How to Learn: Pretty Much Anything

Summary

This script addresses the common struggle of procrastination in learning new skills, suggesting that the initial stress of learning activates the brain's pain center. It emphasizes the importance of taking initiative and starting the learning process despite discomfort. The script explains the brain's capacity for growth through synapse creation, advocating for deliberate practice, rest, and the integration of physical exercise and social interaction to enhance learning. It encourages tackling major concepts over details, self-testing for retention, and balancing focused and diffused modes of thinking for efficient learning. The key takeaway is that anyone can develop the 'talent' of initiative, making consistent effort and time investment the foundation of skill acquisition.

Takeaways

• 🚀 Start Learning Now: To overcome procrastination and the stress associated with learning something new, simply begin the process as the initial discomfort will dissipate once you start.
• 💡 Initiative is Key: Taking the first step is crucial because waiting for the 'right mood' can lead to inaction. No one else can initiate the learning process for you.
• 🔄 Overcome Distractions: When learning, you may encounter frustrations that divert your attention. It's important to regain focus and remember that long-term satisfaction from learning outweighs short-term gratification from social media or games.
• 🌱 Growth Mindset: Learning involves creating new synapses in the brain, indicating that there's no limit to what you can learn. However, rest is necessary for memory consolidation.
• 🔄 Repetition Strengthens Memory: Revisiting and reinforcing learned material is vital for strengthening neural connections, as the brain prioritizes remembering information based on its perceived importance.
• 🎨 Focus on Major Flaws: When learning a complex skill, like drawing, concentrate on improving your biggest weaknesses first to establish a need for learning and to make progress more effectively.
• 💤 Sleep is Essential: Adequate sleep is crucial for learning as it aids in processing and strengthening synapses, as well as clearing metabolic toxins from the brain.
• 🏃‍♂️ Physical Exercise and Social Contact: Engaging in physical activity and social interactions can help produce new neurons, thereby enhancing the ability to study and learn.
• 🎧 Modes of Thinking: Understanding the difference between focused (logical) and diffused (creative) modes of thinking can help you utilize each mode for maximum efficiency in learning and creativity.
• 👀 Relate to the Abstract: When learning something abstract, find relatable analogies to make the concept feel real and part of your reality, aiding in better understanding and retention.
• 📝 Test Yourself: Actively testing your knowledge by doing tasks from memory and correcting mistakes is an effective way to reinforce learning and improve retention.

Q & A

Why does learning something new often cause stress or anxiety?

Learning something new can cause stress or anxiety because it activates the same area in the brain that processes pain, making the idea of learning feel like self-harm.

What is the best solution to overcome the initial reluctance to start learning something new?

The best solution is to simply start doing it. Taking the initiative to begin the learning process is crucial as it helps overcome the initial discomfort and anxiety.

How does the brain respond to the process of learning something new?

When learning something new, the brain creates more synapses, which are connections between neurons, thus expanding its capacity for learning.

Why is it important to take rest during the learning process?

Rest is important because it allows time for the brain to memorize and process the new information, helping to strengthen the neural connections and ensure better retention.

How does sleep contribute to the learning process?

Sleep is crucial for learning as it plays a significant role in processing synapses, creating new ones, and cleaning them from metabolic toxins, which aids in memory consolidation.

What role does physical exercise and social contact play in enhancing learning?

Physical exercise and social contact help the brain produce new neurons, which can improve cognitive function and make studying and learning more effective.

Why is it recommended to focus on one's biggest flaws when learning a new skill, like drawing?

Focusing on the biggest flaws establishes the need for learning and allows for targeted improvement, making the learning process more efficient and effective.

How can the concept of 'focused mode' and 'diffused mode' be applied to learning?

Focused mode, or logical mode, is best for concentration and learning new information without distractions. Diffused mode, or creative mode, allows the brain to wander and reinforce what has already been learned, often with some level of distraction.

Why is it important to practice a skill yourself rather than just observing someone else?

Practicing a skill oneself is important because learning involves problem-solving, and one must solve the problems personally to truly understand and master the skill.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Overcoming Procrastination and Embracing Learning

This paragraph discusses the common struggle of motivation in learning new skills. It explains that learning can induce stress due to the activation of the brain's pain area, leading to anxiety. The best approach is to start learning despite the discomfort, as this initiates the learning process and overcomes the initial hurdle. The paragraph also touches on the importance of initiative, the fleeting nature of short-term distractions, and the long-term benefits of focused study and work. It further explains the biological aspects of learning, such as the creation of new synapses in the brain, emphasizing that there is no limit to learning. The importance of rest, repetition, and sleep in the learning process is highlighted, along with practical tips on how to approach learning, such as focusing on immediate needs and utilizing sleep for memory consolidation.

