We live at a time of unlimited resources, where anything can be learnt online.

For all its benefits, there are negatives to this. The most destructive of these is information overload - being incapacitated by choice.

That's where the 50/50 rule comes in to play.

Create Your Curriculum

To begin, you need some kind of structure or you will be pulled in all kinds of directions.

Start by understanding 5 to 10 fundamentals of your subject. How do you find these out? Artificial Intelligence.

Given the right prompt ChatGPT can create a whole curriculum for you if you give it the right prompt.

Here's one I created for Basket Weaving - purposely obscure!

I want to learn basic basket weaving. I will have 1 hour a week, and want to be able to make a basic basket in 10 weeks. Create a curriculum for me that will take me through the basics of basket weaving in that time. I have no previous experience. Give me the main learning point at the end of each session. Split the curriculum into 50% theory and 50% practical.

On To The 50/50 Rule

ChatGPT will give you a headline for each of the weeks. Once you have this, you know what subjects you need to study.

Your time will be divided up. 50% will be used researching the specific topic. The other 50% will be used putting this into practise.

You now have a focus for the research time you have. Over and above this you can wander off the beaten track but you will have a clear direction for your scheduled learning that will see you learn that new skill!