10/10 Hobbies to Become Smart Again (niche edition)

@rory.irl0

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Why it worked

The video offers a listicle format with actionable, niche advice that appeals to a desire for self-improvement and intellectual curiosity. The 'niche' aspect adds an element of intrigue and exclusivity, while the specific, unusual suggestions make it memorable and shareable.

Summary

The video suggests niche hobbies to improve cognitive function, such as playing bullet chess, doing crosswords in pen, tracing word origins, identifying natural elements, learning celestial navigation, and treating research like a hobby. It also recommends attending lectures and developing the ability to make connections between disparate ideas.

Structure

1Intro: Hobbies to become smart again
2Niche hobbies: Chess, crosswords, word origins
3Nature and observation: Identifying elements, reading the sky
4Manual skills: Letterpress, bookbinding, calligraphy
5Dead skills: Morse code, celestial navigation
6Research as a hobby
7Learning from lectures and making connections

On-screen text

10/10 Hobbies to Become Smart Again (niche edition)

Original caption

10/10 hobbies to become smart again (but they get progressively more niche) #besmart #smarthabits #selfhelp #LearnOnTikTok #smart

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Transcript

10 out of 10 hobbies become smart again, but they get progressively more niche. Play bullet chess against strangers. Do your crosswords in pen. It forces you to think before you commit. Every day, trace one word back to where it came from. Learn to identify things: trees, clouds, birds, type faces. Give yourself a little treat if you're right. Learn to read the sky, weather from clouds, directions from the stars. Take up letter press, book binding or calligraphy. Slow hands equals fast brain. Master one dead skill, Morse code, shorthand, celestial navigation. Useless is the point. Treat research like a hobby. Pick a topic, do a deep dive, write a paper on it. A real paper. Nobody assigned it, it's for no one. Go to pop-up lecture nights from professors. And get to the point where your brain can't stop making connections everywhere.