05:06

🎨 Balancing Focused and Diffused Modes for Creative Learning

The second paragraph delves into the two modes of thinking: the focused mode, which is essential for concentration and logical learning, and the diffused mode, which allows for creativity and reinforcement of learned material. It suggests that understanding these modes can help individuals become more efficient learners by shifting between them as needed. The paragraph emphasizes the importance of personal involvement in the learning process, as observing others does not equate to understanding. It also discusses the challenge of relating to abstract concepts and the need to make them tangible through relatable analogies. The importance of not getting lost in details and the value of self-testing to reinforce learning are highlighted. The paragraph concludes with a caution against over-reliance on intuition and the necessity of deliberate practice for true mastery.

10:07

🚀 Cultivating Initiative and the Origin of Talent

The final paragraph addresses the normalcy of procrastination due to the discomfort associated with new experiences. It encourages learners to focus on taking the first step in their learning journey, such as getting acquainted with music software or playing a smaller instrument, rather than being overwhelmed by the magnitude of the task. The paragraph suggests that talent may stem from the ability to take initiative and make consistent efforts, regardless of the size of the task. It concludes by emphasizing that success in learning is a byproduct of the initiative taken and the effort invested, rather than an innate talent.

Keywords

💡Procrastination

Procrastination is the act of delaying or postponing tasks or actions, often due to a lack of motivation or fear of the task at hand. In the video, it is identified as the first obstacle to learning something new, as the very idea of learning can trigger stress and anxiety, leading to avoidance behavior. The script suggests that overcoming procrastination is essential to initiate the learning process.

💡Initiative

Initiative refers to the ability to assess and initiate things independently. The video emphasizes the importance of taking initiative in learning, as it is the first step to overcome the initial discomfort and start the process of acquiring new skills. It is portrayed as a crucial skill for self-motivation and personal growth.

💡Synapses

Synapses are the junctions through which neurons transmit signals to each other in the brain. The script explains that learning involves the creation of new synapses, illustrating that the brain's capacity for learning is not fixed and can expand with new knowledge. This concept reassures viewers that there is no limit to learning.

💡Repetition

Repetition is the act of doing something over and over again to reinforce learning. In the context of the video, repetition is highlighted as a key component of the learning process, helping to strengthen neural connections and ensure that information is retained over time.

💡Sleep

Sleep is essential for cognitive functions, including memory consolidation and learning. The video script points out that sleep plays a significant role in the learning process by aiding in the processing of new synapses and clearing metabolic toxins from the brain, thus supporting efficient learning.

💡Physical Exercise

Physical exercise is mentioned in the script as a beneficial activity for mental health and cognitive function. It is said to help produce new neurons and is recommended as a means of supporting the learning process alongside social interaction.

💡Focused Mode

Focused mode, also known as the logical or left-brain mode, is a state of concentration where attention is directed towards specific tasks. The video describes this mode as necessary for efficient learning and memory formation, requiring an environment free from distractions.

💡Diffused Mode

Diffused mode, or the creative mode, is a state where the mind is allowed to wander freely, often associated with the right-brain thinking. The script suggests that this mode is useful for reinforcing previously learned information and can be accompanied by activities like listening to music or watching videos.

💡Problem-Solving

Problem-solving is the process of finding solutions to difficulties or challenges. The video emphasizes that a significant part of learning involves problem-solving, where individuals must confront and overcome obstacles in their learning journey, thus developing a deeper understanding of the subject matter.

💡Abstract Concepts

Abstract concepts are ideas or theories that are not concrete and can be challenging to understand or relate to. The script discusses the importance of making abstract concepts feel real and relatable to facilitate learning, using analogies or practical examples to bridge the gap between theory and tangible understanding.

💡Deliberate Practice

Deliberate practice is a purposeful and focused approach to improving a skill, involving the conscious effort to work on specific areas of weakness. The video script encourages setting aside time for deliberate practice to ensure that learning is thorough and not just reliant on intuition or existing knowledge.

💡Intuition

Intuition refers to the ability to understand or know something immediately, without the need for conscious reasoning. While the video acknowledges the value of intuition, it also warns against over-reliance on it, especially in learning contexts where new information requires conscious effort and understanding.

💡Mistakes

Mistakes are errors or inaccuracies that occur during the learning process. The script normalizes making mistakes as an integral part of learning, suggesting that they provide opportunities for reflection, correction, and deeper understanding.

💡Talent

Talent is a natural aptitude or skill in a particular area. The video script discusses the misconception that talent is a fixed trait, instead proposing that the talent for making effort, investing time, and taking initiative is what truly drives the development of skills and abilities.

Highlights

Learning something new can cause stress due to the activation of the same brain area that processes pain.

The best way to overcome the anxiety of learning is to simply start doing it and take initiative.

