Autodidact /atg/

Daily reminder to abandon academia and become an autodidact instead. Discover the intellectual conversation for yourself instead of regurgitating a distorted perspective from degenerative universities.

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1. SORT YOURSELF OUT.

2. LEARN THE TOOLS OF THE TRADE.

3. EXPLORE!

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Devise a simple routine and practice it without reservation. Learn how you can "order" your day, saving it from the natural of chaos internally (laziness, depression, etc.) and externally (poor environment, no resources, disorganization, etc.) to make yourself as productive as possible. Worry promoting antifragility in your routine against sudden events after you understand how order in life is created. Hold yourself accountable. This is your life, nobody else's life, and this is your one shot to make things happen.

Once this happens, you can cultivate the state of mind necessary to understand intellectual discourse: ts contexts, its purpose, its direction, and its tools. An autodidact should strive to secure the intellectual foundation necessary to explore more complex fields without outside help. i.e., math, history, and philosophy in order to understand economics; a survey of philosophy to prepare for in-depth exploration of its various topics, etc. This guide is meant to serve as the beginning, not the end, of all autodidact pursuits.
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SORT YOURSELF OUT
>SORT YOURSELF OUT

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1. Eat well. Limit simple carbohydrates in favor of complex carbohydrates, healthy fats with balanced omega 3, protein. Consume plenty of vegetables and some fruit.

2. Exercise daily. At least 20-30 minutes of moderate cardio to improve memory, energy, and thinking. Lifting optional for /fitlit/izens.

3. Sleep well. Establish a consistent sleeping schedule and do your best to never deviate from it. 7-8+ hours, preferably in intervals of 1.5 hours (7.5 hours, 9 hours, etc.) are optimal for adults. If you work hard and limit brightness at night, this should be no problem.

4. Establish good working habits to promote flow state. Pomodoro timers, StayFocused app, earplugs/noise-canceling headphones, discarding smartphones, going to libraries, etc., whatever it takes to concentrate and stop procrastinating.

5. Keep a journal. Start with making a simple task list in the morning and commenting about your day in the evening. Progress with more and more thoughts as you continue your habit.

6. Meditate daily. At least 5 minutes of mindfulness meditation per day in the morning and evening in order to reduce stress, improve concentration, and regulate emotions.

7. Keep order. Keep yourself clean, keep your working space reasonably ordered (after use), and ensure that everything has its place. A good organizational system pays dividends in projects with many moving parts, like when attempting to synthesize large amounts of information together.

8. Pick up a practical hobby or skill. Learn an instrument. Become a hiking expert. Learn to cook. Fix your own house. Being involved in the world is a perfect chance to apply your newfound knowledge and remain connected with reality. Immerse yourself in a foreign language. We learn to solve problems, among other things, so keep this purpose in mind.

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LEARN THE TOOLS OF THE TRADE
>LEARN THE TOOLS OF THE TRADE

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>AUTODIDACT CORE:
How to Read a Book - Mortimer J. Adler
The Trivium - Sister Miriam Joseph

>AUTODIDACT CRITICAL THINKING:
Creative and Critical Thinking: W. Edgar Moore
Thinking, Fast and Slow - Daniel Kahneman
The Oxford Essential Guide to Writing - Thomas S. Kane

>AUTODIDACT LIBERAL ARTS:
Atlas of World History - Patrick O'Brien
The Interpretation of Cultures - Clifford Geertz
Western Philosophy: An Anthology - John Cottingham
The Story of Art - E.H. Gombrich
The Art of Fiction - David Lodge
The Bible (KJV/NKJV)
Music In Theory And Practice - Bruce Benward
Pre-Calculus - C. Stitz & J. Zeager
How to Think Like a Mathematician - Kevin Houston
<any introductory-level college textbook on fundamental natural science, either physics, chemistry, or biology>

>AUTODIDACT SOCIAL SKILLS:
Improve Your Social Skills - Daniel Wendler
No More Mister Nice Guy - Robert Glover
How to Win Friends and Influence People - Dale Carnegie
How to Speak, How to Listen -- Mortimer J. Adler

>AUTODIDACT SELF-IMPROVEMENT:
The Discourses - Epictetus
A Primer in Positive Psychology - Christopher Peterson

>NOTE: Not the only definitive list. Many other possible lists exist to fulfill this role.

>NOTE: If one book provides a challenge, then find something more basic and work your way to that milestone.

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EXPLORE!
>EXPLORE!

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Now that you know the /autodidact/ basics, stop doubting yourself and start tackling dense material with your newfound analytical abilities. Read the entire Western Canon, or all Stoic philosophy! All in all, you now have knowledge and tools at your disposal to guarantee success in developing a well-rounded perspective. By this stage, you'll know what you want, and you should have the confidence to handle whatever is thrown in your way. Good luck!