Learn Anything Faster: 9 Proven Techniques for Better Learning

Everyone wants to learn something new. Some people want to learn how to code while others want to master how to edit a video, communicate better, understand AI, design, market, or a plethora of other skills that seem appealing at a given time. The harsh reality, however, is that most people never actually learn the things they say they want to learn. This is not because of a lack of intelligence or effort but rather because most have never been taught how to learn something new. Learning something new properly can take hours and not an hour, making it an agonizing process that most give up on halfway. Looking back on the January of this year, you may have wanted learn a plethora of different new skills but have only managed to acquire a couple.

In today's world, especially with the rise of AI, learning things faster has become more critical and valuable than most skills ever will be. Learning how to learn is the most crucial skill that one can have in this day and age

Here are some techniques on how to learn anything faster:

1. Always break the skill to be learned down into smaller subsections

When thinking about a skill many people see something overwhelmingly massive and give up immediately. When thinking about how to edit, you are not learning to edit but how to tell a story, cut, pace, use sound, edit music, add color, edit motion graphics, and the program of choice. Breaking down a bigger skill into smaller subsections takes the difficulty down dramatically. It is like the difference between climbing a mountain and climbing stairs.

2. Always spend 10-15 minutes pre-learning, skimming, and seeing how the information connects.

Before diving into a book or resource, spend a few minutes skimming to see how the information connects and what the most important concepts are.

When one later dives into the material, it is not brand new information to the brain, it has had a chance to process it and store it for future use.

3. Never use the same learning methodologies for the same goal.

When learning new information always think about the goal one has. If someone wants to pass an exam, they obviously need to study. To study correctly, however, one needs to know what has been on the exams in the past. On the flip side, if someone wants to build an app, they should spend less time reading and more time building the app. Great learners always define the goal and then create a plan based on the goal.

4. Always recognize the different kinds of information and apply the proper learning methodologies accordingly.

Facts are best memorized through the proper use of repetition. Concepts, on the other hand, need to be fully understood before being added to the long-term memory. Skills, however, are not something that can be learned through the memorization of facts or understanding of concepts. Skills need to be practiced, whether it is editing, coding, design, or public speaking, practicing is the key to becoming great at anything.

5. Sometimes people can also be passionate about something, and that can be used to one's advantage.

If someone is passionate about a certain type of content, they will learn it faster. If they are not, they can try and tie the information to something they are passionate about. When information is tied to something people are passionate about it is no longer random gibberish but something that they can understand and remember.

6. Many people think that learning something new requires a lot of time, but what they fail to realize is that it requires a lot of urgency.

Urgency drives action in the brain far more than time ever will. If someone has told themselves that they will learn something new someday, their brain has labeled the task as low priority. When they create a deadline for themselves, the task then becomes high priority, and the brain will put more energy into figuring out how and what to learn.

7. People learn faster as they learn more, it is a compounding effect.

The second skill acquired is always easier than the first, and the third is always easier than the second, and so on. This is because the brain starts to draw connections between everything that one learns. If someone knows how to use a certain program, it is much easier to learn a similar one. The same goes for all skills; learning code A makes learning code B a breeze, the same with editing, design, marketing, etc.

8. One of the best tools that one can take advantage of is AI.

A certain AI technique called the Feynman technique is extremely useful for learning anything faster with the help of AI. After learning something, explain it to an AI and ask it to ask questions, point out errors, etc. Once the explanation has been altered based on the feedback of the AI, repeat the process to solidify the information further.

9. Lastly, always work on and improve one's working memory.

A strong working memory is one of the best things that one can have when it comes to learning new information. Working memory is like an additional part to the brain that helps with learning, problem-solving, etc. The good news is that working memory can be dramatically improved by simply doing certain memory workouts or working out in general.

In this day and age, the best thing someone can do is to learn how to learn faster. Technology and industries as a whole are changing and advancing at an exponential rate. The people who will do the best in the future are not the people who know the most, but the people who know how to learn the fastest.