Once started, the discomfort of learning subsides, and one enters the learning zone more easily with frequent practice.

Distractions can shift attention away from the task at hand, breaking momentum and leading to short-term gratification seeking.

Long-term satisfaction comes from studying and working, unlike the fleeting pleasure of social media and games.

The brain creates more synapses when learning, debunking the myth of a limited learning capacity.

Rest is crucial for learning, allowing the brain time to memorize and process new information.

Sleep plays a significant role in processing synapses and cleaning them from metabolic toxins.

Physical exercise and social contact are beneficial for mental rest and the production of new neurons.

Music and videos can be used during the diffused mode of thinking to reinforce learned information.

Focused mode requires concentration without distractions, while diffused mode allows the mind to wander freely.

Learning requires personal engagement; observing others does not equate to understanding or skill acquisition.

Relating abstract concepts to familiar experiences makes them feel more real and easier to learn.

Focusing on the major idea rather than getting lost in details is key to effective learning.

Self-testing and making learning important through need can enhance memory retention.

Mistakes are an integral part of the learning process and should be embraced for growth.

Overreliance on intuition can lead to stagnation; deliberate practice is necessary for mastery.

Spacing out learning over time allows for better processing and integration of new information.

Procrastination is normal, but taking small steps in the present can lead to significant progress.

Initiative is a crucial skill that can lead to the development of talent and mastery of skills.

Transcripts

A lot of us want to learn new things and acquire great new skills, but often we lack the motivation to do so.

Which brings up a lot of good questions, like:

So therefore: Chapter 1

It's important to address

Procrastination first because odds are you are going to learn something new right now

But you don't actually like the idea of learning something new and there's an actual reason for that.

When you learn something new it actually adds a bit of stress to your mind.

It's the same area in your brain that activates pain and that goes off.

So because of this the idea of taking some time to learn something can give you anxiety

Because why would you want to do the equivalent of hurting yourself? So the best solution to all of this is...

Just start doing it. And that almost sounds too simple, but it's really important that you learn how to take initiative.

It's important because you can fear doing something all day or for several days because you keep thinking "Well

I just need to find the right mood for it and

then I'll actually do it." but really you just

need to start doing it because no one else can do that for you.

And once you have started doing it all that pain and discomfort

actually goes away. You move past it and it's over. You're now in the

learning zone and it's a lot easier to get back into it

the more frequently you get over this threshold. But then there's another problem. Once you've started doing something you're going to run into some problems

And you're suddenly going to switch your attention to something else. Something frustrating or negative happens and it breaks your momentum.

So because you're not reaching the reward you had anticipated your brain goes for something short-term

But instead you just have to do it again

You have to find your initiative again, and you have to remember that while it's easy to get short-term

satisfaction from Instagram, Twitter and video games, it's all the stuff that's fun in the short-term

But what you're actually doing in terms of studying and work is going to lead to long-term satisfaction

So yeah

That was easy

If you want to get down to one learning actually is, it is a cell in your nervous system called a neuron and

information flows from one neuron to another neuron through a synapse and your brain has a billion of these synapses

So don't worry about it. You're not suddenly going to go. "Oh, I have zero point one gigabytes left in my brain

I- I guess I'm never learning anything again. Bye everybody." Whenever you are learning something new your brain creates more synapses

So there really is no limit to how much you can learn. But that said it is still important that you take rest

You can't cram every single thing into your head immediately, because you need to take some time to memorize and process these things

so you actually remember it. Learning is repetition and

relearning the things that are kind of fading away in your head is important, because you need to strengthen these

connections in your brain. Your brain is really good at remembering things but it remembers things based on how important they are.

So if you have forgotten something,

it's probably because you didn't really have a need for it. One way to approach this with something like drawing is not

by tackling everything like anatomy, perspective and color theory at the same time, because that's just too much.

Instead tackle your biggest flaws right now.

That is how you establish the need for learning.

And when you read a book for something like anatomy don't just read from page one to the last.

Use the pages that you actually have a need for right now,

and go back to those pages again when you need to relearn it.

But the number one priority that comes to remembering anything is actually sleep. Sleep is extremely

important because it plays a large part in processing your synapses.

It creates more synapses and also cleans your synapses from metabolic toxins

so we don't get dirty and muddled, and maybe you kinda remember or maybe that was about something else and now you only half remember.

Another great option for your mental rest is physical exercise and social contact.

Exercise and being socially active helps your brain produce new neurons.

Staying physically active and talking to people daily will actually help you study and learn better, and in contrast

staying shut in all day is a great way to develop severe depression.

