HOW TO LEARN FASTER AND RETAIN THE KNOWLEDGE

The question of how to learn faster and retain knowledge has become a serious subject of discussion in this present age and time. 

Lately, I have realized that success stands on two legs:

• Who you know
• What you know

While the former is vital to take you to the top, you must understand that the latter would keep you there-what you know. This is why learning how to learn faster and retain the knowledge is important to us all.

There was never a time like this in human history to access information by clicking on your mobile device, laptop, or any other internet-enabled device. This is the information age. 

You have easy access to many books, videos you can learn from, and computer software that aids learning. Sadly, despite all these, we barely retain what we read or learn off the internet. 

Sometimes, we read books and never remember a line after turning over the pages. Learning how to learn faster is the first step, but you also need to retain what you have learned. 

In this blog post, I would like to share scientifically proven techniques on how to learn faster, assimilate what you have learned, and retain the knowledge to teach others how to do it effectively. 

1. Believe you can Learn Faster

Of course, it all begins with the mind. The mind is a powerful force that drives almost everything about human life. You become what you believe. If you believe you can or believe you cannot, you are correct whatever belief you choose. 

Those who believe they have a dull memory end up not being able to retain anything they learn. The truth is, there is neither dull nor sharp memory. There is only a used or unused brain. Whatever you believe about yourself, you will begin to outlive it. 

For instance, if you believe you will learn and understand what you are learning, you have just reprogrammed your mind to work with your brain and aid your memory retention.

Believing is how you program your mind for something, just the same way we program our computers with certain data to process information. When you set it in your mind that you can learn faster, the universe will cooperate with you to make it happen.

2. How to Learn Faster Requires Exercise

Of course, I know exercise is for the body. So, the question now would be, how does exercise help one learn faster and retain knowledge? Well, let me explain.

According to a study by Dr Scott McGinnis, an instructor at the Harvard Medical School, exercise can help boost your thinking skills. The interconnection of the neuron in your brain during studies becomes aided when you move your body slightly as you study a book and try to learn a new skill.

3. Being Active Helps you learn faster

Learning requires not just your brain but also your full participation. Whatever you are learning, always consciously put yourself into it. Be present in your learning time. Either it’s a book you are reading or a skill you are learning, actively be involved in what you are doing. 

How can you achieve this?

Being active in learning requires that you take notes. Write down what you learn. It is a repetitive trick to your brain to visualize what you are learning over and again. 

Also, you can actively participate in your learning by assuming the character of what you are reading or learning. For example, remembering a line in this blog post could require you to imagine how your mind changes when you believe you can learn faster. 

The thought that your mind is changing to see the possibility of learning faster is enough activity to retain knowledge. Therefore, consciously and physically participate in any learning process; either it’s a book or a skill.

4. Meditation helps you learn faster

There is a part of our memory called the working memory. This is where we retain temporal information or something new you just learned. It is the part of your memory where you store someone’s name, an address or something quick you want to keep and discard later. 

Research has shown that meditation strengthens working memory. When you meditate, you empty your mind of worries, anxiety, and fear. In the process, you not only relieve yourself of these negative energies but also enable your mind to remember things faster and easier. You can train your brain with meditation to remember things faster.

During meditation, the human brain rises to its peak of creativity called theta. This is why you tend to get your most creative ideas when you are alone at this theta level of creativity. Learn the habit of guided meditation, and you will see yourself remembering things faster.

5. Take a Break to Regain Focus

There is too much information to deal with in this Information age. Do you know that you can suffer from information overload as a result of this? Of course, you can. The brain automatically shuts down for retention when you become too anxious or overwhelmed with so many things. 

Therefore, one of the best ways to retain knowledge is to learn the brain break or divert your attention to something else after learning. 

6. Teaching others helps you learn how to learn faster

You see, learning should not end with you. Of what purpose is your research, learning, and information, if you cannot teach others what you learn. So, always learn to want to teach the same. Learning to want to teach others is a very good way to retain what you learn. 

A study shows that students who spend more time teaching what they’ve learned show better understanding and knowledge retention than students who simply spend the same time re-studying. 

The common statistics in education are that you retain 10% of what you hear, 20% of what you read, 50% of what you do, 75% of what you discuss, and 90% of what you teach. Therefore, teach others what you know. Let them learn how you know it. 

In conclusion, the brain capacity is much more than that of any supercomputer. But, it is up to you to learn how to tap into its immeasurable power for success and achievement in life. This is why learning how to learn faster should be a core part of your life. 

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