2021 — Personal Learning Report
Welcome to my personal learning report! This marks my third year compiling and reflecting on data I’ve collected about my learning habits. Let’s dive in.
Internet Articles
2021 was my worst year on record tracking reading via Pocket. I undoubtedly read less, but I’ve also lost many of the use cases that justified using an article saving app.
In 2019, I was commuting every day via bus and train. Working from home in 2021, I mostly left articles on browser tabs and only saved ones that were longer reads.
Recommended Articles
Here are a few of my favorite reads this year:
Books 📚
I wanted to maintain the book reading habits I developed in 2020 while relaxing any pressure I felt to always be reading. A 30 book goal (mostly audio) did that for me. It felt flexible while still occasionally nudging me to spend an evening reading instead of playing Nintendo.
Books Read in 2021
I recently shared what I found tracking 100+ book recommendations. I learned a significant number of the books I am recommended reinforce my existing interests, expertise, and network.
One insight from this analysis was that most books I am recommended were written in the last 5–10 years. This trend holds true for the books I actually read in recent years as well:
In 2022, I am going to explore the pros/cons of actively diversifying what I read. Stay tuned.
2021 Book Recommendation
Thinking in Systems: A Primer by Donella Meadows. Few books have influenced my worldview more than this one. I read the first half a few years ago. Since then, systems thinking has reshaped the way I view partisan politics, mental health, poverty, education policy, religion, and so much more.
Don’t do the audiobook. Wrestling with the diagrams is half the fun.
Podcasts
- Your Undivided Attention — I love exploring how technology influences society and vice versa. This podcast explores how technology has, is, and will continue to shape society in a myriad of ways.
- Revisionist History — I am not a big fan of most Malcom Gladwell books. He covers interesting topics, but he presents too much theory as fact. The same is true of his podcast, but in this format, he presents his conclusions much more casually.
- Learn Japanese With Noriko — It has been nearly a decade since I lived in Japan. I recommend this podcast to anyone hoping to brush up on their Japanese listening skills.
Apps/Tools
Nike Run Club —Before this year, I‘d never jogged more than a 5K. A notification asking if I would like to try one of Nike’s guided half marathon plans completely changed that. Though…I now use Strava 😬.
Google Podcasts — Beyond listening to the shows above, searching for a podcast episode has become my default approach to learning the basics of something new. The conversational approach most podcasts follow is a great way to get beginner-level questions out of the way.
IFTTT — If This Then That. I am hooked on automating first-world problems out of my life (see below). IFTTT is a great beginner-level tool for all kinds of personal projects.
Flashcards
Flashcards are an extension of my brain. I try to review them daily. It usually only takes 1–2 minutes, but 2021 presented the greatest challenge to this habit yet. A newborn.
For years, I’ve reviewed my cards first thing in the morning. This year, that routine was swapped out for prepping a bottle, changing a diaper, and feeding a baby. Prioritizing better sleep, I also began sleeping with my phone across the room rather than on my nightstand.
Good habits are the holy grail of self-improvement. Seeing this data convinced me I want to find new ways to reestablish this habit in 2022.
Writing
I don’t have well-defined goals for my writing, but I can directly attribute several opportunities (including my current job) to the content I’ve published here.
At the top of my Medium page is a number that taunts me. 188 drafts. Yikes. At some point in the past, I developed a habit of drafting a blog post every time I start taking notes about an idea.
I have since developed a better notetaking system. That means these drafts need to get published or transferred into the new system. This year, I want to focus on sharing some of those ideas.
Here are a couple of my favorite posts from 2021:
2021 Memorable Learning Experience
Pony Express 50
Over the last decade, my family has helped run communications for the Pony Express Trail 50 & 100. Every year, I tell myself I’m going to complete the 50-mile course…someday. This year, I did it!
Prior to this year, I never considered myself a runner. I started running consistently in June when my Nike+ app asked if I’d like to train for a half marathon. That race went well, and I decided to try the Pony Express 50 a few months later.
Given how busy life was this year, adding another daily to-do wasn’t at the top of our priorities. That said, my wife and I both found getting regular exercise directly improves our stress, mental health, and ability to juggle it all. I highly recommend it.
2021 Personal Learning Influencer
Reflecting on my data this year, there is one person I feel deserves this year’s recognition: our baby daughter.
If my goal was to maximize personal learning stats, having a child is about the worst thing that could happen. In 2021, I read less, wrote fewer blog posts, and reviewed fewer flashcards.
I don’t have a chart to explain why that’s absolutely worth it.
For me, spending time with kids is like clicking reset on life. They notice things I’ve learned to ignore, ask questions, and save me from taking life too seriously.
I was inspired to see how caring for a newborn stretched every member of our family to learn new things.
Goodbye 2021!
This year, I prioritized the unquantifiable. I’m healthier, happier, and I’ve nearly finished watching the entire Dragon Ball Z series in Japanese.
Professionally, I stretched myself. I co-taught a graduate-level course, made new connections, mentored others, built new teams, learned how to interview kids, and consistently delivered value in my role as a Product Manager.
By the stats, this year was somewhat of a failure. By what matters, I couldn’t have asked for more. Here’s looking forward to what we’ll learn in 2022!
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