How to learn anything faster
Are you tackling a mountain of new material for a certification or trying to pick up a language on short notice before relocating? Maybe you're in a new role and feeling the pressure to master a whole set of new skills overnight?
Learning how to learn is a key meta-skill that is invaluable to apply to all areas of your life. In Ultralearning: Master Hard Skills, Outsmart the Competition, and Accelerate Your Career, Scott Young provides evidence based strategies for how to learn anything faster. Young demonstrates, through many real-life examples, that for those willing to put in the work, the results can be amazing. From the example of someone who was terrible at languages in high school to becoming a polyglot as an adult, to someone else who struggled to give a presentation to work colleagues who became a professional public speaker.
Ultralearning outlines a process of nine key strategies for mastering new skills and knowledge quickly and efficiently through intense, self-directed learning. While I was familiar with many of the strategies such as drill down (focus on your weak points), retrieval (regularly testing yourself), and seeking feedback, there were three strategies that stood out to accelerate my own learning process.
Metalearning: prep work before you start
Before you dive in, spend time on "metalearning," which means understanding how to learn the topic itself. This is the prep work before you start diving into a topic. Research the structure of the subject, identify what core concepts are essential, and decide on the most effective resources. This phase acts as a roadmap for your learning journey.
Work out what’s important: Start by breaking down the subject into smaller pieces. What are the must-know skills or concepts? If you are learning how to make YouTube videos, you would split things into scripting, filming, and editing. This way, you can tackle each area with a clear focus.
See how others have learned it: Look at how experts or experienced learners tackled this topic. You might read blogs, watch videos, or follow online courses just to see what’s essential and how they structured their learning. This research helps you build a strong foundation right from the start.
Pick your resources and make a plan: Choose the books, courses, or online tools that will give you a mix of theory and hands-on practice. With a good plan in place, you’ll have a clear picture of how much time and effort you’ll need to put in.
Directness: learn by doing
Directness is all about learning by actually doing the thing you’re trying to master, instead of just reading or thinking about it. Emphasise direct learning methods that mimic the way you will be actually using the skill in real-world situations. For example, if you're learning a language, engage in conversations rather than just studying vocabulary. This approach ensures you're building skills relevant to how you’ll actually use them.
Learn by doing: For example, if you are trying to learn how to take better photos, rather than just reading about it or watching video tutorials, spend time actually taking photos. By practicing the skill in a way that’s similar to how you’ll actually use it, you’re more likely to retain what you learn.
Try tying learning to projects: Take a project-based approach, such as creating a small website or blog if you’re learning website design. Real projects that apply what you are learning can make the whole process more motivating and memorable.
Go for immersion: If possible, immerse yourself in situations where you’re actually using the skill. For a language, that might mean having real conversations with native speakers. Immersion makes the learning feel more relevant and helps your brain lock in the new knowledge.
Experimentation: try different approaches or methods
Experimentation is all about testing out different ways to learn so you can find what works best for you, especially if you’re feeling stuck. By trying different approaches or methods within your learning process, this helps you discover faster, more effective strategies, and can lead to breakthroughs when progress stalls.
Try out new methods: If your usual study approach isn’t working, switch it up. For example, if studying for an exam use visual aids, create summaries, or even teach the concept to someone else. Experimenting keeps things interesting and often leads to a faster way of learning.
Embrace mistakes: Instead of seeing mistakes as setbacks, treat them as clues. Each mistake is an opportunity to try a different approach, or refine your technique. Over time, this cycle of improvement speeds up your progress.
Use feedback to adjust: Experimenting works best when you’re paying attention to feedback. Whether you’re getting it from others or assessing yourself, honest feedback helps you see what’s working and what’s not. For instance, if you notice that reviewing with flashcards helps you remember better, stick with it!
In summary
By focusing on metalearning, directness, and experimentation, you’re setting yourself up for a faster, more enjoyable learning experience. Start experimenting with these strategies today.