How to Learn Faster (with Pictures)

2024 Author: Samantha Chapman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 09:13

To adapt faster to the ever-changing world around us, we need to learn more effectively and profitably. This article is basically aimed at outlining some basic principles of meta-learning, that is what concerns the awareness and understanding of our knowledge, so that you can find and use techniques that allow you to improve the quality and speed with which you educate yourself or acquire your skills. It is possible to use this approach in any aspect of life where we intend to enrich our knowledge base, including some areas in which we are driven to make the most of our intellectual abilities. You can help the brain assimilate notions and information more accurately and efficiently, sometimes simply by changing the way you take care of the body and thanks to some meta-learning techniques you will learn how to take care of it appropriately.

Steps

Part 1 of 4: Prepare Physically

Step 1. Get enough sleep

Generally, if there is any problem, it is not attributable to the person or his method of study. Sometimes the brain can't memorize information because the body doesn't get what it needs. Often, all he needs is more sleep. So if you want to be ready to learn, you need to get enough rest. The solution is not to have a few more coffees, so stop studying late into the night. Instead, go to bed, fall asleep and get up early so that you can study better with a rested mind.

• Some studies have actually revealed that during sleep the brain is sprinkled with a liquid that cleans it of toxins. When we don't get enough sleep, however, it is so overloaded with junk that it cannot function properly.
• The time it takes to sleep and rest is actually very subjective and depends on how your body works. Generally, 7-8 hours of sleep are recommended for adults, but some people need even less, while others need more. Basically, you should feel awake and alert for most of the day, without resorting to coffee. If you are tired before 4pm or 5pm, you probably don't get enough rest at night (or you sleep too much).

Step 2. Eat enough

When you are hungry, the brain has a hard time assimilating any information. The ability to concentrate fails when your body tells you that your stomach is empty. Make sure you feed yourself in adequate quantities during your main meals. Additionally, you should also opt for healthy foods when indulging in a snack while studying, at school, or preparing for an exam.

Make sure you eat healthily. Junk foods don't give your body the nutrients it needs to get through the day. So, snack on some almonds or a couple of carrots to keep yourself alert, focused and avoid feeling bloated and tired

Step 3. Drink lots of water

The body works best when it is hydrated. If you don't get enough fluids, you won't be able to concentrate. Even without realizing it, you risk being easily distracted by thirst. To complicate the situation, headaches can also arise.

The fluid requirement is subjective and varies according to one's physical constitution. The recommended amount equivalent to "8 glasses of water a day" is only a rough estimate. To find out if your water intake is sufficient, try looking at the color of your urine. If they are pale or pale, it means that you are hydrating properly. If they are darker, it means you need to drink more

Step 4. Practice physical activity

Of course, you already know that moving is good for the body in many ways, but do you also know that it promotes learning? Some studies have found that low-intensity exercise while studying helps you learn faster. In very sporty and physically active people, a prolonged period of inactivity can even hinder concentration, so doing some movement while studying has the potential to improve learning ability.

For example, try walking into a spacious room while reading a textbook. Record classroom lessons and listen to them while exercising on the elliptical in the gym. There are numerous alternatives, but be careful to choose light exercises if you want to do them while studying

Step 5. Teach your brain to learn

Quickly acquiring knowledge and information is a habit, so if you want to improve your brainpower, you should adopt healthy habits and abandon the wrong ones. Improve your concentration by doing complex tasks without stopping (even if they are not connected to each other). Set aside some time and choose a sacred and inviolable place to focus. Then - perhaps most importantly - try to make learning more enjoyable. In this way, you will increase the desire to learn and you will not make any effort.

For example, delve into topics you don't like. In the long run, the brain will be able to dominate the ability to learn, applying it in those areas of study that stimulate your interest less

Part 2 of 4: Preparing to Learn

Step 1. Choose a goal

Think about the changes you want to make to improve your quality of life. What goals require careful preparation before you can make the changes you want? Identify a project you can get to work on right away, without wasting too much time. Let's say you want to take care of your body. Analyze this goal. What can you do to be in perfect health?

• Give yourself enough time to study before an exam so you don't get stressed out.
• Get enough sleep.
• Eat right.
• Drink lots of water.
• Practice physical activity.

