Learn to Recharge, Not to Relax

After a long day of coding, zooming and other distractions, it’s natural to want to relax and just forget everything about work. But how you unwind can make all the difference. Many of us default to mindlessly scrolling through social media or watching shows, thinking it helps us decompress. This kind of “relaxing” often leaves us feeling more drained and unfulfilled.

I’ve been there too—hours lost to YouTube shorts (initially maybe try to have a few minutes of browsing), Twitter threads, and random tweets like Elon Musk’s latest rocket landing, etc. You start watching one thing, and suddenly it’s bedtime. You’ve spent the evening on the couch, but somehow, you’re no longer rested or refreshed.

Then I discovered something interesting: learning new things is a much better way to unwind, especially for these don’t have direct link to your day-to-day work. Instead of passively browsing, I started dedicating my time to learning new skills. Surprisingly, this approach left me feeling more energized and accomplished—like a mental reset.

For instance, I recently bought a coffee machine and, thanks to the guidance of James Hoffmann, a true master of coffee, I’ve been learning how to perfect my espresso. I’ve learnt how to dial in the right grind size, dose, and extraction time. Within days, I went from knowing almost nothing to making a decent espresso at home. Sure, my latte art still needs work, but each day is an opportunity to improve. But the point is, after my 9-5, I love the moment when I can purely focus on the skills and learn the variables to make a good drink (if you also want to develop this particular skill, remember don’t drink it unless you want to be awake at midnight).

This taps into the 80/20 principle: you can learn 80% of most skills in 20% of the time. You don’t need to be a master to feel the benefits—just acquiring the basics gives you a sense of progress and accomplishment.

The interesting part here of learning a new skill is that it seems to require more focus, effort, and things to remember and absorb. However, in contrast, it actually energizes me and brings more satisfaction compared to passively consuming social media or other forms of entertainment.

Not only learning a new skill can be entertaining, it also helps you to be better on your main field - for me it’s coding skills, refactorings, etc. It’s not necessarily directly applicable for me to use latte art techniques to make a React component more elegant or so, but the process, learning how to face the challenge, how I approach them, how to use the feedback to guide me, how to search, how to find the useful pieces from internet, etc. These small tactics together, make the process of learning anything, coding included, much smoother and efficient.

In addition, learning different things can enhance your creativity, especially when the skill is different from what you already know. In Range by David Epstein, the author argues that learning a wide range of skills is crucial for creativity and problem-solving. Epstein’s research shows that individuals who explore different fields and develop a variety of skills are better able to make connections and think creatively. This not only helps refresh your mind after a long day but also boosts productivity.

Science backs this up. Research on neuroplasticity shows that learning new skills activates and strengthens different parts of the brain, helping you stay mentally agile and reducing stress by focusing on something outside of your daily routine.

In contrast, passive browsing or endless scrolling only gives the illusion of learning. You might stumble on something interesting—a sale on Lindt chocolate or a coffee mug that matches your espresso setup—but after hours of browsing, you’re left with nothing substantial. The difference comes down to intention. When you approach something with a goal—like improving your coffee-making—it’s “dedicated learning,” and it’s far more rewarding.

I encourage my friends to try this approach. Instead of spending hours on Netflix or Instagram, why not learn something new? It doesn’t have to be complicated—even small skills like making better coffee or learning a new recipe, and planting some vegetables in your backyard can have a big impact.

So next time you’re tempted to unwind by zoning out on social media, consider dedicating that time to learning something new. You’ll feel more refreshed, and you’ll gain a new skill—something passive scrolling can never give you.

Stop browsing. Start learning.