Receiving new knowledge and self-improvement are key elements of personal growth and progress, life success, career building, happiness and well-being. But learning any skills and learning new information does not always happen at the speed that suits us. Of course, it depends on the development of intelligence and ability, as well as the specifics of the subject, but there are many recommendations that will speed up the learning process for anyone.
This article is dedicated to these recommendations. They will suit both those who study independently and those who receive education in educational institutions. In addition, most of them affect not only the learning process but also personal productivity in general. So take note of them and use them boldly.
Key recommendations for fast learning
We have divided the material into several small sections, each of which deals with specific tips for fast learning. Each of them is described in general terms, but it is not difficult to understand the meaning of one or the other advice. Let’s get started.
Use quick learning techniques
To begin with, let us remind you that useful information on fast memorization can be found in our article “7 memorization rules” and memory development course. So let’s point out specific techniques.
First, you can use music for quick memorization. Researchers have long established that calm music helps to memorize better. If you are learning, turn on something unobtrusive, such as music in the New Age style. At the right time, just play a familiar song in your mind, and remembering the right material will be easier.
Secondly, the tables that filter data make it easier to remember information. Tables tend to contain only the most important things, and are easy to reread several times, especially at slower rates. And thanks to slow reading, attention is fixed on the main idea, which also makes it easier to remember.
And thirdly, don’t forget about mnemotechnics – special methods and techniques that increase the memory size and facilitate memorization by forming associations. How it works, see the article “Mnemotechnics: Memorizing Foreign Words”.
Adopt the principles of visualization
First of all, we should note that any picture is already history. You can draw or draw what you need to remember or refresh in your memory. By setting a specific goal, you can help the brain cope with the task.
If you need a plan, you can use mental maps to view the task or project in detail or as a whole, or include new tasks in the project. We wrote about how this is done in the article, Mental Maps.
If you have to record data that has an internal structure, you can use the information design to present information in a more structured way. We recommend that you read more about what it is on the Internet.
Another good method of displaying and storing information is all kinds of tables and charts. And when you know exactly the sequence of tasks in your training, make task pyramids and visual plans.
Use classroom and verbal techniques.
It is very easy to apply verbal and auditory techniques. To do this, you need to relax and laugh and joke more during training, because a relaxed mind makes the brain more receptive. You also need to play different rhymed games, such as remembering something by rhyming it, or composing and rhyming non-existing words.
Do not neglect the brainstorming method, which combines individual and group work, writing and verbal actions. You can read more about this method in our article “Brainstorming and 10 Rules for Effective Brainstorming”.
Use kinestic techniques
Information is better memorized when a person writes rather than prints, as motor memory is used and creative activity is stimulated. It is possible to mention here the presence of a notebook at hand always and everywhere. Firstly, new ideas can be written into it, and secondly, if you want to remember something, you can gradually fix it, creating a complete picture.
Speaking about the letter, it is impossible not to mention keeping a personal diary. In it you need to write down all your tasks and plans, providing it with graphic elements, such as the same mental maps, tables and charts.
Colour notes can be used in notebooks and diaries to structure the information and make navigation easier. Coloured stickers with important notes are equally useful. You can hang them on your computer, mirrors, doors, etc. The information will fall into your field of view and will be automatically recorded and memorized.
Motivate yourself
Always focus on the result you want. This will stimulate the generation of good ideas and force your brain to filter out what motivates you, from what is simply a waste of time and energy. In addition, focusing on the result will allow you to better understand what you are learning.
It is important not only to focus on your goals, but also to maintain positive thinking. Only in a cheerful state of mind can a person remain enthusiastic and willing to learn new things. Be sure to read the article “Positive Thinking”, where we explain in detail its benefits and how to form it.
Time management will help you to stay motivated and keep up with the time to do everything on time. Having mastered it, you will learn how to organize things, avoid prostration and find time to study, to communicate with friends, to rest, to romantic relationships, etc. And order in all things is a great way to stay positive and in a good mood.
