De-Brainrot Vacations

De-Brainrot Vacations: A Journey Back to Mindful Learning and Personal Growth

In recent years, the author has noticed a decline in their mental sharpness and productivity, which they attribute to the ease of access to information and entertainment. They remember the days when they would return home from work exhausted after learning new software engineering concepts, but now, they find themselves needing minimal effort to complete daily tasks.

The author attributes this change partly to the influence of AI and the abundance of distractions, such as social media, video games, and other forms of entertainment.

During their recent vacations, the author sought to combat "brainrot" by slowing down and focusing on new habits that would help them maintain their cognitive abilities. They spent time in nature with their dog, socialized with family, and engaged in various activities like playing board games and doing physical exercises. The author chose to bring two books along for their vacation: Mary Beard's "SPQR" and Francisco Claro's "De Newton a Einstein y algo más."

They managed to finish "SPQR" during their first week and started reading "De Newton a Einstein y algo más," which piqued their interest in learning more about physics.

The author discovered a newfound passion for learning, which they previously associated with programming. They began exploring Stewart's Calculus: Early Transcendentals, tackling algebra and trigonometry through the book's appendix and Active Calculus resources. They also researched web-native alternatives for a more engaging learning experience, finding Paul's Notes and Active Calculus to be helpful.

Throughout their vacations, the author immersed themselves in pre-calculus knowledge and mathematics/physics exercises, feeling the same excitement they had when they first started programming as a hobby. Their motivation for learning now goes beyond career prospects in software engineering, as the landscape has become more unpredictable with the rise of AI.

Their primary goal is to achieve a deep understanding of advanced physics concepts and be able to read research papers in various fields. The author looks forward to sharing their experiences on their own site and hopes to receive feedback via webmentions.