Make time to learn new things

Every Sunday I go for a long swim or run. I recover over a pastry and latte, usually from Two Little Red Hen's, O Merveilleux, or Koffecake Korner. Then I head to Barnes & Noble where I religiously browse for about an hour.

Browsing is relaxing, but I'm not doing it only to relax. I go there to learn about things I don't know I don't know. This semi-directed learning is a counterpoint to the directed learning and performing I do during the week.

I conduct research in computational neuroscience and linguistics. The biggest breakthroughs in both rely on a combination of perspective and innovation.

For that combination, some semi-directed learning is invaluable. It allows me to learn to about new topics or link familiar topics in novel ways. For example, the publication of Interactive Data Visualization both signaled to me that there was a critical level of interest in a detailed analysis of streaming data and helped me learn D3. I turn around from the programming sections and see books on popular science or mathematics, which help me reflect on the roadblocks to my projects.

I pass the management section, and reflect on different strategies for dealing with a difficult or struggling student. Sometimes I see similar titles in successive weeks. The stagnation motivates me to reflect rather than seek out something new just as the rapid appearance of title would motivate me to keep up.

Semi-directed learning is profitable as a softer counterpoint to steady work. Too much and one sacrifices productivity. Too little and one starts producing derivative work, or stifles intellectual curiosity

The next time a research project has hit a wall, or you can't figure out how to handle a new difficult direct report, walk to a bookstore, browse, and ask its authors for their opinion.