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LSQ Newsletter

A newsletter for lifelong learners looking to improve their processing, retention and recall of everything they learn.

Written by

Ray Blakney

When Your Brain Won't Cooperate

How to Handle Focus Breakdowns Mid-Session

Ray Blakney

How Journaling Sharpens Memory and Learning

May 26, 2026

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9 min read

How Journaling Sharpens Memory and Learning

Why putting thoughts on a page improves your working memory.

Ray Blakney

How Resilience Determines Whether You Actually Learn Anything Hard

May 19, 2026

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9 min read

How Resilience Determines Whether You Actually Learn Anything Hard

Why resilience predicts learning outcomes more than intelligence does.

Ray Blakney

What Your Brain Actually Does When You Learn Something New

May 17, 2026

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9 min read

What Your Brain Actually Does When You Learn Something New

The brain change you can't see

Ray Blakney

Beyond the Cardboard: How Playing Games With People Builds Skills You Actually Need

May 16, 2026

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9 min read

Beyond the Cardboard: How Playing Games With People Builds Skills You Actually Need

Why the social dimension of board games turns out to be one of the most transferable life skills there are.

Ray Blakney

The Zone Just Past Comfortable: Why Stretching Yourself Is How Learning Actually Happens

May 15, 2026

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9 min read

The Zone Just Past Comfortable: Why Stretching Yourself Is How Learning Actually Happens

Why comfortable studying doesn't produce growth, where the actual learning zone lives, and how to deliberately calibrate the discomfort that produces real progress.

Ray Blakney

Five Retention Techniques That Aren't Active Recall (And Why You Need Them Too)

May 15, 2026

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10 min read

Five Retention Techniques That Aren't Active Recall (And Why You Need Them Too)

The lesser-known evidence-based retention techniques that work alongside active recall.

Ray Blakney

Find Someone to Look Up To: The Hidden Power of a Good Role Model

May 14, 2026

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10 min read

Find Someone to Look Up To: The Hidden Power of a Good Role Model

The person who proves it's possible

Ray Blakney

How Manual Skills Make You a Better Learner

May 14, 2026

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10 min read

How Manual Skills Make You a Better Learner

Why woodworkers learn better

Ray Blakney

...

Archive

When Your Brain Won't Cooperate

How Journaling Sharpens Memory and Learning

How Resilience Determines Whether You Actually Learn Anything Hard

What Your Brain Actually Does When You Learn Something New

Beyond the Cardboard: How Playing Games With People Builds Skills You Actually Need

The Zone Just Past Comfortable: Why Stretching Yourself Is How Learning Actually Happens

Five Retention Techniques That Aren't Active Recall (And Why You Need Them Too)

Find Someone to Look Up To: The Hidden Power of a Good Role Model

How Manual Skills Make You a Better Learner

LSQ Newsletter

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