Learning a new skill isn’t just challenging – it can feel downright impossible when you’re balancing work, family, and other responsibilities. Yet mastering new abilities is essential for career growth in today’s rapidly changing job market. Fortunately, there are proven techniques that make learning not only more efficient but actually enjoyable.
From memory hacks to psychological tricks, these methods help busy adults retain critical information without the mind-numbing repetition we all dreaded in school. The best part? These techniques work whether you’re picking up technical skills, healthcare knowledge, or business expertise.
In case you’re curious about the methods we’re talking about, here are the 5 best methods of learning that will help you throughout your education journey!
1. Singing It Out
As crazy as this sounds; jingles are addictive. We’ve all had that one earworm stuck in our heads. The songs that we can’t stop singing or humming for the life of us. In fact, you’ve probably had your fair share of moments where you end up humming that one song you hate involuntarily. Followed by a humorously deep sense of self-hatred.
Well, if earworms can make something you hate stick in your mind, imagine what it can do for learning purposes!
Make a melody or a song out of the topic you’re trying to learn, and jam along. The next time you need that piece of info, you’ll sing the jingle out like a 1980s infomercial. Whether it is 2 weeks from now or 2 decades later.
2. Teach Others About It
Have you ever wondered why some people seem to never study, but ALWAYS know the material? They don’t seem to be paying attention in class, but if you ask them a question regarding the course, they’ll answer as well as the teacher would.
Well, surprisingly enough, one of the secrets of the trade is asking and answering questions. Most of these people aren’t incredibly gifted or have genius-level IQ, they mostly learn by tutoring or answering questions by peers.
It is psychologically and scientifically proven that by teaching others, you will internalize material much more quickly. This is called the Feynman Learning Technique. In essence, the better you understand something, the better you can explain it as simply to understand as possible.
So the next time you’re having problems learning a new skill, it might be a wise choice to try and teach someone else. It not only helps them improve but also yourself. And if you don’t understand the material, go back and try to process it again, until you can explain it to someone in an understandable manner. To put it simply, the Feynman technique consists of 3-4 easy steps, which are…
- Choose a concept you want to learn about.
- Pretend you are teaching it to a student in grade 6.
- Identify gaps in your explanation; Go back to the source material, to better understand it.
- Review and simplify (optional)
So grab a friend and start ranting at them about the new thing you’ve recently learned. If you’re doing social distancing to the maximum, talking to a rubber ducky or a stuffed teddy bear will also work. Not as well as with an actual person, but effective nevertheless.
Related: How to go from “busy” to “productive”
3. Chew Gum
Did you know it is scientifically proven that chewing gum increases your focus and improves your memory? Subjects in multiple studies have shown that chewing gum while learning something new increases their productivity level.
In some cases, people prefer to chew different flavored gums for different concepts they’re learning. Eg, chewing strawberry gum when you’re specifically learning and working on web development-related projects. Meanwhile, if you’re learning to design or edit videos and pictures, chew mint-flavored gum instead of strawberry. It really does help!
The next time you’re trying to focus on a new concept, chew your favourite gum! You’ll be surprised at how focused it makes you.
4. Use Mnemonics
Mnemonic is a technique used to retain long streams of information more efficiently. Most mnemonics come in the form of wordplay, as shown in my personal example.
General mnemonics known to the public is the guitar strings EADGBE, Eddy Ate Dynamite, and Good Bye Eddy. HOMES is used by schoolchildren to remember the Great Lakes; Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, and Superior.
By taking the first letters of a really long memorizing sequence and creating a funny memorable sentence with it, you’ll be able to memorize information much more effectively!
5. Apply What You Learn Immediately
The most powerful way to cement any new skill is to use it right away in a real-world context. This technique, called immediate application, helps move information from your short-term memory into long-term storage where it becomes part of your skillset.
Research shows that professionals who apply new knowledge within 24 hours of learning it retain up to three times more information than those who don’t. This explains why hands-on training is so effective for career skills – whether you’re practicing accounting procedures, coding techniques, or medical terminology.
Look for opportunities to use what you’ve just learned, even in small ways. Working on spreadsheet skills? Reorganize your household budget. Learning design principles? Rearrange your living room. The applications don’t need to be perfect – they just need to happen quickly after learning.
Next time you’re studying for an exam or learning a new skill, try these 5 methods to help you focus and retain information like a pro. Your brain is capable of amazing things when you use the right techniques!
Ready to experience education that incorporates these proven learning methods? Academy of Learning Career College uses a unique Integrated Learning System™ that makes career training more effective and engaging. Visit our website to discover which program aligns with your career goals.