Be honest, you probably dreamed about how awesome it would be to learn anything instantly, like snapping your fingers and boom, you’ve got it. Maybe you wanted to learn how to do a flip to show off at school and catch your sixth-grade crush’s attention. Or maybe it was learning guitar, piano, random skills like running faster, jumping higher, or even that viral dance move from 2016—basically anything to be the cool kid everyone noticed.
Now, as teenagers and young adults, what we want to learn might be a lot different. Usually, we want something that will benefit us in the long run—something along the lines of business, language, tech, or sports. The problem is, most of us are terrible at learning efficiently. It’s not our fault, really. Schools taught us to memorize facts for a test and then forget them the moment the bell rang. Well, memorization isn’t learning after all, so it makes sense. Learning is about understanding, applying, and retaining information so well that it feels like second nature.
Think back to when you last tried to learn something. Maybe it was a new language, musical instrument, or a skill like coding. What did you do? Chances are, you crammed. You read a lot, or you watched a ton of tutorials, and then nothing stuck. Why? Because most of us focus on input—reading, watching, listening—when we should be focusing on output—doing, practicing, and teaching.
It’s like trying to learn how to swim by reading a book about swimming. You might know the theory, but the first time you hit the water, you’re going to sink. Learning is mainly a contact sport. You have to get your hands dirty—or in this case, wet.
Let me just clear this up before we continue. Not everything is equally important. The 80/20 rule, also known as the Pareto Principle, states that 80% of your results come from 20% of your efforts. When it comes to learning, this means you should focus on the core principles that give you the biggest return.
Want to learn a new language? Don’t even think about memorizing 10,000 words. Instead, learn the 1,000 most commonly used ones—they make up 80% of everyday conversations already.
Want to play guitar? Master the basic chords before diving into complex solos.
In simple terms, once you’ve got the essentials down, everything else becomes easier.
And one technique that can help you master these essentials faster is active recall. Basically, instead of passively reviewing information, you actively test yourself. Not necessarily new, but it’s very useful, especially when preparing for an exam.
Let’s say you’re trying to learn history. Instead of rereading the same paragraph about World War II for the tenth time, close the book and try to recall what you just read. It forces your brain to work harder, which in return strengthens your memory.
Think of it like lifting weights, but for your brain. If you just stare at the dumbbells, you’re not going to get stronger. You have to pick them up and do the work.
But that doesn’t necessarily mean you should start overloading your brain. Cramming feels productive in the moment, but it’s a short-term solution.
The spacing effect, on the other hand, is a long-term game. This principle states that you learn better when you spread out your study sessions over time—ideally 30 to 60 minutes a day throughout the week if possible.
Here’s why: Every time you have to revisit a topic, your brain has to dig it out of your storage. The more times you do this, the stronger the connection becomes. It’s like carving a path in the woods. The first time through, it’s rough and overgrown. But with each pass, the path becomes clearer and clearer—and eventually easier to navigate.
So instead of studying for six hours straight, break it into six one-hour sessions over a week. Your brain and your sanity will thank you.
However, as I mentioned previously, you need to get your hands dirty or whatever in order to learn something effectively.
Okay, so remember the swimming analogy? This is where it really comes into play. If you want to learn faster, you need to practice—but not just any practice.
Deliberate Practice
Deliberate practice means focusing on the areas where you’re weakest—not just coasting through what you already know. It’s uncomfortable, sure, but that’s where growth happens.
For example, if you’re learning to draw, don’t just sketch the same anime character 69 times. Instead, challenge yourself to draw hands, faces, perspectives, or whatever you find hardest. It’ll be frustrating at first, but you’ll improve much faster that way.
Teach What You Learn
Another unpopular way that will significantly help you learn faster is to teach it.
It sounds counterintuitive, I know. How can you teach what you don’t fully understand? But that’s the point.
When you teach, you’re forced to organize your thoughts and explain concepts clearly. This deepens your understanding and highlights any gaps in your knowledge.
Plus, if the person you’re teaching asks questions, it pushes you to think critically and problem-solve.
You obviously don’t have to get someone to sit and watch you stutter for hours. Just set up your phone camera, record yourself, and pretend that you’re going to be uploading it on YouTube. That way, you’ll think to yourself that hundreds of thousands of people might see your video—and, well, it’ll encourage you to understand what you’re teaching even more.
It’s like the old saying: You don’t really know something until you can explain it to a five-year-old.
Engage Multiple Senses
Engaging your other senses is another great way to truly understand something and make it second nature.
Your brain loves variety. The more senses you involve in the learning process, the better you’ll retain information.
For instance, say you’re learning Spanish. Don’t just read the words. Listen to native speakers, watch Spanish YouTube channels, documentaries, etc. Then write them down and speak them out loud.
The combination of visual, auditory, and kinesthetic inputs creates stronger neural connections—just like building a house. The more materials you use, the sturdier it’ll be.
Make Learning Fun and Avoid Distractions
Learning doesn’t have to be boring. In fact, the more fun you have, the faster you’ll learn.
- Set small, achievable goals and reward yourself when you hit them.
- Turn challenges into games. Compete with a friend, use apps that track your progress, and give you virtual badges.
However, using apps can also lead to distractions. That’s why you might want to put your phone on silent, close unnecessary tabs, and create a distraction-free environment.
The Importance of Sleep and Mindset
Proper sleep and enough rest are just as important as effort.
Your brain needs time to process and consolidate information—and the best way to do that is through sleep.
During sleep, your brain organizes everything you’ve learned, strengthening connections and clearing out unnecessary information. So if you’re pulling all-nighters to cram, you’re actually sabotaging yourself.
Taking regular breaks during study sessions can boost your productivity too.
And since we’re already here, let’s talk about mindset.
If you believe you’re bad at learning, you’ll struggle, obviously. But if you adopt a growth mindset—the belief that you can improve with effort—you’ll be amazed at what you can achieve.
Instead of thinking, “I can’t do this,” try saying, “I can’t do this yet.” That one little word makes a world of difference.
And most importantly—enjoy the process. Because at the end of the day, learning is not all about acquiring new skills.
It’s about you growing as a person—and that is pretty simple, actually.
