Tricks To Learn Any Skill Fast

73% of American adults consider themselves to be lifelong learners

BUT half feel underskilled and fear missing out on growth opportunities

The Value Of Lifelong Learning

Real Benefits
- 64% made new friends and connections
- 58% felt more involved in their community
- 43% became more open to taking volunteer opportunities
Preparation For The Unexpected
- Lifelong learning will help you adapt to unanticipated changes
  - Losing your job
  - Changes in work duties
  - Technological advances
Personal Improvements
- Improved memory
- Fine-tuned emotional intelligence
- Increased language skills
Gained Confidence
- Learning new things gives us a feeling of accomplishment
- You’ll feel ready to take on challenges and new ventures

80% of Americans have pursued learning about an interest to make their life fuller

A New Perspective
- Change your mind and attitude by looking beyond what you already know
- The more you learn, the better understanding you’ll have of the world
- Go outside of your comfort zone and be ready for new opportunities

“An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest”―Benjamin Franklin

The Science Behind Accomplishments

It’s In Our Brains
- Every time we learn new things, our brain chemistry changes
- Varied activities can increase a synapse’s strength when we learn new skills
- Repeated stimulation of 2 neurons simultaneously creates new links between them
- After a connection is established, stimulating one will activate the other
How It Works
- The more comfortably we know something, the easier it is for our brain to do the work
  - Decreased need for careful focus and attention
  - Increased activity in areas that control planning and motor function
- Mastering a skill leads to increased activity in the parts of our brain not involved in the performance itself
The Benefits Of Failure
- Try tackling a difficult problem without any instruction or assistance
- Why? According to Singapore’s National Institute of Education
  - People who try to solve math problems alone don’t come up with the right answer
  - BUT the process generates ideas about the nature of potential solutions
  - This leads to better ability to solve similar problems in the future

Pareto’s Principle: 20% of your efforts will lead to 80% of your desired results

Learning Any Skill ─ Fast

Set A Goal
- Knowing your ultimate goal is the first step to learning anything
- It’s what will keep you consistently progressing, especially when things get hard
- Define your goal concretely ㄧ make a list and check off for momentum
Break It Down
- Start by doing some research into whichever skill you want to master
  - Keeping in mind your specific goal and overall purpose
- Start listing all the components involved, no matter how small
- It helps to start thinking analytically from the very beginning
The DISS Method
- Deconstruction: How can I break down what I need to know?
- Selection: Which steps should I focus on first in order to get the ideal outcome?
- Sequencing: In what order will it be easiest to learn these steps?
- Stakes: What are the consequences if I am not able to complete my task?
Practice
- Focus solely on your task ─ Avoid distractions as much as possible
- Split practice time into concentrated periods, multiple times a day or week
- Visualize yourself accomplishing your goals

87% of learners feel their new skills make them more well-rounded and capable

We slow down when our brains do. How do you stay sharp?

Sources:

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-does-our-brain-learn/