Feynman Notebook Method
Keep a notebook of interesting problems and revisit regularly.
Explanation
Richard Feynman kept a notebook titled 'Notebook of Things I Don't Know About (Maybe)' where he collected interesting problems and questions. He'd revisit these regularly, and when he learned something new, he'd see if it connected to any of his collected problems. This systematic curiosity led to many of his breakthroughs.
Real-World Example
Problem: Why do spinning ice skaters speed up when they pull in their arms? Later learns about conservation of angular momentum—connects to notebook problem. Question: How do birds navigate? Reads about magnetic fields—another connection. The notebook becomes a collection of intellectual puzzles waiting for solutions.
How to Apply
Keep a running list of things that puzzle you: Why does this work? How do they do that? What would happen if...? Review the list monthly. When you learn something new, check if it explains any of your collected mysteries. This turns you into an active problem-collector rather than a passive information consumer.