I’m scatter-brained right now. In the past week, I’ve reviewed concepts from quantum mechanics, artificial intelligence, fluid dynamics, biomechanics, quantitative finance, computer programming, numerical analysis, novel writing, and chess; my poor brain can’t keep track of it all! It is why I’m writing now. Writing helps slow down my mind when it feels as if it’s moving at the speed of light. I try to give each word I write the attention it deserves, and in doing so, the swarm of thoughts must slow to a trickle. Deep breaths after each sentence also help.

It feels as if there is too much to learn, and not enough time. While this has always been true, it feels even more true today in 2024 than ever before in human history. We have so many distractions to choose from. From our phones, tablets, and computers, there are millions of apps, videos, articles ready to eat up some of the 86,400 seconds that make up our day. Not only are they there, but I am aware that they are there. That awareness itself consumes some of the finite amount of energy available for me to spend. Ignorance is bliss is now making more sense with each passing day.

What is the solution? Do I merge with AI? Get an implant in my brain to increase my functional capacity to memorize and learn? I sure hope not. At least not yet. Would merging with AI take away the joy of learning, or increase it exponentially? Is the joy of learning derived by cutting through the struggle of ignorance in your previous state? It certainly feels that way to me, but maybe because it is the only way I’ve known how to learn. The amount of available information to learn is growing every day, and my ability to learn it all remains stagnant, and will decline as I age. Maybe that’s the issue. The thought that it is even possible to learn it all. It’s not. At least until we merge with AI maybe. Until then, I think the best I or anyone like me can do is to accept the limitations of the human brain. Choose your battles wisely. Don’t overload yourself with too many topics. Pick a few at a time and focus intently. It sounds nice in theory but will be much more difficult to implement in practice. I know myself too well. Even still, I will try to reduce my cognitive load. Distraction is omnipresent nowadays, and I need to be able to focus if I’m going to learn even a small fraction of all the knowledge I want to learn by the time I’m no longer here.