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Explain Like I'm Five · by Rizky Pratama · 2026-10-02

How do you get better at explainers without burning out with limited time?

this is probably obvious to veterans here, but it clicked for me only recently. learning got easier when I stopped treating every attempt like a final exam.

> Tiny progress is still progress.

That line sounds cheesy, but it got me through the part where simple stopped feeling new.

> Tiny progress is still progress.

That line sounds cheesy, but it got me through the part where simple stopped feeling new

27 sparks · 21 comments

Comments

Grace Parker · 9 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

Grace Parker · 8 likes

I would ask what outcome you want in two weeks, not in some ideal future. That makes the choice much clearer. I would test it for 4 days before deciding

Brian Otieno · 7 likes

Yes, but I would approach it in a small, testable way rather than trying to solve everything at once. Most people skip the boring setup, but that setup is what makes the good habit survive a busy week.

- 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.

Hope this helps!

Camila Rocha · 5 likes

Yes, but I would approach it in a small, testable way rather than trying to solve everything at once. Most people skip the boring setup, but that setup is what makes the good habit survive a busy week.

- 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.

Hope this helps!

Yasmine El Amrani · 0 likes

my wallet felt that

Marco Conti · 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 Seoul

Noah Johansson · 3 likes

I would ask what outcome you want in two weeks, not in some ideal future. That makes the choice much clearer. The winter version is even more interesting

Avery Johnson · 2 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 awkward constraint is probly the real story

Mango Mango · 3 likes

@averycodes That is the part people skip

Rizky Pratama · 2 likes

Exactly; the hidden cost is energy

Ethan Brooks · 2 likes

I think this advice is overrated. Honestly, the simplest version wins for me. Glad you shared the messy version too

Maya Putri · 1 likes

Agree completely. The simple version is underrated. My only addition is to make the first step visible

Sleepy Coder · 8 likes

could be regional too

Rizky Pratama · 2 likes

fair pushback

Irene López · 6 likes

Beautifully concise

Noah Campbell · 0 likes

@rizkynotes Now I want a spreadsheet

Aoi Ito · 1 likes

That made the concept click

Maya Putri · 0 likes

Exactly; the hidden cost is energy

Maya Putri · 0 likes

Beautifully concise

Lucas Dubois · 1 likes

This reminds me of something a friend in Kuala Lumpur mentioned. That is where the boring checklist helps

Rizky Pratama · 0 likes

anecdote beats theory here