Philosophy is life-changing. It expands your mind, hones your critical thinking, deepens your appreciation for your world–but, then why doesn’t everyone do it? Well, philosophy is much like getting in shape. The first few days are easy, but very soon afterwards your motivation wanes. You don’t see immediate benefit and it becomes very difficult to continue. If, however, you stick with it, it becomes a habit: something it’s hard not to do. The way you think and see the world will expand dramatically and you’ll love it!
How do you get to the point where philosophy is just a part of you? Here are three tips for any beginning philosopher.
1. Commit!!!
Again, the benefits to your mental life are incredible, but it’s going to take a little effort. I suggest blocking out a short amount of time regularly–if not daily–to read/watch philosophy. And, I don’t mean, “Yeah, I’ll find a few minutes everyday,” because that will never happen. Sit down with a calendar and put down some ink (or pixels). Intentionally commit to learning. Of course, I would suggest watching my videos and reading my blog posts, but it doesn’t have to be that. Throughout our time together, I will continually suggest further reading, listening, or viewing, and my feelings won’t be hurt if you spend your time elsewhere. So long as you’re enjoying philosophy, my job is done!
2. But, don’t go crazy
When you schedule your philosophy time, don’t go too big. In any discipline, the key to sticking with it is personal integrity. As soon as you blow off your schedule, 
you won’t take your commitment seriously anymore. After all, you already broke your word once; why think you’ll stick with it now? You will be much more likely to remain honest to yourself if your plan is challenging enough to maintain your interest, but reasonable enough to stick with. Or, as the old Air Force adage goes, “Set high, but achievable, goals.”
3. Take philosophy notes
There are several reasons for taking notes. First, a time will come when you want to remember something you heard or read. However, you won’t be able to find it without organizing your information. Second, studies have shown people remember things better if they write them down. Third, the act of organizing what you’ve learned will give you enough time thinking about the material to develop your own ideas. You will then want to write these ideas down and pretty soon you’re a philosopher.
Here are a few suggestions for note-taking equipment. When I am researching, I like to use Microsoft OneNote. I like the fact that you can add pictures easily and I think it allows you to organize your notes very well. Some people prefer Evernote. It lacks many higher-level logic symbols, but this shouldn’t be a problem for beginning philosophers.
I also recommend carrying around a small, physical notebook to jot down thoughts you have throughout the day. OneNote and Evernote are available for your phone, but I find that it’s cumbersome to take out your phone and type in your thoughts. Also, having something in your pocket or bag that is dedicated to your thoughts encourages you to actually take the notes. I prefer moleskine notebooks, but you should choose whatever is appealing to you. If you like the way your notebook looks and feels, you will be much more likely to use it.
Do you have any suggestions for success? Please comment below! The best philosophy happens in dialogue, so let’s start the conversation!
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