How To Learn Anything Faster - 5 Tips to Increase your Learning Speed (Feat. Project Better Self)

Summary

This video, featuring Daniel from Project Bet Herself, shares five tips on how to learn faster. The tips include breaking down skills using the Pareto principle, focusing with the Pomodoro Technique, learning through immersion, staying persistent through learning plateaus, and getting enough sleep to boost memory retention. By applying these strategies, viewers can optimize their learning process, achieve quicker results, and avoid common pitfalls that lead to quitting. The video encourages viewers to use these methods to stay ahead and succeed in their learning endeavors.

Takeaways

• 😀 Deconstruct the skill and focus on the most impactful 20% of tasks to achieve 80% of the desired results (Pareto principle).
• 🎯 Use the Pomodoro Technique to maintain laser-like focus, working in short intervals (25 minutes) with brief breaks.
• 🛠️ Learn by doing—immersion helps you retain up to 90% of what you learn through practical experience.
• 💪 Be persistent and push through 'the dip,' the point where most people lose motivation and quit.
• 😴 Get enough sleep to help your brain consolidate new memories and enhance learning ability.
• 🎸 Focus on core aspects of a skill (like basic guitar chords) to get quick results rather than trying to learn everything at once.
• 🧠 The Pomodoro Technique boosts productivity by reducing distractions and improving concentration over short, intense work periods.
• 🔄 Practicing a skill and making mistakes is the fastest way to learn, more effective than just watching or reading.
• 🚶‍♂️ Understand that hitting a plateau in learning is natural and temporary—persistence will get you through it.
• 🛌 Sleep aids in brain plasticity, which is essential for adapting and mastering new skills.

Q & A

What is the 80/20 principle mentioned in the video?

The 80/20 principle, developed by economist Vilfredo Pareto, states that 80% of your desired outcomes come from 20% of your inputs. In learning, this means focusing on the most important 20% of actions that will give you 80% of the results.

How can the 80/20 principle be applied to learning a new skill like playing the guitar?

Instead of focusing on multiple techniques like strumming patterns and notes, you should concentrate on learning basic chords and transitions. This will give you the most significant progress in the shortest time.

What is the Pomodoro Technique and how does it help in learning?

The Pomodoro Technique involves focusing intensely on a task for 20-25 minutes, followed by a short break. This method helps increase focus and productivity, making it easier to learn and retain information.

Why is immersion important for learning, according to the video?

Immersion is critical because research shows people retain more information by practicing and using the skill. The more you immerse yourself in the activity, the better you retain and learn from it.

What are the retention rates for different learning methods mentioned in the video?

Humans retain 10% of what they learn from reading, 20% from audio-visual methods, 50% from demonstrations, 70% from practice, and 90% from immediate use of what they learn.

What is 'the dip' in learning, and why is it important to overcome it?

The 'dip' refers to the period after the initial excitement of learning something new fades, and progress slows down. It's important to push through this dip because it's temporary, and quitting during this phase prevents reaching success.

What are some common reasons people quit during the 'dip' phase?

People often quit because they run out of time, money, get scared, aren’t serious about the task, or lose interest.

How does sleep affect learning and memory retention?

Sleep plays a crucial role in consolidating new memories. During sleep, the brain organizes and stores new information, which improves learning and reduces mistakes.

What is brain plasticity, and how is it related to learning?

Brain plasticity refers to the brain's ability to change its structure and organization in response to learning. This process happens during sleep, which is why getting enough rest is essential for learning.

What are the five key tips for learning faster, as outlined in the video?

The five tips are: 1) Deconstruct the skill and use the 80/20 principle. 2) Focus deeply using the Pomodoro Technique. 3) Learn by doing and immersing yourself. 4) Be persistent and push through the 'dip.' 5) Get adequate sleep to help with memory consolidation.

Outlines

00:00

📚 The Importance of Learning and the 80/20 Principle

In this introduction, the speaker emphasizes the importance of learning in all aspects of life, noting how it's a fundamental part of human survival and progress. The speaker introduces the 80/20 principle, a concept by Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto, which states that 80% of outcomes come from 20% of efforts. In learning, this means focusing on the most impactful elements. For example, in guitar playing, concentrating on basic chords and transitions can lead to faster progress, rather than spreading focus too thinly on multiple techniques.

05:05

🎯 Focus and the Pomodoro Technique for Efficient Learning

The second tip emphasizes the need for intense focus while learning. To combat distractions and short attention spans, the Pomodoro Technique is introduced. This method involves 25-minute focused sessions followed by short breaks. The speaker shares their personal experience of learning to code using this method, highlighting how it boosts concentration and helps form deeper neural connections, leading to quicker learning.

👩‍🔧 Learning by Doing and Immersive Practice

This paragraph stresses that learning by doing is the most effective way to master a skill. It discusses how humans retain more knowledge by practicing what they've learned, with a retention rate of up to 90% when they immediately apply new skills. The speaker compares this to common experiences like learning to play soccer or ride a bike, where hands-on practice is far more effective than reading or watching tutorials.

