How To Learn Anything Faster
Learning new things is part of everyday life, whether it be a life skill, a language or a general knowledge fact, it’s so important that we strive to learn and grow. Learning new things offers so many benefits that enrich our lives, however, it takes time. We know that time is valuable, so, in our latest post, we’re exploring top tips that can help us to learn anything faster. Because of neuroscience, we have enhanced insight into how people learn, helping us to identify the most efficient ways our brains can process and store information.
If you’re ready to kick start the way you learn something new, below are eight proven ways that can help you get started efficiently today.
1. Write Down Physical Notes
With modern technology ever evolving, the practice of using a work pen to paper is something that many of us overlook today. Thought you might think that typing out or recording notes might be the most convenient approach to learning, it’s not the most effective. Research has proven that individuals who type notes in lecturers process and recall the information at a lower success rate than those who write by hand. So, if you’re looking for a tried and tested technique to improve the way you digest information, pull out that fountain pen and get writing.
2. Consume Information In Multiple Ways
When you use multiple methods to learn something, you’ll be using more regions of the brain that can digest and store information on a particular subject. Simply put, using this kind of technique to learn will form a redundancy of knowledge within your brain, enabling you to really learn information opposed to just memorizing it. For example, if you consume information on a particular topic through a podcast, video and written notes, you’re likely to learn it faster.
3. Plan Your Time Effectively
If you find yourself with a test or exam coming up and you think cramming into the early hours is the best way to prepare, you are mistaken. Over the years, research has identified a convincing licking between sleep and learning. In fact, the research found that deep sleep can strengthen memories and learning if it occurs inside 12 hours of the information being digested. Therefore, if you’re preparing for a big test, you need to pull out your planner or diary and manage your time effectively for increased productivity and the best results.
4. Give Yourself Time To Restore Focus
While we’re on the subject of time and planning, you need to factor in the time for ‘brain breaks’ that will allow you to restore focus when you need it most. We’ve all heard the term information overload before, but, it’s a real thing. In order to learn something new, our brains need to transmit signals to our sensory receptors to store the new information. Stress or too much information will play a part in preventing your brain from processing and storing information effectively, so, allow yourself breaks when you’re becoming restless!
5. Adapt Your Practice
Just as consuming information in multiple ways can contribute to learning faster, so can making minor changes during repetitive learning sessions. If you’re learning a new language or skill that requires repetition, making small changes to your routine can go a long way. In one study carried out on people learning a computer-centric motor skill, individuals who used modified practice performed better than those doing the exact same thing in every session.
6. Perfect Your Note-Taking Skills
Simply put, the better your notes are, the fast you’ll learn. If you’re setting out to learn more effectively, you should learn how to take accurate notes. When you’re able to produce thorough notes, you’ll be improving your chances of remembering concepts, understanding the topic and developing your new skills. If you’re not sure where to start when it comes to taking notes, follow these five simple steps:
- Listen carefully and jot down notes in your own words
- Leave sufficient spaces in between notes so you can revisit and add information when required
- Use shorthand or abbreviations to save time
- If you don’t have time to write full sentences, write in phrases
- Master the art of disregarding trivial information in favor of vital points
7. Use Color
If you’re taking down a lot of notes or mind mapping, switch up colors so you can separate information into bite-size pieces that is easy to consume to recall. Even if you’re simply highlighting essential segments of information in your notes, it can work wonders when it comes to learning new information.
8. Move More
You might have seen this one coming, but if not, our final point is that you need to move more. Exercise is not only great for our bodies but our brains too. Even if you choose to get your blood pumping for just 20 minutes a day, it will help your brain to create neural connections more effectively. Neural connections facilitate the processing of information and memory functions. So, if you don’t already exercise regularly, it’s about time you did. Any activity is acceptable, from getting into running shoes to stretching on the yoga mat.
These tried and tested methods can go a long way in improving the way you learn, all without too much effort required. If you’re struggling to digest and store information, there’s no need to become frustrated. Instead, work your way through these handy techniques and determine which approaches suit you best. Making these simple changes to your learning routine can lead to a significant impact on the way you learn. Wave goodbye to those long nights of stress as you pressure yourself into learning and say hello to finding what works best for you. With modern day technology and old school methods, learning has never been easier. Go out and learn something new, you’ll thank us later!
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