Step 2. Find out about learning methods

• Review the methods you think are good and which ones you consider useless. Do you like doing research on the Internet? Do you want to consult a nutritionist or a fitness instructor? If you can't concentrate when reading, do you think reading short newspaper articles would help you improve your learning skills?
• Trust your instincts. If you have the impression that a method is not effective, abandon it! If you've come across a way to improve sleep while reading, but it's actually impossible to put it into practice in your case, forget it and do more reading. Don't insist simply because information comes from an "expert" or because "everyone does it". Orient your interest towards something you really need.
• Calibrate your goal as it progresses. As you explore various ways to take care of your body, you may notice a detail that can make a difference because it would allow you to better define your goal. So instead of just thinking "I want to take care of my body", you might consider, "I want to take care of my body by following a healthier diet".

• Find someone who has accomplished what you propose to do and ask them how they did it.

  If you know someone who has fundamentally changed their way of life - for example by becoming more physically active or by improving their diet - talk to them. Ask her how far she has gone, how she has acted and where she has learned everything she knows.

• Learn about the internet, take a course, interview other people, and find a mentor.

  Try different learning methods to figure out which one is best for your needs.

Step 3. Choose the best option

• Choose a goal that you can achieve in the context in which you find yourself, that you can grow according to your times and to which you can devote all your attention and energy. There is no point in taking a nutrition course if the short time you have does not allow you to participate. Rather, take it one step at a time, for example by adopting a meal plan. Whatever you choose, you need to fit it appropriately into your daily life in order to carry it forward.

• Consider temporal, geographical constraints, and your mental state.

  Don't feed your stress by doing more than you can. Learning should increase the quality of life, not decrease it.

• Set times for studying and repeating what you have learned.

  If you are constant in learning, you will find the right stimuli to move forward.

• Always pay attention to what you want to learn or improve.

  "Some emotions stimulate attention and attention promotes learning." Don't underestimate your emotional reactions. If you notice that something is blocking you while studying, ask yourself why. What exercise is creating these difficulties for you? There is necessarily a reason, you just have to find out.

• Don't worry about a choice.

  Sometimes, we are literally overwhelmed by the desire to choose the "best" way to learn something new. In these cases, none are right or wrong: it's just a matter of finding the method that suits your needs. Choose one and try it! If it doesn't work, switch to another one.

Step 4. Consider learning as an experiment

To effectively conduct an experiment, you need to have a plan, a method for assessing whether it is working, and a period to reflect on the measures taken and the results obtained. Learning works the same way.

• Establish clear criteria so you can stick to them.

  When choosing a meal plan, should it include 3 meals a day or smaller meals spread throughout the day?

• Have a method for tracking your progress.

  Use all the tools at your disposal! Laptop, smartphone, application, computer, web page, calendar, blog, etc.

• Keep thinking about your progress.

  Do you need more information or do you already have everything you need to get to work?

• Set goals and reach them. Maybe you want to find three new healthy dinner recipes to add to your meal plan.

Step 5. Evaluate the results and achievements

• Have you reached them?

  Do you know enough to put a new training plan in place? Have you found an effective way to improve your habits before bed?

• Take stock at regular intervals.

  Set deadlines at the end of which to evaluate everything you have learned. See if the method you used is effective. Also, ask yourself if there is anything else you need to know. What worked and what didn't? Because?

Step 6. Refine your approach

If your chosen learning method worked, keep using it. If not, go back and choose another one to start a new experiment!

Part 3 of 4: Learning at school

Step 1. Pay attention when learning something for the first time

The best way to learn faster is to make sure you pay close attention when things are first explained. Even the smallest distraction jeopardizes the correct process of assimilation of information by the brain. Unfortunately, there are only a few tricks about it: most of them are used to not lose willpower.

Try to listen as if shortly after you were answering a question on the topic explained, as happens during interrogations, or as if you were repeating the information to yourself. Instead, if you are alone, you can memorize them by summarizing them in mind (paraphrasing and expressing yourself in your own words)

Step 2. Take notes

It's another great way to stay focused when learning a topic for the first time. By doing so, not only will you be forced not to divert attention from the subject you are learning, but you will also have a reference framework for further study.

