6 Scientifically Proven Ways To Learn Anything Faster

e've all been there – staring at a textbook, notes blurring before our eyes, wondering, "Why does this feel so hard?" The irony is that while schools cram our heads with facts and formulas, they rarely teach us the most crucial skill of all: how to learn.

In the real world, learning isn't confined to classrooms and textbooks. It's a constant, dynamic process woven into every aspect of our lives.

We learn to navigate new cities, master new skills, and adapt to changing circumstances – all without the benefit of a teacher or graded assignments.

This is why, for young people especially, equipping them with the tools for effective learning is not just beneficial; it's empowering.

Imagine a world where students aren't just passive receptacles of information but active agents in their learning journey. Picture them wielding techniques like focus-boosting hacks, memory-strengthening strategies, and the confidence to embrace mistakes as stepping stones to mastery.

This isn't just a pipe dream; it's the potential we unlock when we teach young people how to learn.

According to Dr Lila Landowski, tiny connections called synapses form between neighbouring neurons in the brain when we learn something, whether information or skill. This process is called neuroplasticity, allowing the brain to change and adapt throughout our lives.

Synapses are the connections between neurons that enable them to communicate with each other. When we learn something new, these synapses become more robust and efficient, making it easier to recall the information or perform the skill in the future.

This is why practice and repetition are essential when learning something new. By repeating the same task repeatedly, we strengthen the connections between the neurons in our brain, making it easier for us to perform the task in the future.

According to Lila, talent is not the only factor that determines success. It mostly comes down to practice, perseverance, and when they started learning that skill in development. 

The earlier one starts learning a skill, the better their chances of success. People like Serena Williams and Beethoven weren't born with their abilities; they practised and honed their craft over time.

Both of them started at age five. Our ability to learn declines after age five and gets exponentially more complicated once we reach our mid-twenties. However, we can still succeed in our chosen fields with practice and perseverance. 

Here is a script of Dr Lila Landowski's 6 Secrets to Accelerate Learning, Supported by Neuroscience.

Attention

Attention is a fundamental cognitive function that allows us to choose how we allocate our focus consciously. Research indicates that when fully engaged in a task, we are more likely to retain the information, particularly in the long run.

Historically, humans have not encountered the challenges we face today regarding maintaining attention. Let's admit it: how often do we re-read or re-watch something because we get easily distracted? It's pretty standard.

Our brains are wired to concentrate on one thing at a time. The constant context-switching is inherent in social media - scrolling through endless streams of unrelated content like news, ads, and cat videos - significantly impairs our attention span.

Dr Lila says focused meditation can be beneficial to enhance your long-term attention. On the other hand, if you're looking for quick improvements in attention, regular exercise can be remarkably effective. Hold on a moment before dismissing it as generic advice from your doctor.

Did you know that exercise can increase the size of the brain region associated with learning and memory? It can even help generate new brain cells. Numerous studies support the notion that routine physical activity enhances memory and cognition.

Surprisingly, just 20 minutes of moderate exercise, not even vigorous, can boost attention for up to two hours afterwards.

Here's a practical suggestion from Dr Lila: if you're about to study or work on a task, incorporate some physical activity into your routine. Go for a jog, do star jumps, or challenge your balance. Even running up and down the stairs at work can make a difference.

Alertness

Alertness is crucial for effective learning. We're more likely to retain information when entirely focused on a task. Activating our body's fight or flight system, the sympathetic nervous system releases adrenaline and noradrenaline, increasing our alertness.

Exercise and practices like Wim Hof breathing and cold showers are beneficial to stimulate this system. Stress can also enhance alertness, but too much chronic stress can impair learning and memory.

Finding a balance is critical. Ingesting substances like caffeine can also improve alertness through various brain mechanisms.

Additionally, avoiding studying after a heavy meal is essential, as it can reduce alertness. Lastly, our alertness follows an ultradian rhythm, with peak alertness occurring approximately every 90 minutes. It's important to recognize our limitations and not expect 100% alertness.

Sleep

Dr. Lila paints a vivid picture of sleep as a multi-talented superhero in learning. It sharpens our alertness and performs a vital "constellation of functions," resetting our immune system and metabolism and clearing the waste accumulating in our brains after a day of mental labour.

But where sleep truly shines is in its memory-boosting powers. Imagine the hippocampus as a busy diary, diligently recording everything we do. Sleep serves as the editor, meticulously transferring these short-term entries to the long-term storage vault of the brain's cortex.

Our precious learning experiences fade like forgotten dreams without this overnight editing process.

This is why the all-nighter, a desperate student's last-ditch effort, is a one-way ticket to forgetting. Instead, Dr. Lila urges us to prioritize sleep before and after studying.

A well-rested mind is sharper and better equipped to secure those hard-earned nuggets of knowledge for the long haul.

So, the next time you're tempted to burn the midnight oil, remember Dr Lila's wise words: embrace the slumber superhero and let it work its magic on your ever-expanding library of knowledge. 

Repetition 

Repetition is an essential element of effective learning. More than merely hearing or seeing something once is needed for long-term retention.

Like how exercising builds muscles, repeating thinking patterns or actions strengthens the brain's connections associated with that particular task. Neuroplasticity forms new connections in the brain, requiring energy, fatty acids, and protein synthesis.

The brain prioritizes energy expenditure on creating new connections for repeated activities, as it signals that these actions hold significance. Therefore, repetition plays a crucial role in learning and optimizing efficiency.

To enhance learning, repeating the desired information as frequently as possible is recommended, utilizing the spacing technique by distributing learning sessions over multiple days.

Research suggests that shorter learning periods spread across different days yield superior results compared to concentrating the same amount of time in a single day.

However, it is worth noting that there are instances of learning through one trial, often associated with intense emotional experiences. Fear plays a significant role in enhancing memory formation, as the brain wants to register everything.

Breaks

Dr. Lila reveals the surprising truth about the importance of breaks in learning. While many believe continuous studying is the key to mastery, breaks are crucial for optimal brain function.

Imagine practising a piano piece and taking a brief 10-second break, only to find that your brain effortlessly replays it 20 times faster. This is subconscious information consolidation in action.

You can further enhance this process by incorporating 10-20 minutes of quiet reflection, naps, or deep rest during breaks.

Breaks allow your brain to solidify newly acquired knowledge, as learning similar things right after can cause interference and topple the "freshly laid bricks" of information.

Dr. Lila recommends giving your brain at least an hour, if not a whole day, to reinforce new knowledge. Therefore, breaking up study sessions and introducing variety can help avoid memory mishaps.

Mistakes

Mistakes, we all make them. And yes, it can be terrifying, even scary. But here's the thing - there's a biological reason behind that feeling of anxiety and stress when we mess up. It serves a crucial purpose. When we make a mistake, our brain releases neuromodulators such as acetylcholine, which increases activity in our focused attention networks. This heightened attention and anxiety signal something important: we must change, improve, and become more efficient. It's like a window of opportunity for our brain to embrace neuroplasticity and learn.

Now, if we make a mistake and walk away, we miss out on that chance to learn. And, even worse, we're training ourselves to be less capable of coping with failures. So, here's what we should do:

1. Set ourselves up for some disappointment and challenge ourselves as we learn.
2. Please don't wait until everything is perfect before we give things a shot.
3. Whether it's soccer or any other endeavour, don't just kick the ball straight at the goal.
4. Change the angle, make it more complex, and allow room to make mistakes.