The Goldilocks Rule #shorts

2023-02-13 · Short · Ali · recording, 0:57 · watch on YouTube

Topic: Mindset, motivation and happiness · mode: Explanation and tutorial

Ali explains the Goldilocks Rule: people are most motivated by tasks just beyond their current ability, so when learning something new or starting a habit, pick medium difficulty, neither too easy nor too hard.

What is said

The parts of the video and what is said in each (★ — how much it matters to the video).

00:00:00 — The Goldilocks Rule: pick tasks of medium difficulty

• ★★★ When learning something new or starting a new habit, Ali says, look for the middle option of medium difficulty, because how difficult something is decides how long you stick with it. — 00:00:00
• ★★ Learning the piano with songs of only three notes is boring and demotivating because it is too easy, Ali says, and starting with a Mozart symphony is discouraging because it is too hard; something just beyond your current level is engaging. — 00:00:00

• ★★★ The Goldilocks Rule, as Ali states it, says humans feel peak motivation when working on tasks right on the edge of their current abilities: not too hard, not too easy. — 00:00:29

  “humans experience peak motivation when working on tasks that are right on the edge of our current abilities”

In the description and comments

• ★ Ali Abdaal (channel): In a comment under the Short, the channel says it was taken from James Clear's book Atomic Habits. — creator comment · Atomic Habits, James Clear

Threads in this video

• refine · How do you learn a new skill quickly? — When learning something new or starting a new habit, Ali says, look for the middle option of medium difficulty, because how difficult something is decides how long you stick with it. (00:00:00)
• refine · How do you build a good habit and break a bad one? — When learning something new or starting a new habit, Ali says, look for the middle option of medium difficulty, because how difficult something is decides how long you stick with it. (00:00:00)
• refine · Do you need motivation or discipline to get things done? — The Goldilocks Rule, as Ali states it, says humans feel peak motivation when working on tasks right on the edge of their current abilities: not too hard, not too easy. (00:00:29)

Mentioned

Central: Goldilocks Rule

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