From Pretending to Progress: How I Learned to Learn
They say learning is good, but effective learning is much better. Do you agree? In today’s post, I would like to talk about how I usually learn new things and make the process both enjoyable and effective.
I remember in the good old days I would sit and pretend to be learning, just to go to school, answer my teacher’s questions and get a 5 in my grade book. But deep inside I would know I wasn’t actually learning at all but creating an impression for people and an illusion for myself. So, what I do nowadays?
??Learning together: I do my best not to learn anything alone. This is because learning something new is never an easy ride. You may start off like a star at the beginning when the topics in the course are easier, but you may get stuck, bored and even stressed later on when topics get tough. For this reason, I try to have a real or virtual companion to learn from so that I can consult whenever possible.
??Rewarding myself: whenever I want to treat myself to chocolate, a cup of nice coffee or meet with my best friends or colleagues, I say, ‘Wait!’. First, do the learning, and then allow yourself to enjoy something. This way I reward myself for the hard work I have just done and get a sense of accomplishment while, let’s say, eating my chocolate.
??Taking regular notes: whether I have online or offline lessons, I always take regular notes. Even if I don’t open and repeat them later on, the fact that I took notes will activate my mind, helping me focus, process and remember new information better.
领英推荐
??Taking my time: by this I mean that, for example, if something takes 1 year to learn, I give myself 1 year and a month. If it takes 1 hour, I give myself 1.5 hours or 2 hours. This way I won’t pressurize my mind and will feel more open-minded when learning things. I can’t learn with my mind closed, can I?
??Informing my family: I tell my family members that I am taking classes after my work. Why is this important? If my family knows I am having classes, then they will not bother or distract me during my online lessons or while I try to complete my homework tasks.
??Saying ‘no’: I have learned to say ‘no’ to distractions. For instance, if I want to watch a new documentary episode on YouTube, I tell myself, “Not yet.” I may watch it later, after I have done my learning for the day. With others, I have learned to decline politely. If invited to an event, I might respond, “Thank you for the invitation. Could we meet on Wednesday evening instead of morning?”
? If you found today’s tips helpful, please share this post with your friends.