In the past few years, we all had to adjust to a new normal, and this includes how we study and how teachers impart knowledge. Employees had to figure out how to work from home, and of course, this also means adjusting to the new ways of studying how things work. But some of us have a hard time learning new technology and figuring out adult learning strategies.
Facing technical issues without support, frustrations when it comes to learning, and fast-paced lessons, all of these can cause demotivation not just to students but also to those people who have jobs.
That’s why we’re sharing different ways to learn skills faster so that you’ll feel more confident with yourself and your learning capabilities.
Don’t hesitate to treat yourself with rewards
To keep yourself motivated to learn, always have time to reward yourself. You surely deserve it.
Imagine gaining a new ability to learn quickly even though everything may seem new to you. Isn’t that deserving of a reward?
After a long and tiring study time, you can eat your comfort food or do anything rewarding for yourself.
Try different strategies for studying or learning one topic
Sticking to one strategy when you’re studying might not work anymore. But don’t worry because you can try other strategies apart from highlighting important terms in the book.
One fast learner skill that you can try is using sticky notes and writing the terms that you would like to remember.
Then, attach them to places that you often see. You can see more effective strategies here.
Make time for exercise
We tend to think that physical exercise isn’t essential for our learning. But it’s the opposite.
If we are physically healthy, it’s easier to improve the different aspects of our whole being, especially our minds.
According to PubMed, regular exercise has a positive effect on our cognitive function making it easier for us to absorb creative skills to learn.
Be willing to try a mnemonic device
Did you know that mnemonics are really helpful for successful learning? These are tools that you can use when you want to memorize words and terminologies easier.
You can try spelling mnemonics, order mnemonics, and acronym mnemonics. You can see more examples of mnemonics here.
Have brain breaks
When you’ve been studying on a regular basis, you know that your number one struggle is losing your focus.
When it’s getting harder for you to focus, you probably need to take brain breaks. Edutopia states that “brain breaks restore students’ focus and is one learning strategy that really works.
Adult Learning Strategies: Take notes
Perhaps, there are many people who no longer prefer to write using pen and paper.
That’s okay, but if you would like to remember things easier and learn faster, this way is really effective. A study claims that students who do this learn more.
Get enough sleep
Isn’t it more challenging to study when you’re sleep-deprived? When this happens, your mind and your body won’t function well and you won’t be able to concentrate.
So if you’re sleepy right now, go ahead and get some sleep and you’ll see a huge difference when you try to study right after.
Use spaced repetition
We don’t usually hear spaced repetition but it’s highly beneficial for students and for professionals. In fact, this is very effective if you want to memorize information.
This process is a repetitive process to absorb information effectively. You can watch this video so you would understand it more.
Set your goals
When you know your goals, it would make you more motivated especially when you get to achieve them one at a time.
When you list down your goals and objectives in a day, it would inspire you to study harder. You will also know your priorities which would help you stay focused.
Teach other people
Many students prefer to have group study with their classmates. While some people work alone, others prefer to have study buddies, and the reason for this is it helps them learn faster.
There are many studies that have already proven that teaching others and teaching expectancy are effective ways to learn.
Work on one thing at a time
You may be wondering, how long does it take to learn a new skill?
Well, it depends. Many of us have probably tried to multitask but we end up having information overload.
It’s advisable to focus on one thing at a time, it would be easier for you to absorb information and learn one skill at a time and finish what you need to finish.
Takeaway
These are just some of the many adult learning strategies that can help anyone struggling to adjust to the new normal. Try some out, and see which ones work for you the best.
Source: Lifehack, Daniel Wong, Inc, Pub Med, Entrepreneur Asia Pacific, Scientific American, YouTube/CleverDeck, Science Direct, Your Dictionary, ThoughtCo., Edutopia