✳️ Notes: Devices, Tools, Reading, Computer & Internet tricks.

Best way to learn

• To learn or remember something effectively, try teaching it to someone else. As commonly attributed to Einstein: "If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough."
• Engage in discussions with others—ask questions, provide explanations, and exchange viewpoints. Be open to both convincing others and allowing yourself to be convinced by different perspectives. This approach will help you learn much more than just the topic at hand.
• A teacher once advised me to keep all my thoughts on one side of an A4 paper rather than writing on both sides. This prevents interrupting your flow of thinking when turning the page. I've applied this technique and found it remarkably effective!

Work tracking

• For tracking completed tasks (to report to your boss what you've done in the past few days, for example), you can use either TickTick or Notion (with database, board, and calendar views).
  • In Notion, create a database with properties: date (task duration) and before (for revisiting finished tasks). Calendar view displays tasks based on date, showing task duration clearly. Remember: one task per card!
• TickTick excels at displaying tasks in calendar format, but its note-taking capabilities are limited (which is why I ultimately switched to Notion).
• For tracking your Mac activities, consider Qbserve. Note: this may raise privacy concerns.

Using AI

In today's rapidly evolving AI landscape, numerous services offer innovative ways to learn and work, including ChatGPT, Claude, Grok, Gemini and many more.

• For coding assistance, I recommend Cursor and Claude Code. Students can apply for free Cursor access, while Claude Code comes with a Claude subscription that's more affordable than competitors.
• When researching topics requiring verification and reliable sources, Perplexity is my go-to tool. It meticulously provides source citations with each response, making fact-checking straightforward.
• To practice English conversation, ChatGPT's mobile app works well because it maintains memory throughout conversations, eliminating the need to reestablish context each time.
• For grammar and spelling corrections, both ChatGPT and Grok offer excellent feedback.
• I rely on Claude for technical learning, particularly for code explanations, Data Science concepts, and Computer Science best practices. ChatGPT has recently introduced a "Study and learn" mode that I haven't yet explored.
• If you want access to multiple AI services under one affordable subscription, consider Monica. It features versatile tools including customizable bots with separate knowledge sources. I use it for learning about French/US culture and history and discussing books I'm reading. Its desktop app and browser extensions integrate seamlessly with your operating system and browsing experience.
• I also use Notion AI for writing this site, correct my grammar and spelling. It provide side by side original texts and correction which are

While we shouldn't cling to outdated methods, we must be cautious not to become mentally lazy or overly dependent. I'm still finding the right balance between leveraging AI and maintaining my own critical thinking skills.

• Save time with AI: Without AI, you'd waste significant time searching for answers (like debugging code), often learning nothing through trial and error. Use AI as a shortcut to find information and learn solution methods efficiently. You can even ask AI about common mistakes or typical answers when seeking solutions.