💪 Persistence Through the Dip

The fourth tip explains the importance of persistence, particularly when encountering 'the dip,' a concept from Seth Godin. The dip represents the inevitable plateau in progress after the initial excitement of learning fades. Many quit during this phase, but pushing through it is essential for success. The speaker outlines common reasons why people quit, including running out of time, money, or losing interest, and stresses the importance of recognizing the dip and staying committed.

😴 The Power of Sleep in Learning

The final tip covers the crucial role of sleep in learning and memory consolidation. When awake, new information can be interrupted by stimuli, but sleep allows the brain to better process and store new memories. A study from a German research lab is mentioned, showing that sleep particularly enhances memory if the information is needed later. The theory of brain plasticity is introduced, suggesting that the brain reorganizes itself during sleep, highlighting the need for adequate rest to optimize learning.

📝 Recap: 5 Tips for Faster Learning

The conclusion recaps the five main tips: 1) Break down skills using the 80/20 principle to focus on the most impactful parts; 2) Maintain deep focus with methods like the Pomodoro Technique; 3) Immerse yourself in hands-on practice to solidify learning; 4) Be persistent and push through the dip when progress slows down; and 5) Ensure you get enough sleep to consolidate memories and improve learning efficiency. The speaker encourages viewers to like, subscribe, and check out their channel for more videos.

Keywords

💡Deconstruct the skill

This concept involves breaking down a complex skill into smaller, manageable components. The video suggests that to learn faster, focusing on the most essential elements (the 20% that will yield 80% of the results) can accelerate progress. For example, learning guitar chords and transitions first, rather than focusing on all techniques, speeds up mastery.

💡80/20 Principle (Pareto Principle)

The 80/20 Principle, developed by economist Vilfredo Pareto, states that 80% of results come from 20% of efforts. The video emphasizes applying this principle to learning, suggesting that focusing on the key 20% of techniques or knowledge will lead to faster and more effective learning, like mastering guitar chords before moving to advanced techniques.

💡Pomodoro Technique

The Pomodoro Technique is a time management method that involves working in focused intervals, typically 25 minutes long, followed by short breaks. The video highlights how this technique helps in maintaining deep focus, improving learning efficiency, and preventing distractions, using coding as an example where 25-minute bursts of focus helped the speaker master coding in four months.

💡Laser-like focus

This term refers to maintaining intense concentration on a task without distractions. The video stresses that achieving this deep focus is crucial for learning faster, as it allows the brain to form stronger connections. The Pomodoro Technique is mentioned as a strategy to help achieve such focus.

💡Immersion

Immersion refers to the process of fully engaging in an activity to learn by doing. The video points out that people retain more information when they practice and use what they learn right away, citing examples like learning to play soccer or ride a bicycle, where practical experience trumps theoretical learning.

💡Persistence

Persistence is the determination to keep going despite challenges or slow progress. The video discusses how many learners quit during 'the dip'—a period when progress slows and enthusiasm fades. By understanding that this phase is temporary, learners can push through and reach success.

💡The Dip

The Dip is a term coined by Seth Godin to describe the challenging phase of learning where progress slows down and motivation decreases. The video explains that many people quit during this phase, but knowing it's temporary can help learners persist and eventually succeed.

💡Brain Plasticity Theory

This theory suggests that the brain can change its structure and organization in response to learning and experience, especially during sleep. The video emphasizes the importance of sleep for memory consolidation, arguing that adequate sleep enhances the brain's ability to absorb and retain new skills.

💡Consolidation of memories

Memory consolidation refers to the process by which short-term memories are transformed into long-term memories, especially during sleep. The video explains how sleep aids this process, making it easier for learners to retain new information and avoid mistakes, reinforcing the importance of rest during learning.

💡Honeymoon phase

The honeymoon phase refers to the initial period of learning something new when excitement and motivation are high due to the release of dopamine. The video explains that while this phase is enjoyable, it’s followed by the dip, where progress becomes more difficult and learners are at risk of quitting.

Highlights

Daniel from Project Bet Herself provides five tips on how to learn faster.

The 80/20 principle, developed by Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto, explains that 80% of your results come from 20% of your efforts.

Focus on one or two critical aspects of a skill that will yield the most significant results, rather than spreading attention too thin.

Example: To learn guitar quickly, prioritize basic chords and transitions instead of advanced techniques.

Laser-like focus is crucial, and the Pomodoro Technique helps maintain concentration for 20-25 minutes at a time, followed by short breaks.

The speaker used the Pomodoro Technique to learn coding from scratch in four months, showing the effectiveness of focused learning.

Immersion in practical tasks leads to faster learning, as humans retain more when practicing a skill than when passively learning.

Humans retain up to 90% of information when they immediately apply what they’ve learned.

Learning by doing is emphasized over passive consumption, such as reading or watching tutorials.

Persistence is key, especially during the 'dip,' a phase when progress slows, and many people quit.

Understanding and predicting the 'dip' in motivation and progress can help learners push through and avoid quitting.

Psychologists refer to the initial excitement of learning as the honeymoon phase, followed by a plateau called the dip.

