I wasn’t born smart, but I was born curious. This has motivated me to discover many interesting concepts and processes such as how everyday objects work, and how people think.

A Life Of Learning

My love of learning was also influenced by my father: When I was a teenager, if I spent too much time watching TV, he would remind me to spend more time learning instead. That has helped shape my habits today. I still occasionally enjoy entertainment, but make sure to balance my time between entertainment and education.

To this day, I’m constantly asking questions and in the process have discovered surprising facts along the way that broaden my view of the world. This insight helps me to better understand and relate to different people.

Responsibility and survival are common motivators, but a passion for learning will carry you much farther and deeper in your journey of discovery. To develop a curious mindset, start taking small breaks throughout your day to contemplate life and the things around you.

Find a balance: to relax when you’re tired and learn when you have enough time and mental energy. Getting into a good habit takes effort. By learning, I mean expanding your general knowledge and developing your skills. Ideally, these are also aligned with your career goals. 

Finding Your Methods

There are many ways to make learning more fun and efficient. Find what works best for you and utilize these to improve your process.

Hands-on experience

Most people have a better recall with hands-on experience. Familiarity and concepts are tried and true methods of learning. Rote memorization is a very ineffective way to learn, and is often why students forget everything they studied for after a quiz.

Auditory

With the help of screen readers, you can easily open up a document on your computer and hit ‘Play’. For extra focus, you can use your eyes to read along while using your ears to listen to the screen reader. When I need an eye-break, I will use a screen reader and close my eyes – you may not want to do this if you easily fall asleep.

Teaching / Conversational

One of my favorite quotes by Albert Einstein is “If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.” Try explaining what you have just learned to a person. If you can’t find someone available, use a toy or object as your pretend audience. Don’t just repeat the words verbatim; use your own words. This will help you internalize the information.

Visual

Charts, photos, and graphics are useful for an instant understanding of information. These help to keep readers engaged, especially with long form information. A page of text is a type of visual as it can be bolded or broken up into sections. Consider how you might use visuals or text formatting to help you study better. Try to find images that can help reinforce or explain the information well.

Once you have a good idea of what methods are most effective for you, apply these study tips for even better results.

Stay Curious

Question everything and stay open to other perspectives! Think about why things are done a certain way, and reflect on possible alternatives. To make it relevant, look for a problem in your life and research a few possible solutions. This activity will provide you with the opportunity to come up with your own solution or learn from other problem-solvers.

Successful solutions in the world require testing, research, and collaboration. These are all practices that will help you build curiosity and practical skills. The purpose of working on an assignment is to help you develop an innovative, problem-solving mindset.

Advocating For Yourself

Try to learn a bit about everything, starting with basic concepts. This will give you a starting point for decision-making and having valuable conversations. You are the best advocate for your development and growth. Set aside dedicated time each week for self-guided learning. Are there any skills or knowledge gaps you can work on improving?

Stay adaptive by learning about new technologies and emerging trends. By continuously learning and developing, you position yourself as a valuable asset wherever you go.