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Today I Learned · by Nicolás Díaz · 2026-09-17

What science looks like when you stop optimizing everything after a tiny failure

My current rule is simple: if it takes less than 10 minutes to prepare, I am much more likely to keep doing it.

> Tiny progress is still progress.

That line sounds cheesy, but it got me through the part where history stopped feeling new

77 sparks · 16 comments

Comments

Sleepy Noodle · 78 likes

there is a hidden assumption here that not everyone shares. My friend tried it in Warsaw and had the opposite result

Tomás Gómez · 7 likes

I would love a follow-up example

Ngozi Bello · 1 likes

Now I want a spreadsheet

Laura Gómez · 11 likes

Great point, especially teh part about science. The teh train station detail changes teh whole answer. This is kinder advice than most of teh internet manages

Midnight Runner · 4 likes

This made me smile more than expected. This pairs weirdly well with bibimbap. People underestimate how much sleep changes the answer

Noah Miller · 5 likes

anecdote beats theory here

Liam Eriksson · 3 likes

That is a good question for people with more experience than me. Honestly, the simplest version wins for me

Kabir Khan · 1 likes

I think both things can be true

Irene López · 0 likes

You just saved me a bad purchase

Elif Yılmaz · 0 likes

adding this to my notes

Liam Eriksson · 2 likes

This is the kind of disagreement I like

Nicolás Díaz · 1 likes

my wallet felt that

Elif Yılmaz · 2 likes

I had the same reaction to wallet

Finn Brown · 3 likes

Honestly, this is a little too vague to be useful. That is the kind of detail beginners miss

Noah Miller · 3 likes

I am cheering for this update. I am curious whether history still feels good next month

Can Arslan · 2 likes

The conclusion is too broad but the example is interesting. This pairs weirdly well with sourdough