Explain Like I'm Five · by Aoi Ito · 2026-09-10
How do you get better at explainers without burning out?
Part of me wanted the fancy version with all the tools. The better version was boring: one notebook, one reminder, and a willingness to be clumsy with the first draft for a while.
My current rule is simple: if it takes less than 5 minutes to prepare, I am much more likely to keep doing it.
54 sparks · 14 comments
Comments
Arif Hasan · 25 likes
Yes, but I would approach it in a small, testable way rather than trying to solve everything at once. Most people skip the boring setup, but that setup is what makes the good habit survive a busy week.
- Start small and make the next step obvious.
- Keep notes so you can compare what worked.
- Ask someone with recent experience, not just strong opinions.
That should give you a solid first pass.
Finn Brown · 15 likes
My practical advice is to make the next step tiny enough that you can do it today. Momentum usually answers half the question. The Monday morning version is even more interesting.
Aoi Ito · 4 likes
@orbitPixel28 My wallet felt that.
Urban Atlas · 7 likes
Yes, but I would approach it in a small, testable way rather than trying to solve everything at once. You will learn more from a simple version repeated three times than from a perfect plan you never start.
- Start small and make the next step obvious.
- Keep notes so you can compare what worked.
- Ask someone with recent experience, not just strong opinions.
Source: mostly hard-won experience and comparing notes with people who stuck with it.
Quiet Marauder · 4 likes
Yes, but I would approach it in a small, testable way rather than trying to solve everything at once. If two options look equal, choose the one that is easier to reverse.
- Start small and make the next step obvious.
- Keep notes so you can compare what worked.
- Ask someone with recent experience, not just strong opinions.
Source: mostly hard-won experience and comparing notes with people who stuck with it.
Nicolás Díaz · 0 likes
This comment has main-character footnote energy.
Liam Eriksson · 3 likes
The middle path is probably best: try it cheaply, keep notes and decide after you have real evidence. A little friction removed goes a long way.
Salma Idrissi · 2 likes
I would ask what outcome you want in two weeks, not in some ideal future. That makes the choice much clearer. For me it came down to the conversation.
Paolo Garcia · 1 likes
The middle path is probably best: try it cheaply, keep notes and decide after you have real evidence. The social part surprised me too.
Chloe Davis · 1 likes
Excellent timing; I was just thinking about better. I care less about the perfect answer and more about repeatability. This is kinder advice than most of the internet manages.