Your Complete Guide on Learning How to Learn
By: Danny Forest
Tags: Self Improvement, Inspiration, Productivity, Education, Learning

Expectations

In your first 100 hours of Learning How to Learn, you should be able to:

Understand more about the neuroscience of learning

Understand more about how the different memory “systems” work

Focus better

Master the benefits of rest in its different forms

Master the different learner types and know which one you are and want to be

Understand most of the different skills types and how to balance your learning

Understand the role of talent in learning and what geniuses are

Understand better when to practice what skills

Understand the concept of multiple intelligences and how to apply it in your learning

Know the learning myths and how to avoid them

Understand how to build habits and routines

Master the art of scoping your learning project

Master the process of reflecting on your progress

Get much better at finding the right resources

Start to establish a power napping routine (without necessarily succeeding right away)

Master spaced repetition and apply it for every skill you learn

Take more effective notes

How to go from good to great in Learning How to Learn

Prepare

There’s a lot going on in the first 100 hours, all of which is shown in the second skill tree above. There isn’t much to prepare here because we’ve done the work for you. All you have to do is study and apply what you learn.

Practice

In this phase, there’s a lot you’ll need to study and understand. Open the skill tree mentioned above and pick and choose topics that have a heart next to it. Spend about 20–30 minutes daily to increase your knowledge. My suggestion is to start with Spaced Repetition (under Techniques > Memory). It will show you optimal ways to help you retain what you learn.

Two almost equally important topics to study are the neuroscience behind learning (see Brain > Neuroscience) and resting (see Concepts > Rest). Resting plays a huge role in learning and is one of the most overlooked aspect of learning. Following that, invest a good amount of time learning about habits and routines (see Concepts > Habits) and energy (see Concepts > Energy).

If you’re looking for new skills to learn and don’t know how to choose, check out the resources on Learner Types, Talent, and Multiple Intelligences (all under Concepts).

Simple things you can look at when you have spare time are the Myths (Concepts > Myths) and the theory behind memory (Brain > Memory and Techniques > Memory). By knowing the myths of learning, you’ll more carefully avoid them in your practice.

As for memory, you might be surprised that to learn how to learn, it’s not higher on the priority list. Memory is only one aspect of learning. And for most skills, you don’t need to have an incredible memory as you’ll want to focus on practice mostly, which will create your neural connections in a different part of your brain. If the skills you want to work on needs you to memorize many facts, like this one, you can focus more time on learning about memory techniques. In my opinion, memory is a skill that will bring you to mastery, so you don’t need to know too much about it at this point.

During this phase, you’ll be expected to work on your habits and routine. You’ll also be expected to try to power nap a few times a week. You likely won’t succeed in either because they take time to build. That’s why you want to start now. You should also apply to principles you learn about energy management. It makes a huge difference in your capacity to learn and retain information.

During this phase, make it your mission to finish the Learning How to Learn course. Spend a few hours every week to continue the lessons. As much as you can, do the exercises proposed by the professor.

Ponder

At this stage, you should reflect weekly and monthly. Spend at least 30 minutes on your weekly reflection and 1 hour on your monthly reflection. Start with the same questions you asked yourself in the first phase:

What have I learned? What did I truly understood?

What have I not understood? Why? What can I do to understand better?

How will I apply what I learned?

What do I want to do going forward?

Who can I teach what I learned to?

At the end of your 100 hours, ask yourself the following questions:

Do I understand what’s happening in my brain when I learn?

Do I know how to focus better? Am I more focused now that I know the theory?

Do I know how to manage my time and energy better? Am I able to build good habits and routines?

Do I understand the different types of learners, skills, and intelligences? Am I applying that in my learning?

Have I used some of the techniques that I’ve learned, like resting, note-taking, space repetition, and others?

What techniques have been the most valuable for me?

What are some concepts I should spend more time on?

Fill out your Reflection Journal