Learning a new anything tends to be disquieting at first … especially you have to step out of your comfort zone or basal ganglia… and you do. You are not alone when things feel over your head.... It takes enormous effort to use your working memory … which has so many new details and very little that looks familiar.
Smarter people are often those who simply hang in! There are ways to make learning easier … and it simply involves working more with your brain … and less against the way it can help you out. The human brain actually is hardwired for new learning adventures! 
Here are 5 tips that help you learn new things without getting into old habits of giving up before you get there.
1. Read new materials with a determination to stop and apply a key concept at least once on every page. Jot down how you will use it at work that week and then do – to do a thing helps the brain to know and remember it.
2, Teach another person at the same time you learn a new concept yourself – get people into fun conversations about what you are learning and ask questions to get their ideas. This exchange will deepen your own understanding and show you opposite views which help you to remember the original ideas.
3. Go with your gut to trust the fact that you already know something about this new topic. Start with what you know and build on that daily! Refuse to give up at this point – because you are likely very close to getting it down!
4. Ask a person close to you to look at the directions with you ... and tell them exactly what you think it means ... to see if they agree. Reread the material as ... if you were preparing to teach it to co-workers ... and you’ll like see the gap you are missing. You cannot read enough – and if you apply while you read – twice as much goes in.
5. Use new ideas to improve something in your life at work … right off the bat … and share the good results you found … with the rest of us! Build incrementally by coming back to the task each day … and by applying … pacing and keeping track of the new strides you make…. The brain can handle step-by-step far better than large chunks of new knowledge all at once.
In spite of challenges… those who stay in the race find amazing rewards in learning a new thing! Helen Keller said "Life must be an adventure or it is nothing at all...." She made learning her daily adventure … in spite of horrific odds … and so can you and I…. What do you think?
I read your post and I liked very much. It contains helpful advices for daily challenging life. I strongly believe that any new learned thing will place us upon the others.
Posted by: health | September 20, 2006 10:57 AM | Permalink to Comment