Knowing When To Do What | 5/13/25

Just because we can do the technical parts of our work doesn’t mean we will excel in the work itself.

I’m seeing that as an Algebra II teacher. As a simple example, if I give them 9 = 3x-6, many students know the TECHNICAL steps of HOW TO add 6 to both sides. Then HOW TO divide by 3 on both sides.

But the issue they encounter is knowing WHEN to do them. They see numbers and a letter and they freeze. They get overwhelmed perhaps. System overload.

“For these types of problems, I need to use these steps” is something that they’re still developing.

If we change the subject, scope, and complexity of the problem, you might be doing the same thing in your life.

You may know HOW TO read a book. You may know HOW TO write. You may know HOW TO exercise. You may know HOW TO meditate.

But it's knowing WHEN to do WHICH that is key.

“Oh I’m feeling amped up and lots of energy is in my body.” – journaling may not be the best option there. I’d say exercising, dancing, or some physical activity could be more effective.

“I feel mentally and emotionally overwhelmed” → Meditation may not be the solution. You may just get stuck in your thoughts even more. In those situations, I write and verbalize all my thoughts and feelings first. THEN, I move on to some other activity.

So self-help is not just about knowing HOW TO do things. It’s about experimenting enough and knowing yourself well enough to understand WHEN to do WHICH things.