Learning How to Learn
Our habits shape the work that we do. We often don’t take the time to realize that there are many habits involved in learning new skills.
Some people habitually learn something thoroughly and stay on the minutia until they have it down.
Other people have the habit of learning wide amounts of information at once and then they will fill in the gaps later.
Both have their strengths and weaknesses, but next time you tackle a new skill like learning how to make videos, marketing your work, or trying to get better at the work itself, pay attention to how you approach things.
One of the best techniques for absorbing new information is to slow things down.
I am currently learning how a new drum machine works. Many times in the past when I tried these devices, I would learn a few things and then just start playing. Yet that habit meant that I would not learn how to use the device in its totality. I was putting off learning all the important bits.
This time around I am taking things one section at a time (as much as I possibly can).
To do this, you have to remind yourself that you have infinite time to learn it, even if that’s not entirely true.
We must have the mindset that there is an abundance of time when we learn.
Because when we work on the level of scarcity, we start to rush ourselves and miss the fundamentals.
All skill acquisition is compounding. That’s why a child who starts to fall behind in math early on will continue to struggle for the rest of the time that they are forced to be in math classes.
If only the education system could teach us how to slow down by hitting a pause button on the course for that student. “Take your time, we will still be here when you catch up”.
Yet this isn’t what happens in reality. We just keep piling the lessons on and make lives more stressful.
Yet you have the power to pause and go back to the beginning at any time. Slow videos down, rewind them, go back up a few lessons.