To achieve success faster, try to identify obstacles on your way and start at least an hour or two a day to eliminate them. Perhaps there are even people who somehow misperceive your busyness with their self-development. Try to spend less time with those who pull you down, and more time communicating with successful and motivated individuals.
Moving without delay will help and have control points on the way – small time limited results that do not require much effort to achieve. Try to move smoothly, do not get out of schedule and do not let yourself be lazy. Sometimes it’s useful to even force yourself to make an effort to maintain progress.
At this point, let’s take a short break and watch a video on how to make learning more effective. After watching it, keep reading more.
Look for auxiliary ways to increase efficiency
If you are studying at an institution or attending a course, do not let yourself get bored during the learning process. Boredom kills your motivation and desire to move on, so make your classes more diverse, for example, discuss with your teacher and classmates and bring up something that interests you.
Provide yourself with additional information. Learning is effective when you have to overcome difficulties. If questions arise, look for answers; if you feel you are misunderstanding something, consult outside sources. If possible, check what you learn in practice.
Make sure you use the experience to increase the speed and effectiveness of learning. Talk to others to find out where you are making mistakes, learn to use criticism to your advantage, take all kinds of tests and exams. The more feedback you can get from outside, the less gaps will remain in your knowledge.
These days on the Internet you can chat in forums, create your own FAQs and even wiki directories that contain everything you know about a subject. Also today, many people run their own blogs and blogs where they share ideas with people and get to know the views of others.
Simplify your learning. Before you start learning something new, look for information on where to start. For example, it’s easier to learn a foreign language by learning the alphabet and expanding vocabulary, and to learn grammar and sentence-building rules a little later. Each subject has its own specifics, and you need to understand it.
Plan your activities. You will always have two options: either to work chaotically and haphazardly, being where the “curve will start”, or pre-determine the canvas of the process with the possibility of making adjustments. Systemic learning is one of the most important variables affecting success.
Make changes.
There are many ways to learn – using reading material, video or audio material. Try them all to see which option suits you best. You are advised to read about representative systems and to identify your psychotype and then build your learning process around your personal characteristics.
Make changes to your routines. You don’t have to continuously study your textbooks – it won’t get any better. So, first of all, every hour take breaks for 5-10 minutes to rest the brain. Secondly, during the day, be sure to take one or two longer breaks for lunch and/or a walk.
In addition to the usual rest, use relaxation techniques, conduct gymnastics to relieve physical stress. It will be very good if you spend at least some time meditating in the morning and evening and during the day. This practice normalizes the mental state, restores energy and invigorates you. In addition, the state of meditation frees up creative potential and interesting thoughts come to mind.
The changes also concern the space in which you are. Be sure to keep your workplace in order. Pay attention to the lighting and the presence of fresh air in the room – it has a great impact on the vivacity. By the way, when you want to relieve tension or cheer up, if possible, take a hot bath or a cool/contrast shower.
Keep an eye on your health
A healthy lifestyle hasn’t hurt anyone yet. Therefore, you need to take care of yourself and your condition. The first is a healthy sleep. It not only gives rest to your body and brain and replenishes your strength, but also helps to attract good ideas. Many problems and difficulties are not so terrible, and things are not so tedious if you sleep.
We have already talked about rest, but note that if you work and learn without rest, you can earn a lot of stress, not to mention the simple fatigue. In addition to 5-10 minute breaks every hour, there is another method – 20 minute breaks every one and a half hours. If you really want to, during this time you can both get some fresh air and take a nap.
Change the tasks to be performed. Concentration on the same activity, especially monotonous, negatively affects the body and mind. If for some reason you can not rest, just change one activity to another. For example, writing a report can be replaced by reading a textbook, and the abstract by memorizing some rules.
Do not forget to eat right. Scientists say that breakfast is food for the mind, because it is the morning when the brain is most active. And to avoid sleepiness and reduced productivity, don’t eat too much for lunch. Keeping a healthy sleep will help not too dense dinner 1.5-2 hours before going to bed.
