Get Yourself a Personal Curriculum
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Neuroscience Says You Need a Personal Curriculum for 2026 by Jessica Stillman
I've been a fan of the DIY Degree, where you systematically study each area of a given field using real syllabi. The Personal Curriculum is a condensed version of the DIY Degree. Here's how it works:
- Choose a topic you’re curious about.
- Select one book + one podcast episode + one long-form video about the topic to study
- Do one “homework” assignment such as writing a short essay or making a collage
Why make things harder by assigning yourself homework?
The brain thrives on cycles of challenge, feedback, and progress, yet adult life rarely makes space for that kind of experimentation
Going that extra mile with the homework ensures that your brain doesn't get bored.