How am I learning how to learn?
I’m currently taking a class on Coursera about learning how to learn. Because learning new things all the time is very important for personal development so learning how to do that more effectively seems like a valuable investment. The course is also fun and easy to follow.
In this post I will give an overview of what I have applied from it so far. It’s not an exhaustive summary of the course material. It is also part of the class itself as a final project.
Use the focused and diffuse modes of thinking
I’ve been using the Pomodoro technique for some time now with good success. I have learned in the course that this technique is simply an application of alternating the focused and diffuse modes of thinking in the brain. While in the focused mode you have a narrow focus on a specific problem, in the diffuse mode you take a break from whatever you are focused on and let your mind wander. This casts a very wide net of “random” thoughts and allows you to make new connections more easily.
This knowledge gave me a different appreciation of the Pomodoro technique. But beyond just the technique itself, it’s important to know when to step away from a problem to do something entirely different that brings out the diffuse mode. For example washing the dishes or taking a walk in the park. This will often result in an “Aha!” moment eventually that allows you to make better progress in solving your problem.
Sleep well
Avoid going to sleep too late. Easier said than done right? At least for me this has often been a challenge.
Nevertheless, it’s true and you will feel the difference in productivity the next day when you go to bed at a reasonable time. For me this is somewhere between 10 pm and midnight. I definitely don’t want to exceed midnight and I find that earlier is better. I found it helpful to put some reminders on my phone that it’s time to go to sleep. Otherwise I might lose track of time more easily and end up going to sleep late.
Plan for tomorrow
I use a handwritten journal where at the end of the day when I’m in bed, I will write down a to do list for tomorrow. Nothing too detailed, just the most important tasks you want to get done early in the day. Keep it short. I’ve learned to also set a finish time for these tasks. I aim to get them done before 5pm, after that I am free to do whatever. This seems to reduce the resistance on tackling them the next day.
Dealing with procrastination
This is an issue for most of us to some degree. Some amount of procrastination is fine, but too much of it will have unwanted consequences in the long run. There are a few things I’ve learned in this course that I am already applying.
Process over product
When I plan my tasks I frame them as a process instead of a product. What does this mean? I’ll give a few examples. Instead of:
- Write article on learning how to learn
- Read a book
You can phrase them like this:
- Spend 1 Pomodoro writing about learning how to learn
- Read 2 pages of a book
The tasks don’t have the entire product in them instead they talk about the process that leads to the product. This tends to reduce the level of discomfort when thinking about these tasks, they are more approachable. And once I’ve spent 1 Pomodoro working on something, more often than not I’ll continue with another one.
I’ve previously learned to trust the process also from John Sonmez (Simple Programmer). He produces a lot of great free content you can learn from.
Watch the discomfort
When you are tempted to procrastinate it’s usually because you have some kind of negative feeling about the task. This can be decreased as I’ve talked about it above, however it may still be there.
One approach is to just do it anyway but only commit to something very small. Tell yourself that you will only work on it for 5 minutes. That should be doable right, even if it’s uncomfortable? If not, then 3 minutes. What tends to happen is that the discomfort starts to fade away once you get into it.
Another thing you can do is observe the discomfort and try to feel how it feels in your body. Where is it coming from? There is no need for a logical answer, just observe. This might help to become more comfortable with the discomfort and not be so influenced by it.
Tackle most uncomfortable tasks early
With these tasks, the earlier you tackle them the better because it is easier to get over the “hump” of discomfort when you are more rested and fresh.
Also make sure to forgive yourself when you still procrastinate on something. There is no need for perfection. You can reflect on it to see what happened and use it as a learning opportunity. Don’t beat yourself up over it.
In closing
This course has been very interesting and easy to follow. I’ve only talked about some of the material and techniques that are taught in it. If you’re interested in learning more effectively, check it out here.