Sleep is crucial for consolidating new memories and enhancing learning, especially when the brain is free from distractions.

Research shows that adequate sleep helps form and retain memories, boosting learning outcomes.

The brain plasticity theory suggests the brain restructures itself during sleep, further supporting the need for adequate rest when learning.

Transcripts

hey guys it's practical psychology here and in this video Daniel from Project

bet herself is gonna give us five amazing tips on how to learn faster I

hope you guys enjoy every single one of us is either learning something new at

the moment or is planning to do in the future who is playing an instrument

learning a second language drawing or maybe learning how to code in the past

he must depended on learning new things they had to learn more effective ways to

hunt and learn how to make better tools so they can have a higher chance of

survival we see that learning has always been an integral part of our lives so it

comes natural that we spend some time learning how to learn here are five tips

that you can use to lap your competition and leave your friends wondering how you

learn so fast number one deconstruct the skill and

implement the 8020 principle it is a concept developed by Italian economist

vilfredo pareto which explains that 80% of your desired outputs will come from

only 20% of your inputs well the exact ratio of varies from situation to

situation you'll find that 20% of people in your life will lead to 80% of your

happiness 20% of your customers will drive 80 percent of your sales and 20

percent of your learning methods will lead to 80% of your results when it

comes to learning it feels like there's so much we don't know so it's easy to

jump around everywhere this will only lead to wasted time what you want to do

instead is to focus on one or two things that will drive the middle for what you

want to achieve and devote most of your time practicing those things for example

if you want to learn how to play the guitar instead of focusing on strumming

patterns notes on the fretboard hammer-on pull-off techniques you should

only focus on learning the basic chords and transitions between them because

that will give you 80% of the results and in 20% of the time you'll be able to

play the songs you wanted number two have a laser-like focus and use the

Pomodoro Technique to learn quickly it'll be important to

commit your full focus and attention when you're researching and practicing

your skill these days that's easier said than done thanks to our short attention

spans and constantly buzzing devices to help you stay focused start using the

Pomodoro Technique the Pomodoro Technique consists of shutting down all

external distractions and fully focusing on the task for short period of time

usually 20 to 25 minutes and then taking a short break of one to five minutes

I've learned coding from scratch in four months by using this principle my daily

schedule was 12 Commodore sessions each spending around 25 minutes of focus

State and five minutes of rest and after every four sessions I would take a

longer break the Pomodoro Technique produces amazing results because our

brain is more receptive to new information when we're focused when you

look at it it's basically common sense more focused in steeper connections

number three learn by doing immersion is by far the best way to learn anything

and as research shows it turns out that humans retained 10% of what they learned

from reading twenty percent of what I learned from audio-visual 50% of what

alert when they see a demonstration up to 70 percent of what they learn when

they practice what they learned and up to 90 percent of what they learn when

they use it immediately try to remember how you learned to play soccer

ride a bicycle or swim instead of watching tutorials or reading a textbook

on how to do something the way to learn faster is to get your hands dirty and

gain experience through making mistakes number four be persistent unfortunately

many of us give up before or during what Seth Godin calls the dip Gordon says

that although it's important to know when to quit many potential winners

don't reach success because they quit before the dip according to Gordon five

reasons you might fail to follow through are you run out of time and quit you run

out of money and quit you get scared and quit you're not serious about it then

quit or you lose interest and quit psychologists have also studied what's

known as the transition cycle when we experience the opportunity to learn

something new we enter what many people call the honeymoon phase this is where

we experience releases of dopamine is ryx perience new things in other words

we're hardwired to appreciate and seek out novelty because it makes us feel

good once the honeymoon phase is over we experience the dip and our progress

begins to Plateau or diminish this is when most of us quit the reason why this

is important is that if you can predict the dip is coming when you're learning

something new it's easier to fight through it because you know deep exists

and it only lasts it's temporary number five get enough

sleep sleep plays a big role in our ability to learn new information and

skills when we are awake new situations and stimuli can prevent new memories

from consolidating in our minds but when we are asleep we're better at creating

new memories one study from a German research lab found that sleep helps our

memory formation most if you know you will need the information later in fact

some scientists believe the brain can actually change its own structure and

organization this is a theory called the brain plasticity theory and it suggests

those all-important structural and organizational changes in our brain take

place when we are asleep without adequate sleep we have a hard time

learning something new because our brain doesn't have the opportunity to review

and absorb the new information when you get enough sleep while you're learning a

new skill you'll be able to consolidate those memories faster and make fewer

mistakes overall so to recap break down the skill and use the Pareto principle

practice the 20% that will give you 80% of the results focus deeply when

practicing the skill and use multiple Pomodoro sessions learn by immersing

yourself and actually doing the skill you're learning watching or reading is

not enough be persistent and follow through the deep where majority of

people will quit and finally get adequate sleep to help your brain store

all the information and prepare you for the day ahead leave a like below if you

liked the video and make sure to subscribe to practical psychology if you

haven't already you can check out my channel too for similar videos anyway

thanks for watching and I'll see you next time

you