7 Tips To Kick-Start Your Learning Journey
In today’s world, there is lots to read, thousands of courses to do, podcasts to listen to, newsletters to subscribe to, communities to join, events to attend and last but definitely not least, documentaries to watch. All the information we need has been made available to us at the press of a button.
With this great power (access to information) comes great responsibility. We are in turn expected to upskill every chance we get. However, it’s not that easy! I can’t tell you the number of MOOC’s (Massive Open Online Courses) I’ve started only to drop-out a few days later.
With all the options available to us, learning is riddled with analysis paralysis.
Where should I start?
Which is the right course?
Should I pay for a course or just do the free ones?
Which platform is best?
I could go on and on!
Learning is constantly competing with the other priorities and responsibilities in our life. Today, starting and sticking with a program is becoming much harder than it used to be. There is so much to do in such little time and we feel the pressure to make a ‘right’ decision. This need to make a ‘right’ decision eventually holds us back from making any decision altogether. So, how can we kick-start a learning routine amidst everything else we need to do?
To guide you along, here is a list of 7 things that can help you start and stick with a learning program on your upskilling journey:
- Have a clear goal in mind of what you’re trying to achieve. Incorporating learning into one’s schedule becomes easier when we have a goal. For example, think of all the times you stayed up late to study for exams, or practiced continuously to run a marathon. When we have goals, it helps us stay motivated, it’s therefore important to have an end-goal for your learning. Think about your why and what you’re trying to achieve. It could be to take on a new project/role at work or to build your portfolio. Regardless of what the reason is, it needs to be something that resonates with you and can keep you motivated when the excitement fades.
- Focus on a limited number of skills at a time. As I mentioned, there is so much information available today and it’s easy to want to learn everything and anything! But remember, it’s important to have a clear goal in mind (in particular SMART goals). This will help you identify what and how to prioritize. You can break down your learning into quarterly themes to ensure you give each topic ample time as opposed to trying to learn everything at the same time. When it comes to learning, patience is key.
- Research free resources in your topic of interest before paying for a course. I remember my first interaction with online courses, it was a course on Udemy covering PLC’s (Programmable Logic Controllers) in detail. I enjoyed working with PLCs and assumed that I’d enjoy a course on it. At the time, it didn’t occur to me to explore free resources and so I paid for the course excited to grow my technical skills. Needless to say, the excitement waned and I’m yet to complete the course despite having lifetime access. So what’s the lesson here? Always look into free resources (and preview paid ones) and use it to gauge if your interest in the topic goes beyond curiosity or external influence/pressure.
- Consider project based learning. In the story above, it’s important to note that I didn’t have access to any PLC’s to actually practice what I was learning. Exploring the theoretical element without actually seeing the results became boring quite fast. Over the years, I’ve discovered that I learn more effectively when I’m engaged in a project and so do the majority of us. This is what informed the 70–20–10 learning framework. This framework states that for learning to be successful, 70% of the learning should come from ‘on the job/hands-on’ experiential training, 20% from peer learning and social interactions and 10% from formal training (that is, the theoretical part of it). So next time you want to stick with a learning program, consider taking up a project alongside it. This will give you an avenue to apply what you learn as you continue to identify the knowledge gaps.
- Ask people in your field of interest what resources they would recommend and what concepts are key to grasp. The information they share with you can guide you on what resources are valuable vs which ones are not. This can drastically shorten your learning time. Use the list you receive to build your foundation in this new field before exploring further.
- Get an accountability partner. It helps to have a study buddy, or someone who you ‘report’ your learning progress to. This reduces the chances of absconding to binge watch season 3 of ‘Never Have I Ever’. You can also set up study sessions with other people who would like to study as well. If you’d rather not reach out to people in your circle, you can check out the platform known as focusmate where you can find other people looking to focus together.
- Focus more on consistency than intensity. You know that moment when you go to the gym for the first time or after a long break and you engage in such intense training that you never want to go back again? That’s the result of intensity. Intensity has its place, but if you’re trying to build a new habit, consistency is the way to go. Start slow, then build up as you go. Schedule about 30 minutes on a given day (or everyday, the frequency is up to you) to do some learning. The time might seem short but this level of structure and consistency is a step in incorporating studying into your daily life in a manageable and sustainable manner. But all in all, it’s up to you to design your learning routine to suit you, that’s the only way it will eventually become a habit. (PS: Check out this TED talk on how you can learn anything in 20hrs)
With the competition in the workplace and the ever-changing technology and methodologies, it’s important to stay ahead of the curve to remain relevant. This is easier said than done. Luckily, technology has now made it easier for us to consume content in forms and mediums that can easily be incorporated into one’s routines, be it listening to a podcast/audiobook while performing a mundane task or taking a break with a documentary. There are many entry points to help us make our way into becoming life-long learners.
As we speak, I’m in the process of creating systems for myself to ensure that learning is no longer haphazard but is deliberately incorporated in my day-to-day life.
I hope these points will guide you (and me) as we work towards incorporating learning into our daily routines.
I wish you all the best on your learning journey!
#ChooseToThrive
