Algorithms To Live By Summary

Ever feel overwhelmed by daily choices?

From deciding what to wear to planning your week, life is full of decisions.

What if there was a way to make these choices easier and more efficient?

That’s where the wisdom of algorithms comes in.

Imagine you’re picking a book to read.

You find one that looks great, but it’s the first you’ve seen.

Do you take it or keep looking?

This is “optimal stopping.”

We’ll explore this and other concepts like the explore/exploit tradeoff, sorting, scheduling, caching, Bayes’s Rule, randomness, and game theory.

Each offers insights to improve decision-making.

Ready to live smarter and more efficiently?

Let’s dive into the world of algorithms.

Embrace the Uncertainty

Ever felt overwhelmed by endless choices in life?

Imagine you’re in a new city, apartment hunting.

You see a great one, but it’s the first you’ve checked.

Do you take it or risk missing out on something better?

This dilemma is what computer scientists call “optimal stopping.”

Optimal stopping helps you decide when to stop exploring options and start making decisions.

The trick? Check out the first 37% without committing.

After that, pick the next one that’s better than what you’ve seen.

Say you’re hunting for an apartment over a month.

Spend the first 37% of your time, roughly 11 days, looking without committing.

You’re gathering information, understanding the market.

After that, be ready to pounce on any apartment that beats what you’ve seen so far.

This method applies to apartments, job hunting, dating, and even parking your car.

Gathering data early on sets a benchmark, helping you recognize a truly great option when it appears.

It’s about balancing the risk of passing up good opportunities against the chance of finding something even better.

Consider dating.

You’re meeting people, trying to find the best match.

Spend the first 37% of your dating life without committing.

This period helps you understand what you really want.

After that, start considering commitment to anyone who surpasses your previous dates.

This approach is backed by solid math, offering the best chance of finding the perfect match.

Optimal stopping teaches us a crucial life lesson: sometimes, waiting and gathering information is the best strategy.

It’s not about delaying decisions forever but about making informed choices.

By understanding and applying this rule, you can tackle the fear of missing out and make better decisions confidently.

Now, let’s think about another scenario: parking.

You’re driving around, looking for a spot.

Should you take the first available space or keep looking for one closer to your destination?

Use the same 37% rule.

Drive past the first 37% of available spaces without parking.

After that, grab the next spot you find.

This way, you minimize the time spent searching and maximize the chances of finding a good spot.

The power of optimal stopping lies in its simplicity.

It’s a straightforward, effective way to make decisions in uncertain situations.

By adopting this approach, you can navigate life’s many choices with more confidence and less stress.

The Joy of Exploring and Exploiting

Life is a balance between trying new things and sticking with what you know.

Imagine deciding where to eat.

Do you go to your favorite restaurant or try a new place?

This is the “explore/exploit tradeoff.”

Exploring means trying new things and gathering information.

Exploiting means using what you know to get the best result.

Both are important.

If you never explore, you might miss out on better options.

But if you never exploit, you won’t enjoy the benefits of your discoveries.

In a new city, you want to find the best restaurant.

Trying a new place every night is exploring.

Eating at the same place is exploiting.

Find a balance.

When you have time, explore more.

Try new restaurants, hobbies, routes to work.

Gather more information for better decisions.

When short on time, exploit what you know works.

Go back to your favorite restaurant or stick with your routine.

This applies to careers too.

When starting out, explore different roles and industries.

Understand what you enjoy and where you excel.

As you gain experience, exploit this knowledge.

Focus on roles that align with your strengths.

The explore/exploit tradeoff also matters in social lives.

Meeting new people is exploring.

Deepening existing relationships is exploiting.

Both are essential for a fulfilling social life.

Practically, if looking for a new show to watch, explore different genres.

Once you find a great one, exploit it by watching the entire series.

Companies like Google and Amazon use this tradeoff to improve services.

They explore new ways while exploiting successful methods.

This balance helps them innovate and maintain quality.

Remember, this balance isn’t static.

It changes with time and context.

When young, with more free time, lean towards exploring.

As you grow older, with less free time, lean towards exploiting.

Understanding and applying this tradeoff helps make better decisions in all areas of life.

Sorting Out Life’s Mess

Clutter is something we all deal with.

Sorting helps you find what you need faster and makes life smoother.

It saves time and reduces stress.

Imagine your closet is a mess.

You spend minutes every morning trying to find your favorite shirt.

What if you organized your clothes by type and color?

Finding that shirt would take seconds.

