How to learn anything in just 24 hours

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

A step-by-step technique that will help you learn new skills.

It seems that 24 hours is very short. But in fact, during this time you can significantly improve your skills or learn something fundamentally new. This is convincingly proved by the author of the book “The First 20 Hours. How to quickly learn … anything”Josh Kaufman, who learned the Ruby programming language, Chinese chess and ukulele in a year, and many bloggers who post videos of the results of 24-hour challenges on YouTube.

It is not necessary to study for a day without interruption, you can stretch 24 hours for a week, two, or at least a month. An ongoing challenge will also be an interesting, albeit difficult experience: limited time and excitement, it is quite possible that they will spur you on and help you do even more than you planned.

6 steps to get better in 24 hours

1. Determine the target skill level

Decide exactly what you want to learn, what results to come in the long term and in the near future. For example: confidently ride a bike, play the songs of your favorite band on the guitar, knit hats.

2. Disassemble the skill into elements

Analyze what steps the skill consists of and where to start. For example, if you want to learn crocheting, the first steps are stitches, single crochet, single crochet, and reading simple patterns. These skills are enough to knit a hat, scarf, toy, socks or blanket without complicated patterns.

3. Prepare everything you need for classes

Materials, training videos, books, workplace. You don't have to download all the lessons you find or buy expensive consumables. Start with the bare minimum to make you feel comfortable without hitting your wallet hard.

4. Remove obstacles

Create yourself a comfortable environment. Look for a window in your schedule and make sure that nothing distracts you during class.

5. Record results

Success in new endeavors largely depends on how noticeable the progress is. Therefore, think about how best to record the first victories. For some activities, "before" and "after" are already clearly visible. For example, if you are drawing, it is enough just to put two works next to each other - an old one and a new one. And in other areas, you need to come up with a different way of assessing. Record on camera how you skate, take a test that determines the level of proficiency in a foreign language, contact the teacher.

6. Exercise regularly, intensively, in short intervals

George Kaufman recommends setting a timer for 20 minutes several times a day and dedicating that time to the skill you are learning. He believes that this format helps to maintain concentration and motivation, as a result, you learn faster than with longer lessons.

In addition, at first, he advises to think more not about the quality of what you are doing, but about speed and quantity. This way you do more, which means you hone your skill faster.

Several ideas and inspiring examples

Let's be realistic: you can't become a master in any business, not master a profession, not learn a foreign language in 24 hours. But you can stop being a complete amateur and reach a sufficient level, which, if desired, can be increased in the future. Here are some activities to try.

1. Draw portraits

As did, for example, blogger Max Ertan. The progress after 25 hours of training is amazing.

2. Play a musical instrument

There are many such videos on YouTube. Basically, people learn to play the classical guitar or ukulele, but those who went to a music school in the piano class know that in 24 hours (12 two-hour lessons!) It is quite possible to master the basic principles of musical notation, at least to understand the technique and learn a couple of simple pieces. Not bad already!

3. Skate

And not just skate, but perform simple curly elements. Here's a video that shows what ordinary people have achieved in five lessons, which is much less than 24 hours.

4. Knit

In a day, it is quite possible to figure out the main types of loops and columns (if you chose crochet) and create your first hat or scarf, as the artist and YouTube blogger Josiah Brooks did.

5. Talk about yourself in a foreign language

In 24 hours of classes, you will master the alphabet, the basics of grammar and simple vocabulary, learn to say what your name is, how old you are, where you live and what you do, you will be able to maintain a simple dialogue.