Self Development - How to learn any skill or subject quickly, according to a brain coach
- frankquattromani
- Aug 21, 2023
- 2 min read
Finding your learning capabilities aren’t what they used to be? Jim Kwik is a brain coach with a wealth of experience in maximising people’s brain power to make learning as effortless as possible. Whether you’re teaching yourself to knit or learning Arabic from scratch, this nifty technique will help you absorb and retain information, fast.
Forget
This might feel counterintuitive when learning something new, but letting go of your previous experience and approaching a subject with an open, curious mindset is an essential part of the process. Kwik explains that ‘your mind is like a parachute; it only works when it’s open’, so even if you have knowledge of a skill already, it’s more efficient to start from scratch.
For example, if you have 10 years’ experience in marketing but want to learn about a new strand of digital marketing, it’s better to approach the topic with an open mind. Chances are, some of the habits you’ve learned along the way might not serve you well any longer. Try replacing your lived experience with new questions such as ‘How can this be useful to me?’ and ‘What lesson can I take from this new knowledge?’.
Active
Passive learning does not stick – the likelihood of you really understanding new information when it’s being dictated to you is low in comparison to a learning style that is interactive. If you want to disappear down a YouTube rabbit hole of speed-reading advice videos, go for it – but take notes as you go, write down questions to research later on, and take breaks to record voice notes. When you’re involved, you’re engaged.
State
Your emotional state plays a big part in your ability to understand new information. None of us is in a perpetual ‘ready-to-learn’ frame of mind, but you can – and should – trick yourself into one when it’s time to hit the books. If you’re feeling distracted or bored, you’re unlikely to have the energy to study, at least not very efficiently.
Snap yourself out of your slump by smiling, checking your posture and moving around a little. Say something nice to yourself and incorporate gratitude and mindfulness into your day when you can. Not only will you learn better, you’ll feel better, too.
Teach
As Benjamin Franklin said, ‘Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.’ Kwik agrees, explaining that ‘you should listen and learn as if you’re expecting to teach someone the same material later on’ because ‘you’re likely to ask a lot more clarifying questions as a result’.
As you’re learning, keep in mind how you would explain what you’ve learnt to someone else, right down to the specific language you would use. Even better, find someone to practise on! You’ll be a pro in no time.
Forget, Active, State, Teach – let us know if the F.A.S.T. method has helped you.
Comentarios