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What would be your learning methods? Do you have any tips/hacks etc that works for you? Lets assume you are learning on your own, from books/videos etc, and not learning from a teacher
With language learning though I'd try to get lessons on italki to speak with native speakers of that language. Grammar drills. Anki/Memrise for spaced repitition.
Music, math, programming, writing, learning languages, painting, drawing, physics, finance, etc. Find good books and good teachers/videos/other instruction, and practice relentlessly.
I apply this mostly when learning programming languages or frameworks or tools. It’s amazing how much small details you can pick up when reading an in-depth book on the topic cover to cover. Even for things you’ve been using for years.
In particular, I found that the following worked especially well for me:
* Emphasis on balance between focus and diffuse mode: taking a walk or exercising after a focused study session.
* Spaced repetition: Anki works wonders. Reviewing notes multiple times is also tremendous.
* Sleep: ignored the importance of this for so long, but it helps so much.
I made it through undergrad without these, but applying these and the other lessons from the course in my post-graduate classes felt like magic. The results (both in understanding gained and grades) were completely different.
Anything I am good at, the common theme for why I am good is the interest (or force) to keep at it for years, reading, and tons of practice. There really is no way around practice. Practice is what separates most people who are good at things from those who aren't. Music, math, programming, writing, learning languages, painting, drawing, physics, finance, etc. Find good books and good teachers/videos/other instructio…
Yes, but mindless practice doesn't help, isn't it? Is there a deliberate method to your practice? How do you keep track of your weak areas, and how do you specifically practice those weak areas?
I always found the Jerry Seinfeld method helpful - he would commit to writing material every single night, and mark his calendar with an X when he was done. Over time, he built up such a streak that it became almost second nature - he had come so far he did not want to break his streak, and break up that marvelous chain of 'X's on his calendar.
If you're taking an exam, learn it by taking practice exams and looking up what you get wrong.
If you're building an application, build it, mess up, then rebuild it.
If you're learning a language, memorize the basic nouns and verbs, then jump in and start writing and speaking in that language. Look up what you don't know, then jump back in and keep on keeping on.
Use mental maps and word associations for memorizing.
Reading while walking helps me a lot surprisingly.
Learn stuff right before you sleep and you're brain will process the information while you sleep.
Exercise to keep your mind right. It's another way to meditate, but you also get a healthy body.
I just commented this in another thread, but I highly, highly recommend the free Coursera course Learning How To Learn . In particular, I found that the following worked especially well for me: * Emphasis on balance between focus and diffuse mode: taking a walk or exercising after a focused study session. * Spaced repetition: Anki works wonders. Reviewing notes multiple times is also tremendous. * Sleep: ignored the…