While you could listen to music, watch TV or YouTube videos while studying and working on something that's not going to be 100%

efficient. But maybe you want to sacrifice some of that efficiency so you can enjoy some music some fun video stuff while also getting some

work done. And here is basically the way that I would approach it because there are two different modes of thinking:

The focused mode, also called the logical mode or the left brain mode, which has a lot more to do with

concentration and sort of relating new things to what is already familiar. This mode pretty much requires that there are no distractions

so your memory is not inefficient.

But this might not always be the most fun thing to work with.

So when you are a creative person you tend to prefer

the diffused mode, also known as we creative mode or the right brain mode.

And with this mode your brain is free to wander. You can put on some music, some videos because you're not really learning anything new

instead you're

reinforcing what you have already learned

So knowing this and knowing that we are not completely left brained or completely right brained and that these are just modes that we can

shift back and forth between,

we can utilize the modes to be the most efficient for us.

If you're going to learn something you even probably don't have distractions.

But in expressing something let your mind wander.

But no matter what you are learning or how you are doing it, you have to do it by yourself.

You can't really watch a video of someone

painting and pick up all the painting skills without painting along. When you see someone else do something

it's not understanding it. Because a large part of learning is

problem-solving and you have to solve the problem yourself.

Sometimes it can be so hard to learn something new because it's so different that you have no way of relating to it.

If something feels so abstract that you can't even relate to it,

then you have to not just learn the name for it or what category it belongs to,

but you have to learn about it until it feels real, until it's a part of reality.

When it comes to drawing, I might think of an eye and the eye actually sticks out a lot.

but it's kind of hard to imagine that on your own. So I can say eyes

are like marbles and eyelids are like fabric over them.

And now we have a way of relating to

just how the eye looks as it sticks out. Or when it comes to figure drawing

I can say draw from the head down to the dominant leg, so that you can feel the

gravity and the force and the weight as you draw it. And when it comes to which leg is the dominant leg, then allow me to go over

and kick the model so they fall to the floor and start crying. Which leg did I kick?

That's the dominant leg. The important thing to learning

the things that feel tougher is to get across the major

idea and not get stuck in the details, because as you get to learn these things that are more abstract or harder to learn

your synapses will start to connect easier with more complicated things. Because now you have something that is actually

relatable. It's important to not get too stuck in the details because otherwise all you have is the details.

If you want to remember something, you have to test yourself.

You have to make it important to you and have a need for it.

So you can test yourself by trying to do different things from memory to see how much you actually know.

And then when you see what is wrong

You can study it again to correct it. And there's nothing wrong with

catching yourself not knowing something or having made a mistake.

All of this is part of the learning process.

There's always going to be mistakes,

because mistakes are a part of how we learn.

But a problem that can happen with creative people is that they become too trusting a fair right side

intuition, to the point where you now refuse to learn something new because your intuition is misleading.

Repeating something you already know well is pretty easy,

so it can feel like you have already mastered something when you actually have not.

Something that can happen with something like drawing is that you keep drawing heads from imagination until now

this is what heads look like to you.

So it really is important that you set aside time for deliberate practice and don't only rely on your intuition.

Because your intuition is important but in the right situations.

And then on the more left brain side of things: As much as we would like to cram all the studying in

so we can learn everything immediately,

it just doesn't work. Because your brain won't be able to keep up with making you neural structures

I think a good way to approach this is by mixing things up.

Don't just study one thing over and over again, but go back and forth between different things.

So that you give yourself the space to repeat and process the things you are learning.

Set aside time to fully study something and then time to freely explore it.

So by spacing things out over periods, we can actually use our practice and our intuition to reliably learn new things.

The final chapter.

It's perfectly normal to procrastinate because things feel unpleasant,

especially if they are really new to us. Maybe for a long time you wanted to make music

but you haven't made any steps towards making music. You don't know anything about music. You don't know where to start.

It's this big overpowering thing and in comparison, even the first steps feel so tiny.

But if you were to focus right now, not so much on everything unpleasant up ahead

but what you can learn right now; maybe you could open up a music software and just get acquainted with it.

What if you bought a smaller instrument just to play around with and have fun with? What if you did something

that works with where you are right now in the present moment?

Because the thing is when we expect the initial pain of learning something new, we expect everything after that to be just as painful.

Maybe you don't have any highly developed talents and skills,

but you have these artists you look up to and more than anything

you want to have those skills. You want to have what they have, but you can't have that right now.

But you can have the initiative. You can have the talent of

making effort, time investment, and getting something done

no matter how small it is. And anything that comes after that can just be a byproduct.

Maybe if we trace back to where talent comes from, then maybe this is where it starts. And it only relies on one thing

That you take the initiative.

Thank you for listening. And if you would like to support my work

You can like this video, you can subscribe and you can follow me around.

You can also support me on patreon, or if you don't like patreon

I have a ko-fi where you can directly support my caffeine addiction. See you soon again, and bye bye.