This is the power of sorting.

It turns chaos into order, making routines more efficient.

Sorting isn’t just about physical spaces.

Think about your email inbox.

Every day, you get dozens of emails.

If you leave them unsorted, finding an important message is hard.

Categorize emails into folders—work, personal, urgent—and streamline your process.

Now, you can quickly find what you need.

In computer science, sorting algorithms help organize data.

We can apply these principles to our lives.

For instance, use the “merge sort” method for tasks.

Break down your to-do list into smaller chunks.

Sort these tasks by priority and tackle them one by one.

This prevents overwhelm and ensures you focus on what’s most important.

Here’s another tip: don’t sort things you don’t need often.

If you use certain items occasionally, it’s okay to leave them less organized.

Focus your sorting efforts on things you use daily.

Maximize efficiency without wasting time.

Let’s bring this concept into the digital world.

Your computer’s desktop can quickly become cluttered with files.

Use folders to categorize documents, photos, and applications.

This simple habit saves time and reduces frustration.

Think about your kitchen.

An organized kitchen makes cooking more enjoyable.

Keep your most-used tools and ingredients within easy reach.

Store less-used items in cabinets or drawers.

This makes cooking faster and more pleasant.

Sorting also helps with mental clutter.

Our minds can become overwhelmed with thoughts and tasks.

Try journaling to sort through your thoughts.

Write down everything on your mind, then categorize and prioritize.

This clears your mind and helps you focus on what truly matters.

Consider your social media feeds.

They can be a source of both information and distraction.

Follow accounts that add value to your life and unfollow those that don’t.

Create a digital environment that supports your goals.

Sorting might seem mundane, but it has profound effects.

It turns disarray into clarity, making tasks simpler and more efficient.

By applying sorting principles to different areas of your life, you can reduce stress, save time, and focus on what matters most.

The Art of Scheduling

We all have limited time each day, and how we use it makes a big difference.

Imagine a never-ending to-do list.

How do you decide what to tackle first?

Effective scheduling helps.

Think of your schedule as a puzzle.

The pieces are your tasks, and you need to fit them together.

One strategy is the Earliest Due Date rule.

Start with the task that has the nearest deadline.

This minimizes stress and prevents missed deadlines.

For example, if you have three tasks—writing a report due tomorrow, preparing for a meeting in two days, and answering emails due next week—focus on the report first.

Then move to the meeting prep, and lastly, the emails.

This rule is useful when juggling multiple responsibilities.

It ensures you handle urgent tasks promptly, reducing last-minute scrambles.

By focusing on deadlines, you manage your time more effectively and maintain a steady workflow.

But what if all tasks have similar deadlines?

Use the Most Important Task (MIT) method.

Identify the task that impacts your goals the most and complete it first.

For example, in a project, the MIT might be drafting a crucial section, making an important call, or designing a key element.

By focusing on the MIT, you ensure that your most valuable work gets done.

Scheduling isn’t just about managing work tasks.

It’s also about balancing different aspects of life.

Include time for exercise, relaxation, and social activities.

This helps maintain a healthy balance and prevents burnout.

Consider using time blocks.

Allocate specific periods for different types of tasks.

For instance, dedicate the first hour to emails, the next two hours to deep work, and another block for meetings.

Time blocking helps you stay focused and reduces the mental load of deciding what to do next.

Now, let’s talk about the unexpected.

No matter how well you plan, things can go awry.

Build buffer times into your schedule.

These are periods with no planned tasks, allowing you to handle unforeseen issues without disrupting your day.

Buffer times act as a cushion, giving you flexibility.

Effective scheduling also involves saying no.

Sometimes, you must decline tasks or delegate them to focus on what’s most important.

This isn’t about shirking responsibilities but about prioritizing your time and energy.

Review and adjust your schedule regularly.

What worked last week might not work this week.

Be flexible and willing to change your plans.

Regularly reviewing your schedule helps you stay on top of tasks and ensures that your time is used effectively.

The Power of Caching

Ever wondered how websites load so fast?

It’s thanks to caching, which stores frequently used data closer to you.

This concept can transform daily life.

In your kitchen, keep daily items like your coffee maker on the counter to save time.

This is caching in action.

Apply this to your workspace by keeping essentials like pens and notebooks on your desk.

Store less-used items in drawers.

In digital spaces, organize your computer desktop with shortcuts to frequently used applications and files.

This reduces time spent navigating folders.

For your wardrobe, keep frequently worn clothes easily accessible.

