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Life is a process of constant learning. One would assume that the digital technologies that have swept away our society made this job easier. But, even if we have streamlined the research process all these technologies themselves require a great deal of mastery. And they are developing at a relentless pace so keeping up with everything going on in the world becomes increasingly harder with each passing day. And don’t let us even start with workplace mobility and other challenges of the modern world.
Well, all these problems force us to go back to basics and simply refine the way we master any new knowledge. If we sort out these basics and study smarter and not harder, we will be able to deal with all future hurdles.
Let’s see if we can help you along the way.
Honestly, stop multitasking
This is the absolute requirement for attaining any sort of efficiency in any activity, learning included. According to various studies only 2.5% of humankind is capable of performing two tasks at the same time with optimal efficiency. The rest of us, simulate this process by focusing on one task, and then suddenly interrupting their train of thought to refocus on the other. Rinse and repeat about 1000 times in a minute and you will get a hectic process that is not only inefficient but also incredibly taxing. So, put your phone away, log out of social media, and give your 100% to the task you have at hand.
Master the art of time management
In this day and age, being able to focus on one task at a time is a true blessing. You need to learn to find that breathing space so, before setting out to master any new subject feel free to take some time to explore the techniques of efficient time management. Take for instance the tried and true Pomodoro technique which splits your learning forays into manageable 25 minute chunks split by short 5 minute breaks. After four intervals, you should take a more nourishing 25-break. This method will work even better if you group the smaller tasks and mix up the activities during break periods.
Use streamlined learning materials
This simple technique can drastically trim down the time you spend mastering some subject. You see, some materials are compiled with effective learning in mind which makes them inherently more suitable than spending countless hours on Google gathering the facts. One of the best examples can be found in Deakin University resources for students which are made by students to answer the specific problems they need to master to pass exams. So, before setting out to learn something, spend some time discovering suitable sources. This small effort will pay off tenfold in the long run.
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Diversify learning techniques
Reading something until you start recalling the topic is about as efficient as sleeping with a book under your pillow. If you want to truly master some knowledge, you need to leverage what people like to call ‘active learning’ or, in other words, enrich your learning sessions with ancillary activities. So, try marking different types of facts (dates, names, stats, etc.) with different colors. Or you can try roleplaying and imagine you are teaching the subject to the stores. Draw the relations between different facts on paper. Each of these activities makes learning more engaged, effective, and even more fun.
Be mindful of the learning pace
Dumping huge chunks of knowledge of your brain can do nothing but cause overload. The human brain is wired to soak in new facts at a very carefully tuned pace. So, start early and go through regular repetitions one hour and a couple of hours after you first tackle the material. When that soaks in, repetitions should be performed according to following schedule:
First repetition – after one day
Second repetition – after three days
Third repetition – after one week
Fourth repetition – after two weeks
These spaced practice methods should, according to reliable sources, give your brain enough time to soak in the materials. So, create a fitting schedule, roll up your sleeves and stick to it.
Learn to love the process, not the outcome
Motivation is not that unlike fossil fuels – we have only limited supplies. So, even if you may feel jacked to learn something new at the moment, this feeling will burn out, sooner than later. On the other hand, are you motivated to brush your teeth? No, you do that automatically. Learning shouldn’t be any different. Try to give it an important place in your schedule and tie it to other activities you find more enjoyable. For instance, listening to audiobooks while you are running. These tweaks will turn learning from a chore to something you actually enjoy and invest no effort to do.
Reward yourself after the fact
Last but not least, we would like to point out that, even with all things we have mentioned above, learning will still turn out to be a very taxing process if you don’t experience immediate benefits. Well, the benefits of learning tend to have a very long pay-off timetable so you need to reward yourself with something more immediate. Like, for instance, watching Netflix only after you finish some important lesson. Or putting some money aside whenever you get a good grade. These things can turn out to be incredibly stimulating in keeping your fuel reserves replenished for new tasks.
Well, we hope these few suggestions helped you get a better idea about how you can make your learning process more streamlined, faster, and efficient. And rest assured, no matter whether you are just enrolling in a college or you already have years of career in your back pocket, acquiring new knowledge is something you will need to tackle on a daily basis. So keep in mind everything we have talked about above and make sure you are up to the challenge no matter what life throws in your way.