To help your brain cope with the increased intellectual load, eat more fruit and drink water. But it is equally useful to take vitamins and natural brain-enhancing substances such as nuts, chocolate, ginkgo bilboa, ginseng root, etc. We certainly do not insist, but for exam preparation and when there is a lot of information to learn or a big project to do, many people turn to nootropic drugs.
Try not to bring yourself to stress and depression, as it has a negative impact on mental and physical health. To stay alive and happy in life, exercise, go to entertainment, watch good movies and do not overburden yourself. There should be at least one full week off during the week.
In principle, to increase efficiency and speed of learning, you should have enough of the advice already voiced. If for some reason they do not seem to you enough, give some more additional recommendations.
Additional recommendations for rapid learning
The level of education increases in direct proportion to the amount of literature read. So if you want to know more and better understand different things, try and read as much as possible. In addition, if you study a specific topic, do your research not only in “width” but also in “depth”.
New perspectives of obtaining and assimilating additional knowledge will open up if your interests are diverse. By coming into contact with unusual directions, your brain will acquire new neural connections, becoming more and more flexible and adapted to the perception of information.
As strange as it may sound, you must learn to learn better and faster. Today, there are just an incredible number of methods to learn and learn new knowledge and skills. Wishing to optimize your learning process, look for new techniques and methods on the Internet. We also advise you to read our article “How to learn faster, better and not to be stressed”.
Never count on a “magic pill”. There is no single method to increase efficiency and speed of learning, which would suit everyone. In your arsenal should include all options, thus creating a holistic system. Practice, experience and constant optimization – this is what should become your best tool.
Even the material you have learned can be easily forgotten in the information flow. To prevent this, repeat what you already know. You can pass tests or reread something. The main thing is to do it systematically. In addition, as they say, repetition is the mother of the student, so repeating, each time you will better understand the material and understand it.
Use various online services to make it easier to learn the material. Services such as Wikipedia, Gramota.ru, College.ru, Translate.ru and others can help you save time on searching for information, checking literacy, preparing for the USE and translating texts. You can also use special software, for example, various extensions and addons for browsers, which display useful functions on the desktop or desktop, blocking ads, organizing cases, planning lessons, etc.
Develop critical thinking to be able to analyze everything you face. Analytical skills will help you learn how to quickly determine the validity of sources, identify the main and minor, find inconsistencies and discrepancies. To help you, we have a whole course on developing critical thinking.
Show perseverance. Learning often seems difficult, but you don’t have to take it as some unbearable or terrible thing to do. Perseverance in this business will help you form a useful habit to do important things and bring them to the end, give motivation and learn to overcome difficulties, laziness and reluctance to do what you do not want to do.
Do not give up. If someone tells you that something will not work out, there is a small price to pay for such words. No one should become a hindrance in your way. The same goes for the circumstances. When you set a goal, always remind yourself of it. You can learn anything you want. But if you give weakness, no development is out of the question.
Overcome yourself. Only you can become a real enemy on your way to the goal. An untrained mind, undeveloped willpower and lazy brain will always tell you that “it’s time to rest”, “postpone for tomorrow”, “you have already done a lot”, “let’s watch TV” and offer other excuses. And at times like this, you have to show your character to yourself. Just as a muscle becomes bigger and stronger through overcoming its original threshold, so a person becomes successful and intelligent, overcoming himself and his weaknesses.
And, summing up our article, I would like to say that in order to learn quickly and better, in fact, you do not need to be seven eggheads or resort to some super technology. The power of man, whatever it concerns, lies in him and his consciousness. To achieve success in any business, including training, it is enough to be attentive to yourself, your condition and mood, trying to conduct their affairs in harmony and keep them in order, do not lose sight of the main thing, to obtain new knowledge and skills and constantly increase and improve existing ones.
And in addition to the proposed advice and recommendations, we suggest you give 15 minutes to this video, from which you will learn 37 secrets of learning efficiency.