Caching can enhance shopping habits too.

Keep a list of staple grocery items on your phone, updating it instead of writing a new one each time.

In the office, store frequently used supplies like paper and pens centrally for quick access.

Mentally, establish routines for common tasks to reduce decision fatigue.

Meal prepping is another form of caching, saving time and reducing stress.

Keep a pre-packed travel bag with essentials to streamline packing.

By strategically placing frequently used items within reach, you make daily routines more efficient.

Tackling Overfitting

Have you ever planned something in detail, only for it to go awry?

This is where overfitting comes in.

In tech, overfitting means a model is too tailored, making it less effective.

In life, it’s being too rigid with plans.

Imagine a road trip planned to the minute.

A road closure or a cool attraction can throw it off.

Sticking rigidly to the plan means missing out.

Avoid overfitting by being flexible.

Adapt plans as new information comes in.

This helps you handle unexpected changes.

Flexibility doesn’t mean abandoning plans but adjusting them.

Consider your career path.

You might have a five-year plan.

But life is unpredictable.

A new passion or opportunity might align better with your skills.

Being too rigid might cause you to miss out.

Set broad goals and allow room for adjustments.

Focus on the big picture and be willing to change your approach.

This keeps you from being stuck in an unsuitable path.

Think about fitness goals.

A strict workout schedule might need changing if you get injured or find a new activity.

Adapting prevents frustration and burnout.

It keeps you engaged and motivated.

Relationships also need flexibility.

Expectations change, and being open to new dynamics strengthens relationships.

It allows for growth and prevents conflicts.

In the workplace, overfitting can be micromanagement.

Following a plan too strictly stifles creativity and reduces morale.

Encouraging flexibility leads to better outcomes and a positive environment.

Travel benefits from flexibility too.

A strict itinerary can make a vacation stressful.

Leave room for spontaneity.

Explore new places and relax.

This often leads to memorable experiences.

Flexibility in daily life can mean changing routines.

If evening exercise is tiring, switch to mornings.

Adapting keeps routines effective and enjoyable.

Regularly review plans and goals.

Ask if they’re still relevant and working.

Don’t be afraid to make changes.

Proactive adjustments prevent sticking to ineffective plans.

Flexibility isn’t about giving up on goals.

It’s about finding the best path to achieve them.

By avoiding rigidity, you embrace an adaptable approach to challenges.

This way, you’re better equipped to handle whatever comes your way.

The Beauty of Bayes’s Rule

Bayes’s Rule helps us update beliefs based on new evidence.

It’s about learning from what we see and adjusting expectations.

Imagine guessing the weather.

If it’s been sunny for days, you expect more sun.

But if you see clouds, you adjust your expectation.

This is Bayes’s Rule in action.

Take new information and refine what you believe.

For example, deciding to bring an umbrella.

You know it rains 30% of the time.

You see dark clouds, which usually mean rain.

Bayes’s Rule helps combine this general knowledge (30% chance of rain) with new evidence (dark clouds) to make a better prediction.

Here’s how it works.

Start with the base rate: the general likelihood of rain (30%).

Consider the likelihood of seeing dark clouds when it rains, and the likelihood of seeing dark clouds when it doesn’t.

Bayes’s Rule combines these probabilities to give you an updated likelihood of rain.

This rule is useful beyond weather predictions.

Think about health.

If you have a headache and worry it might be serious, use Bayes’s Rule.

Start with the base rate (how common the condition is).

Then, consider how often this symptom appears with the condition versus without it.

This helps you decide about seeking medical advice.

In business, Bayes’s Rule is invaluable.

Imagine launching a product.

You have an initial belief about its success from market research.

After the launch, you get feedback.

Use Bayes’s Rule to update your expectations.

If feedback is positive, your confidence increases.

If negative, you adjust your strategy.

Bayes’s Rule also helps in personal decisions.

Consider dating.

You have an idea of what you want in a partner.

As you meet people, you gather new information.

Bayes’s Rule refines your expectations and helps you make better choices.

Let’s talk about investing.

Investors constantly update beliefs about the market.

If new information suggests a stock will perform well, they invest more.

If news is bad, they pull back.

Bayes’s Rule balances initial expectations with new data to make better financial decisions.

Now, let’s look at everyday decisions.

Suppose you’re deciding whether to try a new recipe.

You’ve heard good things but are unsure.

You try it and it’s delicious.

Bayes’s Rule updates your belief: this recipe is worth keeping.

