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Learning is a lifelong process focused on personal development. In my last article, I talked about “Adaptability, and it’s importance for individual growth“. In 1963 Leon C. Meggison paraphrased Darwin’s Origin of Species, and wrote: “It is not the most intellectual of the species that survives; it is not the strongest that survives, but the species that survives is the one that is able best to adapt and adjust to the changing environment in which it finds itself.” But to be more comfortable with change, one must learn. Learning is about discipline and having the mindset to seek knowledge continuously. You need to exercise your mind and train it. Even though your brain is an organ and not a muscle, you can give it a workout.

If we want to remember something, we need to work with our brains, not against them. To do that, we need to understand how our minds work and find ways to get around its limitations. Specific techniques and methods will give you greater success. We are better able to retain information and concepts if we learn them in multiple, spread-out sessions. This is called spaced repetition or simply put practicing. The chart below demonstrates how improved repetition helps our minds retain information.

You need to know yourself. Are you a morning person? Exploit your most productive times in the day to learn something. If you’re tired or have not gotten enough sleep, it is probably not the best time to attempt any complex thought. Practicing with word associations and visuals are also helpful. What is important to remember is that the more you want to learn something, the more you will likely retain it.

In contrast, studies show that repetition learning can wane if the interests are not there. Boredom is a powerful deterrent to learning. Space repetition requires planning and a small investment of time to set up your system. See the below infographic on all the possible techniques or methods you can try. Using combinations of all is the most effective.

References:

Flash Card Apps – See the many different study Apps that take an old concept and update it
Diets – Foods Linked to Better Brainpower
Adaptability and its importance for growth – Adaptability is not something you do it is something you become