Taking notes doesn't mean writing down everything you hear. Just write it down roughly, going into specifics when you realize there is something important. Record key facts and topics that can be complicated without the teacher's explanation or that you find difficult to remember because they are quite complex

Step 3. Join the class

Show a strong and active presence. In this way, not only will you stay focused, but you will also be able to assimilate the subject matter, keeping other senses engaged instead of hearing only one person speaking. There are various ways to participate during the learning phase, for example by asking questions during the lesson, volunteering to read a passage, going to the board to correct an exercise, and so on.

• Try answering when the teacher asks a question. Don't worry about getting it wrong, as it's part of the learning process.
• If the class is divided into groups for reading or discussion activities, be involved. Do not remain silent by doing what is strictly necessary. Involve other peers, ask some questions, share your opinions and put this experience to good use.
• Ask a question when you don't understand or want to know more. It's another great way to stay focused while learning and also have the opportunity to really understand what you are learning. When a lesson is not clear to you or when you think the teacher has explained an interesting topic and you want to deepen it, do not hesitate to ask.

Step 4. Create a comfortable environment

The presence of very annoying people or the proximity of the TV do not create ideal conditions for studying. You need a quiet environment to be able to stay focused. An environment without distractions is a space not subject to external stimuli, reserved exclusively for study and learning, which allows you to activate in the mind the desire to apply yourself following a particular study method.

If you have trouble staying focused in class, ask your teacher for help. Maybe it will allow you to move around and sit next to another partner. If your home is the problem, find another place to study. You can go to the library if it's not very far from home. You can also study in the bathroom or very early in the morning if you live with very noisy people

Step 5. Find your learning style

Learning styles are unanimously defined as the prevailing brain functioning techniques when faced with the acquisition of new information. They are different and, although anyone can use them, their effectiveness is very subjective: each individual manages to get the most out of them by using a couple of them at the most. Try taking an online test to figure out which one might be yours, but if you can use the help of a teacher, they will help you find it. You can also evaluate the possibility of applying more than one based on its didactic approach.

• For example, if you find that you learn more by looking at charts and graphs, you may be prone to memorizing through the use of visual aids. Try to study by giving the information a graphic and visual appearance in order to remember it better.
• Can you recall what you read by repeating it aloud or listening to a particular song? In these cases, you are likely led to learning by hearing. Try recording classroom lectures so you can listen to them before and after or even while you study, as long as you don't alter the notions they contain.
• Do you feel like you explode when you spend too much time sitting in class because you want to go for a run? Do you casually stamp your foot on the ground while listening to the lesson? You are probably a student who needs to engage with the whole body when applying with the mind. Try fiddling with a small object during class or take a walk while studying to encourage learning.

Step 6. Adapt to the subject to be studied

Often it is necessary to change the learning method according to the topic or subject, otherwise there is a risk of not benefiting from it. Adjust yourself to develop the necessary skills by using your cognitive skills correctly.

• For example, the human brain is designed to learn languages through interaction, listening and oral practice. You can learn English much faster if you fully immerse yourself in this language by conversing instead of just considering the theoretical part. If you need more help learning it faster, read this article.
• Here is another example with math. Instead of just solving the same problems by looking at the same examples over and over, try to do different exercises by applying the concepts you have learned. If you employ the notions learned by diversifying your work, you will be able to consolidate the knowledge acquired.

Step 7. Find out if you have a learning disability

If you are unable to concentrate while studying or feel that you are not properly assimilating information despite the use of various techniques, consider consulting a doctor to find out if you have a learning disability. There are many cognitive disabilities, most of which are fairly common (in the United States, an estimated 1 in 5 people have them). This does not mean that you are stupid or that you have something wrong, it just means that you are learning a little differently. The most common learning difficulties include:

• Dyslexia - causes problems with reading. If you find that you cannot follow the text correctly with your eyes as you read, you may suffer from dyslexia.
• Disorders associated with dyslexia, such as dysgraphia and dyscalculia - cause similar problems with writing and arithmetic. If you have difficulty writing but can speak easily, dysgraphia may be the problem. If you have trouble learning numbers or working out basic calculations, you may be suffering from dyscalculia.
• Central Hearing Disorder - Another common learning difficulty that makes sound processing problematic. It is similar to deafness but does not involve hearing loss. It can cause conversation and concentration problems when there is background noise.