If it had been bad, you’d adjust your expectation and maybe not try it again.

Bayes’s Rule isn’t about being perfect; it’s about being better.

It encourages you to stay open-minded and willing to change your mind with new information.

This adaptability is crucial in a constantly changing world.

Remember, Bayes’s Rule is about probabilities, not certainties.

It helps make decisions more likely to be right based on the best information.

It’s a way to stay grounded in reality while remaining flexible.

Embracing Randomness

Sometimes, the best decisions come from leaving things to chance.

Embracing randomness can lead to surprisingly good outcomes.

Think about a deck of cards.

When you shuffle them, you create a random order.

You can’t predict the sequence, but this randomness can work in your favor.

Similarly, random decisions can break routines and lead to unexpected benefits.

Imagine choosing a restaurant.

Instead of stressing over where to go, pick a place at random.

You might discover a new favorite or at least have a new experience.

Randomness adds surprise and excitement to life.

In the workplace, decision fatigue is real.

After making countless choices, your brain gets tired, and decisions suffer.

Introducing randomness can help.

If you have a stack of tasks, randomly pick one to start with.

This breaks monotony and reduces the stress of deciding where to begin.

Randomness also boosts creativity.

When brainstorming, random prompts can spark new ideas.

Use a random word generator or flip through a book and pick a word to start your thinking.

This method pushes your mind in unexpected directions.

In social situations, randomness can help break the ice.

At a networking event, randomly choosing who to talk to can lead to interesting conversations.

It removes the pressure of deciding who to approach and opens new opportunities.

Travel planning benefits from randomness too.

Instead of planning every detail, leave some parts to chance.

Wander around a new city without a strict itinerary.

You might stumble upon hidden gems and memorable experiences.

Randomness is useful in fitness.

If you always follow the same workout routine, it becomes boring and less effective.

Mix it up by choosing exercises at random.

This keeps workouts fresh and challenges different muscle groups.

In learning, randomizing review materials can enhance retention.

Shuffle your flashcards or notes to form stronger connections and improve recall.

In personal growth, randomness encourages stepping out of your comfort zone.

Try a random hobby or activity.

This can reveal hidden talents and broaden your horizons.

In decision-making, sometimes choices are equally good.

Overthinking is unproductive.

Flip a coin or use a random number generator to decide.

This approach saves time and reduces stress.

Randomness is a tool for breaking free from rigidity and embracing new possibilities.

It combats decision fatigue, sparks creativity, and opens doors to new opportunities.

By occasionally leaving things to chance, you add variety and excitement to your life.

Game Theory in Life

Life often feels like a series of games where success depends on our actions and others’ actions.

Game theory helps us navigate decisions influenced by others.

Imagine negotiating a salary.

You want a high salary; your employer wants to keep costs down.

Game theory helps you find a mutually beneficial solution by understanding the employer’s values.

It applies to everyday decisions too.

Think about choosing a restaurant with friends.

Everyone has different preferences.

Understanding each person’s preferences helps you find a choice everyone enjoys.

One classic example is the Prisoner’s Dilemma.

Two people can either betray each other or stay silent.

The best outcome is when both stay silent, but fear often leads to both betraying.

This teaches us about trust and cooperation.

In business, game theory informs strategies.

Companies decide pricing and marketing based on competitors’ actions.

Anticipating competitors’ moves helps make strategic decisions.

On social media, platforms use game theory to increase engagement.

They create features encouraging interaction, benefiting both platform and users.

Understanding this helps you navigate social media better.

Game theory also helps in relationships.

Imagine planning a surprise party.

Coordinate with others without the friend finding out.

Strategically telling people ensures a successful surprise.

In politics, game theory explains voting behavior.

Voters and politicians make decisions based on anticipated outcomes.

Voters might choose the candidate with the best chance of winning.

Understanding game theory improves decision-making in collaborative projects.

Consider others’ goals and motivations.

Align interests to foster cooperation and achieve better outcomes.

Game theory helps understand choices and anticipate actions.

It helps navigate complex situations, leading to strategic decisions.

Applying game theory to life helps make smarter choices, improve relationships, and achieve better results.

Conclusion

We’ve seen how algorithms simplify daily decisions.

From optimal stopping to the explore/exploit tradeoff, sorting, scheduling, caching, Bayes’s Rule, randomness, and game theory, these strategies help us navigate life’s challenges efficiently.

Algorithms aren’t just for computers; they improve our lives.

Start applying these strategies to make smarter choices and live more efficiently.