Active Recall: Why Testing Yourself Beats Rereading
Active recall, the practice of testing yourself rather than rereading, has more evidence behind it than any other study technique. Here's the mechanism, the evidence, and how to use it.
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The Multitasking Myth: What the Cognitive Science Actually Shows
Research on multitasking is clear: switching between complex tasks increases errors and slows completion. Here's the mechanism, the evidence, and what it means for how you structure your work.
Spaced Repetition Beyond Flashcards: Using It for Work
Spaced repetition is well-proven for learning, but most people only associate it with flashcards. Here's how the spacing effect applies to professional development, meetings, and retaining what you read.
Productivity Tips That Actually Have Evidence Behind Them
A research-based look at which productivity techniques have genuine evidence, which are plausible but untested, and which are mostly anecdote.
Deep Work: What the Research Says About Cal Newport's Framework
Cal Newport's deep work framework claims that sustained, distraction-free focus is increasingly rare and increasingly valuable. Here's what the research supports, what it doesn't, and what it leaves out.
Does Focus Music Actually Help You Concentrate?
The research on background music and concentration is more complicated than the lo-fi playlist suggests. Here's what the evidence says about when music helps, when it hurts, and why individual differences matter.
How to Study Effectively: What Cognitive Science Recommends
Cognitive science has identified which study techniques work and which don't. Here's what the evidence says about retrieval practice, spaced repetition, and why rereading is a poor use of time.
How to Stop Procrastinating: What the Research Actually Recommends
The research on procrastination has shifted from time management to emotion regulation. Here's what the evidence says about why we procrastinate and which strategies actually reduce it.
The Pomodoro Technique: What the Evidence Actually Supports
A research-based review of the Pomodoro Technique, covering why 25-minute intervals help some workers and hinder others, and what the mechanism tells us about adapting it.
Does Time Blocking Work? What the Research Shows
An evidence-based look at time blocking, including what the research says about who benefits, when it fails, and how it compares to flexible task lists.