The Long Shortcut to Getting Smarter – Stop Quitting. Start Thinking

Getting smarter is not about quick hacks. It is about doing hard reading on purpose and using simple planning tools to stay consistent.

If you use AlamToolkit.com tools, you can turn slow learning into a daily habit that actually works.

Most people say they want to be smarter. But they do not want the discomfort.

And that is the gap.

Key Takeaways

• Reading books above your level grows your thinking.
• Feeling confused is normal and necessary.
• Smart growth needs structure, not motivation.
• AlamToolkit.com tools help you stay consistent.
• Small daily effort beats rare big effort.
• A written schedule turns intention into action.

Why Most People Don’t Really Want to Get Smarter

Becoming smarter feels uncomfortable, slow, and inconvenient, so most people quit early.

I used to think I liked learning. Then I tried reading Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman.

After 20 pages, I felt… dumb.

Not a little confused. I mean, completely lost.

That feeling is the exact reason most people stop. We enjoy being right. We do not enjoy struggling.

Philosopher Mortimer Adler once said you must read books that are over your head. If you only read what you already understand, your mind stays where it is.

That hit me hard.

Because I realized something simple: Smart growth is a long shortcut.

The Real Problem: Inconsistency

The biggest barrier to becoming smarter is not ability. It is a lack of structure and time management.

You do not fail because you are not intelligent. You fail because your system is weak.

I learned this the annoying way.

I would read intensely for three days. Then stop for two weeks.

Sound familiar?

This is where structure matters. And structure does not mean stress.

It means using tools that make thinking easier.

Step-by-Step System to Become Smarter (Using AlamToolkit.com)

Let me show you what actually worked for me.

Not theory. Not hype. Just practice.

Step 1: Plan Your “Hard Reading” Time

Planning & Time Management tools help you schedule difficult learning sessions before your day gets busy.

If you do not plan it, it will not happen.

Use Planning & Time Management on AlamToolkit.com. Set one 30-minute block daily for difficult reading.

Then open the Calendar & Scheduler. Choose the exact time. Same time each day.

Why same time?

Because your brain likes patterns. And discipline grows from repetition.

Here is a simple weekly structure:

Day	Activity	Duration
Monday	Hard Reading	30 mins
Tuesday	Notes Review	20 mins
Wednesday	Hard Reading	30 mins
Thursday	Reflection	15 mins
Friday	Hard Reading	30 mins
Saturday	Light Review	20 mins
Sunday	Rest	—

Keep it boring. Boring works.

Step 2: Break Big Books into Small Tasks

Use a Task Manager & To-Do List to turn a 400-page book into daily wins.

A thick book feels heavy.

So do not focus on the book. Focus on 10 pages.

Inside AlamToolkit.com, open Task Manager & To-Do List.

Instead of writing:

• Read Thinking, Fast and Slow

Write:

• Read pages 1–10
• Highlight 3 ideas
• Write 1 confusing question

That is manageable.

Small wins create momentum.

Step 3: Track Your Learning Habit

A Habit & Goal Tracker keeps your learning streak visible and measurable.

We repeat what we track.

Open Habit & Goal Tracker. Add one habit: “Read difficult material 30 minutes.”

Now here is the math behind growth:

If you read 30 minutes daily:

30 minutes×365=10,950 minutes

Convert to hours:

10,950÷60=182.5 hours per year

That is serious study time.

No genius required. Just math.

Step 4: Use Timers to Avoid Distraction

Countdown Timer & Stopwatch create focused reading sessions without mental fatigue.

When I first tried deep reading, I checked my phone every five minutes.

Terrible habit.

Now I use the Countdown Timer & Stopwatch.

Set 25 minutes. No interruption.

When the timer rings, stop.

You can even use:

• 25-minute focus
• 5-minute break
• Repeat 2 times

Simple structure. Huge difference.

Step 5: Use the Reminder & Alarm System to Stay Consistent

A Reminder & Alarm System prevents “I forgot” excuses.

Let us be honest.

Most goals fail because we forget.

Open Reminder & Alarm System. Set a daily alert for your reading block.

Choose a sound that annoys you slightly.

Yes. Slightly annoying.

That tension pushes action.

Step 6: Learn Across Time Zones and Meetings

World Clock & Time Zone Converter and Meeting/Event Planner help serious learners manage global discussions and study groups.

If you join book discussions or virtual study groups, timing matters.

Use World Clock & Time Zone Converter to check time differences.

Then organize sessions with the Meeting/Event Planner.

Smart people often discuss ideas. Discussion sharpens thinking.

Even one monthly discussion improves clarity.

Why Reading Above Your Level Works

Books that challenge you force your brain to build new thinking patterns.

When you read easy books, your brain stays comfortable.

When you read hard books, your brain struggles.

Struggle builds connections.

Think of it like this:

If difficulty level = D, 

Growth rate = G

Then:

G∝D

Growth increases as difficulty increases.

Within reason, of course.

If a book is impossible, you quit. If it is slightly hard, you grow.

That is the sweet spot.

My Awkward Realization

One evening, I was reading Adler’s advice.

He said you must work at books you only partially understand.

I closed the book and laughed.

Because that is exactly what I avoid.

I like finishing books fast. It makes me feel productive.

But speed is not intelligence.

Depth is.

That was uncomfortable to admit.

A 30-Day Smart Growth Plan

Here is a practical system you can start today.

Week 1: Adjustment Phase

• Schedule 20–30 minutes daily.
• Use Timer.
• Track habit.
• No pressure to understand everything.

Week 2: Active Thinking

• Add a 5-minute reflection after reading.
• Write one question daily.
• Review notes every Friday.

Week 3: Pattern Recognition

• Identify repeated themes.
• Connect ideas across chapters.
• Discuss once with a friend or group.

Week 4: Deep Review

• Re-read the hardest sections.
• Summarize in your own words.
• Adjust next month’s reading level.

Common Pain Point: “I Feel Dumb”

Feeling dumb during difficult reading is normal and necessary.

This is for:

• Students who want sharper thinking.
• Professionals who want better decisions.
• Anyone tired of surface knowledge.

If you feel confused, good.

That means your brain is stretching.

Most people stop here.

You do not.

Instead, you:

• Check your notes.
• Re-read slowly.
• Schedule tomorrow’s session.

Consistency beats ego.

How AlamToolkit.com Makes This Easier

AlamToolkit.com brings all these utilities into one place.

Instead of jumping between apps, one system. One focus.

Less friction means more thinking.

The Long Shortcut

Most people want quick intelligence.

Quotes. Reels. Short summaries.

But deep thinking is slow.

It is uncomfortable.

It feels inefficient at first.

Yet over the years, it compounds.

If you read 10 hard pages daily, in five years, that is thousands of pages of serious thought.

Very few people do that.

Which means very few people grow that way.

Final Reflection

Let me ask you something simple.

Are you reading what challenges you? Or only what confirms you?

That question stings a little.

Good.

Open AlamToolkit.com. Schedule tomorrow’s reading block.

Set the timer. Track the habit.

Then read something slightly over your head.

You will feel confused.

Stay.

That feeling is growth starting.