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Explain Like I'm Five · by Maya Williams · 2026-08-31

How do you stay consistent when explainers gets boring in real life?

A few notes from my attempt:
- keep the first step visible
- remove one annoying decision
- celebrate the boring repeat

I tried this in Warsaw with a friend and we both noticed the same thing: the social part mattered more than the perfect plan.

Would love to hear how other people handle this. I am especially curious about the version that works on a tired weekday, not just on an ideal Sunday

93 sparks · 48 comments

Comments

Grace Parker · 12 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 7-minute rule is underrated

Ayesha Khan · 4 likes

good clarification — I read it differently at first

Urban Noodle · 8 likes

Honestly, this is a little too vague to be useful. My friend tried it in Madrid and had the opposite result

Tola Ibrahim · 7 likes

The middle path is probly best: try it cheaply, keep notes and decide after you have real evidence. I would test it for 8 days before deciding

Maia Brown · 7 likes

There is probably a middle ground here. The delightful part is easy to underestimate

Tiny Comet · 6 likes

Yes, but I would approach it in a small, testable way rather then 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.

That should give you a solid first pass

Grace Parker · 1 likes

good clarification — I read it differently at first

Grace Parker · 5 likes

My practical advice is to make the next step tiny enough that you can do it today. Momentum usually answers half the question. That is the kind of detail beginners miss

Aisha Rahman · 5 likes

My practical advice is to make the next step tiny enough that you can do it today. Momentum usually answers half the question. I noticed the same thing in Manila

Aoi Ito · 5 likes

my practical advice is to make the next step tiny enough that you can do it today. Momentum usually answers half the question. I keep a note about simple for exactly this reason

Urban Orbit · 5 likes

What would you change if you started over?

Mateo Ramírez · 3 likes

I was going to disagree, but your second sentence got me

Mango Sparrow · 4 likes

I would ask what outcome you want in two weeks, not in some ideal future. That makes the choice much clearer. The ambitious constraint is probly the real story

Noé Petit · 4 likes

Really good advice, and it feels doable. My friend tried it in Istanbul and had the opposite result

Sophie Gagnon · 4 likes

I would ask what outcome you want in two weeks, not in some ideal future. That makes the choice much clearer. I used to overcomplicate this constantly

Jack Taylor · 3 likes

I would ask what outcome you want in two weeks, not in some ideal future. That makes the choice much clearer. I am curious whether simple still feels good next month

Diego García · 26 likes

Now I want a spreadsheet

Midnight Otter · 5 likes

Now I want a spreadsheet

Jack Taylor · 1 likes

could be regional too

Urban Noodle · 2 likes

noted, and thank you

Lucas Silva · 1 likes

that is fair, but I still worry about maintenance

Maya Williams · 2 likes

Exactly; the hidden cost is energy

Jack Taylor · 1 likes

Now I want a spreadsheet

Ethan Brooks · 1 likes

I think both things can be true

Maya Williams · 1 likes

yep, the boring details matter

Midnight Runner · 3 likes

I would ask what outcome you want in two weeks, not in some ideal future. That makes the choice much clearer. My friend tried it in Nairobi and had the opposite result

Lucas Dubois · 2 likes

I would ask what outcome you want in two weeks, not in some ideal future. That makes the choice much clearer. That is where the boring checklist helps

Aarav Sharma · 2 likes

Did anyone else read this and immediately make a tiny checklist? Honestly, the simplest version wins for me

Amina Okafor · 5 likes

Same here. It took me too long to learn

Aarav Sharma · 1 likes

Thanks that actually helped

Ethan Brooks · 4 likes

could be regional too

Liam Wilson · 0 likes

This. Exactly this

Liam Wilson · 2 likes

I disagree a bit. life matters but the bigger issue is usually expectations

Mateo Ramírez · 2 likes

The middle path is probly best: try it cheaply keep notes and decide after you have real evidence. My only addition is to make teh first step visible

Kabir Khan · 2 likes

the middle path is probly best: try it cheaply, keep notes and decide after you have real evidence. The messy constraint is probably the real story

Ethan Brooks · 1 likes

That is a surprisingly elegant way to frame it. A little friction removed goes a long way

Noé Petit · 1 likes

My practical advice is to make the next step tiny enough that you can do it today. Momentum usually answers half the question. A little friction removed goes a long way

Camille Dubois · 1 likes

I needed the reminder to start smaller

Gentle Rider · 1 likes

My practical advice is to make the next step tiny enough that you can do it today. Momentum usually answers half the question. Honestly, the simplest version wins for me

Priya Nair · 1 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 lunch break version is even more interesting

Finn Brown · 1 likes

I wonder how much of this depends on timing. I noticed the same thing in Berlin

Siti Lim · 1 likes

The middle path is probably best: try it cheaply, keep notes and decide after you have real evidence. The low-effort version is probably the keeper

Angel Reyes · 1 likes

The middle path is probly best: try it cheaply, keep notes and decide after you have real evidence. I noticed the same thing in Lisbon

Rapid Marauder · 1 likes

this is genuinely helpful thanks for writing it out. I am curious whether questions still feels good next month

Rafael Almeida · 1 likes

The middle path is probly best: try it cheaply keep notes and decide after you have real evidence. The Cape Town example makes it feel concrete

Sleepy Comet · 0 likes

my practical advice is to make the next step tiny enough that you can do it today. Momentum usually answers half the question. My friend tried it in Mexico City and had the opposite result

Aoi Ito · 0 likes

I would ask what outcome you want in two weeks, not in some ideal future. That makes the choice much clearer. I learned that one the expensive way

Quiet Atlas · 0 likes

The consistent angle is what sold me. I would test it for 5 days before deciding