How to make learning a habit

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

It's never too late to learn. And learning how to make this process systematic is even useful. In this article, we'll look at eight simple rules to help you make learning a habit.

Habits do not arise from scratch: more often than not, they are the result of our own conscious choice. They give us freedom, freeing us from the exhausting decision-making process and the need to monitor ourselves every second. Since about 40% of our daily lives are formed by habits, it’s a good idea to acquire ones that make us happier, more successful, and more productive. Consider how to make learning a habit a habit.

Determine What You Will Learn

1. Set aside time for large-scale reflection

In the constant turmoil of everyday life, there is often no time to think about global life goals. How would you like to see yourself in five years? How could you develop your skills to make your work more productive and yourself more valuable? We are all different, for some half an hour once a week is enough for such reflections, for some a day is not enough, and for others, they prefer to think about global problems by going on a long bike ride. For some, it will be more convenient to think about eternal alone with a notebook, while others will take a completely different path and discuss everything with colleagues or with old friends who they trust.

2. Take time to think about the details

Sometimes, trying to quickly implement our grandiose plans, we overload ourselves and forget about small household chores. And they are just as important: it is useful sometimes to focus on small, manageable tasks that can be done immediately. What do you need to learn today to make your job easier or start making more money?

3. Ask yourself: who do you envy?

Envy is a negative emotion, but it can be a great stimulus for self-discovery. If you are jealous of someone, it means that this person has something that you really want to have. Who do you envy: your friend who is constantly traveling, or a friend who never needs anything? Your colleague who has successfully completed the MBA program, or a colleague who just throws words down the drain? Envy helps us figure out in which direction we want to grow and develop.

Make learning a habit

4. Specify the goal

Plans like "read more", "get up earlier" or "learn something new" are too vague and vague. Be specific about what you want to achieve. Give your goal the form of concrete, measurable and manageable action. For example: “attend conferences every month in an area of interest to me”, “read 52 books related to my profession in a year” or “spend two hours every Thursday reading articles that I bookmarked for a week”. A well-defined goal will motivate you to take action.

5. Control your habits

Control has a strange power over us. Research shows that simply by controlling our behavior, we begin to perform much better on tasks. It doesn't matter what exactly it will be: counting the steps from the apartment to the nearest store or the number of phone calls made per day. The same can be applied to how often we watch tutorials or take time to practice a new skill. Watch as a new habit starts to develop and it will help you move in the right direction.

6. Make a schedule for your habit

The goal, formulated as “learn something like that,” will always be somewhere in the dusty basement of your to-do list. It is, of course, important, but it does not have a specific deadline, which is why we will endlessly postpone it for later. That is why it is important to plan a specific time for learning new things.

7. Don't procrastinate

Do not put off work from day to day. If you have scheduled a specific task for a certain time, then do not do anything other than it. No email checks, tea breaks, or phone calls. All this later, but first - do what you wanted, otherwise later you risk constantly living with the feeling that something is always unfinished.

8. Spend time with people whose habits you would like to develop

Research shows that we tend to adopt habits from the people around us, so choose the right company. If you know that some of your colleagues have already become a habit of learning, then try to spend more time with them. This will help you get involved and make it easier to form a new habit.

And perhaps the most important thing to know about habits. We must shape them in such a way as to benefit ourselves: improve our character, broaden our horizons, and improve our professional skills. When we do something to benefit ourselves, the chances of successfully forming a new habit are doubled.