3 Steps for Lifelong Learning

However, with the right resources, anyone can learn something new and not give up again. This process is known as the "motivational dip."

How To Overcome "Motivational Dips"?

The renowned author and entrepreneur Seth Godin informs us in his book "The Dip" when we should quit something and when we should keep trying. He discusses the most common reasons that cause most people to give up before reaching their full potential, which you need to understand before it happens to you.

According to Godin, these are the five reasons that prevent you from learning something new:

1. Running out of time.
2. Running out of money.
3. Feeling afraid.
4. Lack of seriousness.
5. Losing interest.

You can apply these steps to common situations, such as learning a new language, your project, or maintaining your fitness. During the process of learning something new, one goes through different stages, with one of the most crucial being the "Dip" phase, which can lead to one of three outcomes:

• Withdrawal.
• Embracing the Dip and enduring it over an extended period.
• Recovery and rebuilding yourself, making some changes until you eventually reach a higher level than where you started.

The motivation dip is a challenge we will constantly encounter during our learning journey. However, the faster we transition from the 'Dip' phase to the 'Transform' phase, the more we can refine our skills and reach a higher potential.

3 Steps To Retain The New Information You've Learned

1. Recognizing The Importance Of The Right Mindset

The world's resources and skills are not enough on their own without the right mindset. Carol Dweck, the author of the bestselling book 'Mindset,' talks about what is known as the growth mindset. According to her, humans typically possess one of two mindsets: the growth mindset or the fixed mindset, and the two are distinguished as follows:

• The 'fixed mindset' assumes that our personality, intelligence, and creative ability are fixed traits that we can't fundamentally change. Success is the result of inherent intelligence, and it's an evaluation of these traits against a fixed standard, making pursuing success and avoiding failure a means to confirm our intelligence and skills.
• In contrast, the growth mindset embraces challenges and doesn't consider failure as evidence of low intelligence. Instead, it's a starting point and a motivator for growth and enhancing our current abilities.

If you're contemplating withdrawal or giving up, remember that you're going through a growth process and that challenges are a part of your journey toward excellence.

2. Finding The Most Effective Way To Learn

Just as we can't expect a basketball player to be a professional acrobatic, we shouldn't expect everyone to learn similarly. For instance, some of us learn better through audio recordings, while others find it extremely boring if they attempt to learn in this manner.

Studies have shown that there are seven fundamental learning styles:

2.1. Visual learning

Preferring the use of images and spatial information.

2.2. Auditory learning

Preferring the use of sound and music.

2.3. Verbal (linguistic) learning

Preferring the use of words, whether through speaking or writing.

2.4. Kinesthetic (physical) learning

Preferring the use of your body, hands, and the sense of touch.

2.5. Logical (mathematical) learning

Preferring the use of reasoning, logic, and following specific systems.

2.6. Social learning

Preferring to learn within a group or with other people.

2.7. Individual learning

Preferring to work alone and using self-study methods.

The way you're learning today may not be your ideal learning method, so trying different approaches is essential until you discover what works best for you. For example, interesting research has shown that adults may be capable of learning languages like children or even better.

This depends on an adult's use of the appropriate learning method, whether relying solely on memorization or attempting to immerse themselves in the language. Additionally, it depends on their ability to continue learning.

One of the main explanations for this is that adults have more experience than children in understanding the best methods for learning something new, while children are still discovering that.

Therefore, discovering the most effective learning method involves remembering the moments when you retained the most information during a learning session and experimenting with new learning styles.

3. Learning Through Practice

Remember how you learned to ride a bike, swim, or learn your first language; you learned it through practice. A study conducted by the National Training Laboratories Institute revealed that people remember:

• 5% of the information they receive during lectures (e.g., university lectures).
• 10% of the information they read in books and articles.
• 20% of the audio and visual information (such as apps and videos).
• 30% of the information they receive during presentations.
• 50% of the information they learn in group discussions.
• 75% of the information they learn through practice.
• 90% of the information they apply immediately or teach to others.

For this, give yourself a chance to learn more quickly and remember more information and skills by fully immersing yourself in the activity you're learning instead of relying solely on theoretical knowledge (such as books, videos, and training courses).

If you want to learn French, speak with other French people or find a French teacher. If you're learning programming, learn it by creating your website, and so on.