Six tips to make learning hard things fun

By Steve Green -

 

“Most of the important things in this world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all.” 

– Dale Carnegie

 

Congratulations. You stepped outside of your comfort zone to acquire a new skill. Now you ask, “what have I gotten myself into?” I have been there. We all have. Learning new things is awkward, difficult and frustrating. No matter the skill, craft or vocation, we all begin our journey at the bottom. Even the privileged few who have been placed in a leadership role before gaining experience, start at the bottom. Think about it. A fancy title does not put you any further ahead of the curve if you have not acquired the skills to match it. Such cases always prove the fall is quicker than the ascension unless the person commits themself to learning. 

 

Always remember, the journey will deal you a fair share of disappointments. These events are temporary. It may seem like an eternity before seeing results. Work through the struggle, learn from your losses, celebrate the wins, then repeat. Your experiences will soon add up to great victories. The failures you encounter will grant you expertise. This may feel like a tedious and painful process. But you will quickly establish authority and respect in your craft. 

 

    Learning takes place through trial, error and repetition. We are confronted with problems and attempt to solve them. When we fail, we learn from the experience. Our mind and body register the feelings and emotions associated with the problem and records it to memory. This is why we practice. The more opportunities we get to solve a problem the more information the mind collects and stores for further use in mastering the problem. Getting it wrong until you get it right is painful process. However, having the right perspective in relation to failure gives us insight for our growth. The benefit is experience. This is where hard becomes easy, and awkward becomes graceful. Once a problem is solved, you know how to approach it when you see it again. And eventually your response to similar instances become more automatic.

 

Here are six steps you can take to enhance your learning experience and make the process more enjoyable.

 

1. Use technology


There is an enormous amount of information at your fingertips. Use the internet to learn different perspectives on any subject. This will reinforce your understanding on your topic. There are also a lot of online videos and quizzes that can help build your knowledge at a faster pace.

 

2. Create a conducive learning environment
 

A conducive environment is simply a space that is relaxing and free of distraction. The more distractions you can eliminate the better. It can be a small home office, a spare bedroom or any area you carve out for yourself where you can be comfortable. The key idea is to be in a stress-free environment where you can focus.

 

3. Set clear goals

 

Find out what motivates you. Ask yourself why you want to learn this knowledge or skill. An honest answer will reveal your motives. If your motive is in alignment with your values, then it is a good sign to proceed. If your motive is shallow, it’s a pretty good indicator that your efforts will fall flat. Make sure you are not motivated by fear alone or any negative emotion. You should have positive expectations; this will help keep you engaged in your learning experience.

 

4. Take effective notes

 

Taking notes is one of the best ways to reinforce your learning. Taking notes will produce clarity in your thinking. It will also reveal knowledge gaps that you can later go back and fill in after you have had time to reflect on what you have learned.

 

 5. Spaced repetition for long term retention

 

Using tools like flashcards or online quizzes can be helpful. The more you can expose yourself to the same information the greater chance you have in remembering it. If retaining information is an important goal this is a great way to go. However, be mindful it is more important to understand the subject then to memorize it.

 

 6. Mentorship

 

Mentorship is a highly effective strategy. It will make your learning experience impactful and have a great influence on your outcomes. Leveraging the years of experience from a trusted leader, will help you identify strengths and flaws so you can reach your goals. High-level performers seek mentors and coaches to guide them in their growth journey. No one achieves anything solely on their own, you need support. The best support comes from those who have been in your shoes and have achieved success.

 

    Remember, everyone who started out doing anything took lots of gradual steps before seeing progress. The secret is patience. James 1:4 reads, "let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect, whole, and lacking in nothing." Applying patience while working toward your goal helps you to enter a flow state. You will start to become one with the knowledge and skill you seek to master. Dedicate yourself to the process. When you believe in yourself, eventually you come to a place where what you once saw as difficult now has become easy.

Welcome to The Mind Your Newness Blog site. My name is Steve Green, an Apostle and Artist. I write about the creative process to help others transform their lives. I love to share ideas and practices that I have learned to help others find their unique and authentic creative voice.

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