Learning How to Learn

It’s about understanding, not memorization

July 18, 2022

Hey there —

Do you remember what you learned in high school geometry? How about chemistry?

Maybe you recall the Pythagorean theory or periodic table. But outside of that, your mind is likely drawing a blank. 🗯

But you probably remember cramming for exams.

The Red Bulls, all-nighters, and “What the hell am I doing with my life?” thoughts at 2am. And while you’d miraculously pass the test (most of the time)…you probably didn’t actually learn very much using this study method.Rote memorization might fly in the classroom, but life’s most important skills – parenting, negotiation, or investing, to name a few – aren’t something you can “cram” for the night before.

That’s why learning how to learn is one of the most important skills you’ll ever need.

Unfortunately, many of us don’t have this skill set, because we’re mainly taught what to think instead of how. But truly learning something doesn’t mean memorizing it – it’s about understanding it from the inside out.

If you’re looking to enhance your learning, try these three tactics:

👩‍🏫 Space it out. Don’t try to cram all of the information in one go. Give yourself time between sessions to reflect and retain information.

🐘 Teach what you know. One of the best ways to learn information is by summarizing it to others. Since people easily remember metaphors, try using analogies when explaining ideas for a powerful learning combo.

👂 Embrace your senses. Rotate between using auditory, visual and verbal learning to create an immersive and memorable learning experience.

By pulling these techniques together, you can learn any subject – even those that don’t come naturally to you at first. And that’s a powerful skill to have!

Zooming Out: The Impact of Distance on Our Decisions

Article | by Kaylee Somerville

Did you know distance influences our judgment? It’s known as the “overview effect,” and its subtle impacts are nuts. It plays a role with…

• Splurging. People touring apartments on a higher floor are more likely to purchase extra amenities.

• Recycling. One hotel increased guests' recycling by 22% by using terms stressing the present moment (words like “today” and “here and now”).

• Important Conversations. The ideal location for a company’s strategy meeting is the top floor of an office building since it orients teams to focus on the big picture.

This article is a dense read, but you’ll walk away baffled once you recognize just how much distance influences our decision-making.

The Day You Become a Better Writer

Article | by Scott Adams

In this article, Scott Adams summarizes everything he learned from a one-day course on “business writing” into a two-minute read.

This pithy piece came out in 2007 and remains a staple in the writing community. Once you check it out and see for yourself, you’ll understand why.

Just Sign

Tool | by Ron Fybish

This handy tool lets you create a professional email signature (for free!) in 60-seconds flat. It’s perfect if you’re an entrepreneur, freelancer, or contractor looking to add that *extra* touch of professionalism to your business with beautiful and cohesive branding.

Written by Alice Lemée