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The value of doing difficult things + video games

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These are questions I’ve been asked only once or twice, but which were thought-provoking enough that I want to post them anyway. This idea was taken from Paul Graham. Mostly by cutting out activities that aren’t important to me. I feel high school students tend to focus too much on “local” changes (using Chrome productivity extensions, shaving time off X, etc.) rather than “global” changes (dropping entire classes or commitments). It’s not that local changes are bad, but you should usually consider global changes first before local changes (see so-called 80-20 rule). Aggressively dropping classes and extracurriculars that aren’t adding value to your life (e.g. not taking AP classes solely for college applications) are good examples that I think people don’t do enough. I admittedly have spent a lot of time optimizing my workflow, like typing quickly, using Vim/Linux, organizing tasks on calendars, etc. But I think these are second-order effects. I took this to extreme measures in high s

Evan Chen • Rarely Asked Questions Evan Chen 《陳誼廷》 About • Now • CV • Blog • Contact Teaching (OTIS) • OTIS Excerpts • OPAL Hunt • Mock AIME Olympiad • For beginners • For coaches • Problems • MOP • ELMO • USEMO Personal/Hobbies • Puzzle hunts • Games • Photos YouTube/Twitch • Discord plz learn code • Filesys concepts • Learning path • LaTeX style • Asy guide Publications • EGMO book • Napkin (v1.6) • 18.02 book • Course notes Recommendations • Mentors • Quotes • FAQs • Rec letters Rarely Asked Questions Return to FAQ Index. These are questions I’ve been asked only once or twice, but which wer

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