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Science-backed methods to keep in mind when you're learning new things
Just start, break the initial barrier
Every task has a certain Activation Energy (AE), where you initiate certain steps in order to start a task.
Reducing the Activation Energy of new habits you want to form will make it is easier to get started.
If you want to exercise, have your shoes and weights ready the previous night.
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Practice chunking
A memory chunk is a solid connection in your mind that relates various bits and pieces of information.
Focus on the concept you want to form a chunk of. Write down the basic ideas of what the concept is all about. Build up from these fundamentals to finally create a chunk.
Learn, Practice, Recall — Repeat
While reviewing material, recall it instead of just reading it passively. Try and recall in a different setting than where you studied it.
Take it easy
Whenever you face a problem, take a break. Sleep. Clean your room. Do anything except work on the problem.
This takes your brain into its “diffuse mode” — this mode works on the things you have been focusing on in the background. Come back to the problem later.
Understand your procrastination
A procrastinator is a person who has a HABIT of getting distracted by things.
Break this habit by eliminating distractions. Another option is the Cue-Routine where you take notice what you do in response to certain distracting cues ,and then make sure to resist it.
Set an ending time for tasks
Parkinson’s second law: Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.
Setting a micro deadline for daily tasks holds your brain accountable to the tick of the clock.
Use visual and spatial memories
The #1 thing you need to do to correctly memorize concepts is understand them. To successfully understand something, visualizing it is key.
Use metaphors and stories
Metaphors will help you understand and recall more easily.
You take something obvious from your memory, and see how it is related to the new concept you are trying to learn.
Learn what you want
People learn when they are self-motivated, not when someone comes in front of them for four hours a week, and tells something to them.
Start learning what you want, since that is what actually matters — that is what you must care about.
Intersection of skills
Transfer learning is the ability to take what you learn in one domain and apply it to a new skill.
Learn to apply old skills to new skills and vice versa.
Sleep
Lack of sleep affects memory and recall.
Sleep helps your brain get into the diffuse mode and thus gets creative ideas about your ongoing projects cooking.
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Learning how to learn
Learning how to learn is a meta-skill. It is a critical skill for everyone who needs to pick up and master new concepts frequently.
Understanding what is learning and how our memory works wil...
Learning skills
Learning how to learn is critical for everyone. Most of us have to deal with a changing world and to learn how to manage tons of new information.
However, most of our learning methods are outdated and far from optimal. It may even be giving us an illusion of learning, like re-reading and highlighting that don't provide proper feedback to show what you haven't learned.
Focused and Diffuse Mode
Focused and diffuse modes provide two models for how we develop, elaborate, deepen and broaden connections. Both methods are important.
- The focused mode of learning is about bringing related concepts together into a unit, called a chunk.
- The diffuse mode operates through a wider net of connecting general ideas across different fields. We use this diffuse mode while we sleep, exercise or daydream.
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Bring it back from memory
Retrieval is so effective is that it strengthens the neural pathways associated with a given concept.
When you're attempting to recall an idea, method, or technique from memory, you're retrieving. Flash cards are a great example: They force you to recall an idea from memory, unlike a technique like highlighting where you're not burning anything into your brain.
Connect new ideas
... to what you already know.
When you try to put a new idea into your own words, you're elaborating.
For example, if you're in physics class and trying to understand heat transfer, try to tie the concept into your real-life experiences, say, by imagining how a warm cup of coffee disperses heat into your hands.
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Speed and transfer
Consider at what speed you should try to do things in order to improve performance.
We can often learn something quickly, but without attaining a master level (like getting good at esti...
Failing to Reach an Ideal
There are two problems you can encounter when you're trying to learn something.
- You have a clear understanding of what you'd like to do and how you're going to do it, but you're unable to implement the approach you've chosen. Slow things down so you can pay more attention to every aspect of the problem.
- Speed learning is effective when you're not sure what the ideal should be and need more information to work it out. A good example of speed leading to move closer to quality is in entrepreneurial fields. Many fail because they picked the wrong problem to solve and wasted too much time trying to solve it.
Going faster vs doing it right
The balance between going faster and doing it right depends on what you're trying to achieve.
- Faster feedback means more information to find out your key challenges and possible solutions.
- Slower helps you focus on a strategy you've chosen, allowing you to execute it correctly.