I know your mic setup? The stand, mic etc. It sounds crisp.

Great video

In the example you show, it looked like you used 2 different colored index tabs. Does one color mean one thing and the other color someone else?

5:22 LOL I know the feeling... I've also got myself a book stand for exactly the same reasons you mentioned, and I've also ended up not using it a whole lot. However one benefit I found it have is keeping my books in the view whenever I glance away from the computer. I just put something I'm reading or want to read there and it's stays at the eye-level - much better than having it lying down on the desk (and probably away from view) - and keeps the book at the forefront of my mind. For example right now Atomic Habits is there so it reminds me of some of the principles and the notes I've been taking from the book recently. // By the way, since you use Obsidian a lot - do you have a process for forming connections between your new and old notes? It's pretty easy when all the related notes are recent, but I'm still trying to figure out how to do the same for notes I'd taken a long time ago...

Hey brother, Even I love to read & listen Audiobooks & I take notes from each of those books in my Google Notes app in my phone. I want to share that with the audience I have a channel I just started you are my greatest Inspiration & I want to grow my youtube channel too. How can I do that need your advice on this. LOVE YOUR CONTENT.

Wow that's the word my mouth come out when i see your app you are using for keeping the second brand, May i know its name, your app?

idk how, but you have that Andrew huberman energy

Summary; Items Index White boar Pencil Desk organizers Book stand 2nd brain use

What should i do, if i don't have a desk??

Thanks for your videos. One question: how come the big nodes in your graph have different colours (red, yellow and blue)? How can I get that?

I discovered your channel some days ago and I love it. Great content, your instructions are pretty clear, I try to focus to one topic at a time, as you suggested on another video. One little odd question... Are you greek or are you learning greek? I think I noticed a greek word on your whiteboard. Sorry for being out of topic, another greek here ☺️

Do you title the color index tabs?

I am tired of mixed understandings on recollection...I hear you, and many who agree with you but then there is Erih Fromm, whom I recall saying writing things down is to forget, I.e. in the way of pure conciousness. I can see both sides with valid points. Strange it is to decipher this for personal understanding..Iuse to do this white board "thing".

This is the best advice in the history of RU-vid. QUESTION: who (or what) do you believe controls the Universe, and has created life on Earth? HINT: Please don't say random-chance/evolution.

How technologically savvy do I need to be to use obsidian? I'm interested in creating a second brain but unsure which note taking system to use.

I write in my books so the next person can think wtf 😂

Heya. Yours is among the realest, strongest content on RU-vid. Really excellent stuff. So I thought I would point out some things that might be getting in the way. - background wall - decide on the set: if it's the whiteboard, then feature it and center it - desk - you need to expand upon that concept of a desk organizer ☺️ - if you clear up your desk and feature only the things which you advocate, for instance the book stand, etc, it'll enhance your videos essays - repetitive point-making - tighten your scripts - graphics aesthetics - select a comprehensive style of font & images (the fine art style is really nice) that can give your videos a simple, distinct and consistent look - lists & points of advice - repeat and add to onscreen as you go, so we keep track of our screenshot your points - video thumbnails - select a consistent one (your art & books style perhaps) - stock video clips - maybe not at all, or rather ditch the generic "person doing something" ones and select specifically themed ones per video (nonperson ones tend to be less distracting) - timing - 9 mins seems to encompass everything you need to say in your mini essays 😉, and the longer, the more it borders on repetition - last, while this might seem trivial, I swear to you that investing in video lighting will instantly auto elevate your channel - your appearance, cadence & pace are perfect. I already consider your jersey and eyeglasses iconic. Please feel free to ignore or delete this comment, just wanted to contribute as I could to a channel that clearly deserves big things. We need more of your type of knowledge evangelists and less of the hype and "courses." Best of luck to you, man.

Based on usage, investing in a good pen seems like a good idea. Or do you prefer pencils? Great video. Convinced me to give Obsidian a go.

What’s the tool that is used for the connect graph 📈

Can you provide the video you saw on the second brain with obsidian?

For the book stand you can scan it

What is the software in item 6? I've no idea

I'm always surprised absolutely no one mentions Google Notes as an organizing system. I mean it's not that advanced, but I use it daily for groceries, to do lists or as a telephone log.

Loved that point about not skimping out on spending more on things which demand the most of our time. Which is why I bought the Kindle Paperwhite instead of the entry level variant. That reveals the fact that I read e-books rather than physical books, am I still accepted on this channel? :)

I have trauma brain injury.. Can you help to with this please. I love this idea. I have plans in the future to write three or four scholarly articles

God bless great insight

The dullest pencil is better then the sharpest mind !