Part 4 of 4: Reviewing the Study Topic Effectively

Step 1. Study as early and as often as possible

It is natural that the more you study, the more you learn. Therefore, it would be a great idea to constantly engage. Also, the sooner you start, the easier it will be to remember everything. This means that you shouldn't start studying two or three days before an exam or a class test. Start at least a week in advance and consider studying "madly and desperately" only towards the end if you feel the need.

It would also be a great idea to review as you learn new concepts. In this way, you will keep in mind the oldest and the most recent concepts by reworking them together

Step 2. Talk to a teacher or take private lessons

There is nothing wrong with getting help by consulting a person trained in the subject because it could be a valuable guide to improving learning. Put aside shyness and pride: talk to a teacher. If he doesn't have the time, he will surely be able to help you find a teacher who gives private lessons.

• If you are unable to pay someone, the teacher might join you with a good student who can help you out.
• Some schools may also provide free methodology support, so check which institution offers students this service.

Step 3. Outline a mind map to study faster

A mind map is a great way to assimilate all the information you are trying to learn. It is a visual representation of the topic to be learned. Use cards, pictures, and sheets of paper to write down facts, explanations, and concepts in an organized way. After that, pin each item on a wall or put everything on the floor, joining similar items together and using ribbons or other objects to indicate links between concepts and topics. Study this map instead of relying on your notes.

When you have to take an exam or process a written text, you will be able to remember the map and mentally select the information where you have created the links, just like remembering the places on a geographical map

Step 4. Memorize to quickly fix information

Memorizing isn't always a foolproof technique, but it can help you memorize certain notions very quickly. This works best for lists, such as sequences of events or word sequences. On the other hand, it is almost impossible to systematically memorize more complex topics.

• Try using memory techniques to speed up learning. Mnemonics are based on phrases or keywords that open the mind to large amounts of information.
• Focus on one part at a time. When studying, it is best to familiarize yourself with a small set of information before moving on to the next. You may feel like you are proceeding slower, but it is actually a faster learning method because you will not have to go back to what you have already learned. This is especially important when trying to memorize words, lists, and other similar information. Apply only 5-8 words at a time before moving on to the next ones.

Step 5. Put the subject in an interesting context

Learning is less strenuous when you apply the information in an appropriate context and, if the latter is also interesting, you will remember it more easily. Do your research and find some suggestions that help you contextualize the topic or concepts you are trying to learn.

• Let's say you have to study English. Try watching a movie you like, featuring the words and phrases you are trying to learn. For example, if you are delving into travel lexicon, try watching "Lost in Translation".
• Let's take an example that concerns history. Find a documentary on the subject you are studying or that at least shows the geographic context you are examining. Even the simple fact of looking at the images that accompany the historical event will help you to memorize it thanks to the use of visual stimuli.

Advice

• If you want to improve your learning skills, don't settle for the first solution you find. Review all alternatives before making a choice.
• The well-known psychologist Robert Bjork defines learning in this way: "Learning is the ability to employ a notion that has not been used for some time and it is also the ability to use information to solve problems that arise in a (slightly) context. other than that in which they were originally acquired ".
• After reading a topic, try saying it out loud without looking at the book and simplify it as if you want to explain it to someone who doesn't know it. In this way, you will be able to fix it in your mind for a long time.
• If you pay attention during the explanation, you have learned 60% of the lesson. If you study once you get home, you will learn the remaining 40%. So concentration in the classroom is really essential.
• Set yourself a goal each day and make it a habit to take notes in class because you'll need them later.
• Before opening the books, tidy up the room and open the windows to let in fresh air. If your home overlooks a garden or some flower bed with trees, go out to the balcony and have tea or coffee before studying. You can also eat fruit or vegetables and keep everything you need close at hand, such as pens, pencils, eraser, pencil sharpener, etc. Also, buy or use a fluorescent marker to highlight the most important parts.