4 ms·
No one seems to be answering the second question, so I'll take a crack at it: When something just isn't clicking in my brain I move on from it! Then some time
by CornCobs 5y ago
No one seems to be answering the second question, so I'll take a crack at it:
When something just isn't clicking in my brain I move on from it! Then some time later (not a fixed time) I happen across it and read through it again with a fresh mind.
This has happened too many times for it to be a coincidence, that the 2nd attempt ALWAYS makes things click very naturally. It has happened with probability concepts such as Bayesian networks or HMMs, optimization algorithms like EM, Monte Carlo sampling, bootstrap, functional programming concepts like monads, C++ move semantics; the list goes on.
Whenever you're stuck, just take a break! And not a 30 minute coffee break but still at the back of your mind kind of break - completely forget about it and come back in a few days, a few weeks or even a month or 2 later
- sbmthakur 5y agoIndeed. I prefer going for a run or playing a sport as it completely shifts the focus of your mind as well as the body. I have also noticed that cooking can also be a good mind shifter.
- charlysl 5y agoExcellent advice. In my experience it works only if you tried really hard the first time though, even if you failed.
- iKlsR 5y agoAgreed. I've never really gotten into neural networks, most of the times I start but get distracted or bored/lost and suddenly enough a Vertiasium video pops up and about everything just slots into place, stuff you've glossed over or heard before just make sense. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVsUOuSjvcg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVsUOuSjvcg. Start at minute 4:00.
- MisterMower 5y agoCollege was immensely frustrating to me for this reason. You can’t just put it on the back burner for a few months (or even weeks): you have quizzes and exams coming up five days from now. I’m probably a slow thinker, but there are so many concepts from my engineering textbooks that make perfect sense now that were baffling at the time. There’s something about studying those topics in a relaxed, low stakes environment that makes understanding them much easier.