Learning How To Learn
I’ve embarked on a 12-month journey to learn as much as I can through online courses on topics like finance, programming, artificial intelligence, machine learning, math, marketing, entrepreneurship, and whatever else I find exciting.
I’m documenting my journey and sharing what I learn through this newsletter, which I’ll publish every other Friday.
Maybe there’s a course on newsletters…
Welcome to the first Unstable Genius Newsletter!
The Epiphany
In November 2023, I had an epiphany: I needed to expand my horizons to better understand and capitalize on the opportunities and trends spreading like wildfire. But instead of jumping on every bandwagon, I realized I needed to equip myself with the knowledge to make informed decisions and focus on the opportunities with real long-term potential.
But where to start was the BIG question?
I spent all of November and a good part of December trying to find a starting point, but I just couldn’t land on anything that would kick-start the journey. Then, on Christmas Eve, a miracle happened.
I came across Barbara Oakley and Terry Sejnowski‘s course, Learning How To Learn, on Coursera and was instantly sold on the concept. I want to learn new things, and these wonderful people are going to teach me how to learn effectively. What’s not to like?
The best decision of my life… Apart from that one time, I dumped money in a discounted stock, but that’s a story for another time.
What learning isn't
We all have this idea of what learning looks like: reading the material, highlighting, taking notes, rote memorization, sticky notes everywhere, long nights, screaming at the wall, praying to the universe, crying before bed… but none of that actually helps the material stick in our long-term memory.
What it does instead is give us an illusion of competence
Which is basically the opposite of real learning.
To truly learn something, we need to understand how learning happens in the brain.
Surprisingly, it’s not that complex.
From there, it’s about creating processes that make learning fun and engaging.
“You can actually reduce the time it takes to learn something new by using these surprisingly effective scientific techniques that help you focus on the process rather than the outcome.”
What I’m going to do now is give you a brief overview of how learning works in the brain, followed by summaries of key concepts from the course to help jumpstart your learning journey. I won’t cover everything in this letter, so please consider taking the course yourself. It’s free, which means you pay nothing to learn.
Working memory vs Long Term memory
The first thing we need to understand is that learning always starts in the working memory. This is temporary memory that can hold about four chunks of information at a time.
“The goal is to move information from the working memory into long-term memory by creating processes that support this transfer.”
The first step is to make sure the information actually enters our working memory correctly, and that happens through a process called “Focused Learning.”
Focused learning means learning without distractions, which is a challenge for just about anyone with a smartphone. If we’re not focused while learning, the information doesn’t settle properly in our working memory. Then, the brain struggles to move that information into long-term memory because it can’t accurately recall it amid all the noise from distractions. The more focused you are, the better you will be at learning new concepts.
So, how do you force yourself to focus without distractions and avoid the dreaded procrastination?
Pomodoro Technique
The Pomodoro technique is the greatest invention since buttered toast with jam on top.
Learning something new can be tough. That challenge often brings up negative emotions, turning the whole process into a chore. This can lead to procrastination, which then creates a cycle where you end up accomplishing nothing.
“If you’re looking for a nuclear option to beat procrastination, this is it.”
There is nothing better on the market.
Nothing.
It’s also a very simple technique that will help you accomplish more in a day than you could without it. It’s like a cheat code that boosts your learning abilities. I say this from experience. If there was a procrastination competition, I would procrastinate entering. That’s how good I am at procrastination. This technique fixed me like Cesar Millan fixes bad behavior in dogs.
Here’s how it works:
You get a timer and set it for 25 to 30 minutes. Turn your phone on silent and focus solely on what you need to learn. When the timer goes off, take a short break, maybe reward yourself with some chocolate or even a whole cake and then set the timer again and repeat the process. By studying in chunks, you train yourself to focus for shorter periods. This helps you absorb the material steadily instead of overloading yourself with information all at once, which can cause retention problems.
But how do you make sure the material you studied has really “hooked” itself in your gray matter?
Active Recall
So you’ve figured out how to sit still for 25 to 30-minute blocks and get the work done, but you want to be sure the material is actually sticking. There’s a scientific method for that too.
“Active recall is a smart method to test whether you’ve truly grasped the material. It also helps you spot gaps in your learning.”
Once you finish learning, change your location, for example, move from your bedroom to the living room. Then grab a piece of paper and try to recall as many concepts as you can from what you read without looking at the material. Remember, you’re not competing to see how much you can remember; you’re testing yourself to see how well the material has settled in your brain.
This method comes with a bonus: it helps move information into your long-term memory by creating stronger neural connections. The gaps you find help you identify what you need to revisit.
I used this technique throughout January and managed to work my way through a very difficult finance course. It’s genuinely getting easier as I revisit concepts I didn’t grasp the first time. On any other day, I would have given up on the course and called myself too stupid to learn.
But what about the fear of losing information?
How can I make sure it sticks around longer than just a few days?
Spaced Repetition
To make sure what you’ve learned stays in your memory longer than a few days, you need to practice something called spaced repetition.
“All you need to do is review the material you’ve learned at regular, systematic intervals.”
Let’s say you learn something in the morning. You then review it in the afternoon and gradually increase the intervals between learning and review until it follows a pattern like the graph below. Spaced repetition helps the material firmly “hook” itself in your brain. Just two spaced repetitions of new material can give you up to an 80% chance of recalling it effectively.
Keep in mind that the graph below shows a 60-day review cycle, but the method is just as effective with a 10-day cycle, which is much more common.
Whats “one more thing” I can do to make my learning even more effective?
Interleaving
Ever considered learning a new spoken language and a new programming language at the same time? Try it and see how quickly you grasp and retain concepts in both. It’s like a magic trick for understanding.
Interleaving is a learning process where you cycle between different materials to improve your chances of learning and retention. Instead of focusing on one subject (blocked learning), you switch between several, dedicating a short amount of time (see Pomodoro) to each. This technique activates your “diffused thinking” mode, helping you build stronger neural connections that boost your understanding and retention.
This technique comes highly recommended and has been scientifically proven to improve how new concepts are learned and retained. I’m using it right now to learn two different things, and I’m doing a much better job than I ever have with anything else.
So, you now have four powerful techniques in your arsenal to jumpstart your learning and fight procrastination:
Pomodoro Technique – Timed study sessions
Active Recall – Quick recall of key concepts
Spaced Repetition – Reviewing material at set intervals
Interleaving – Cycling through different materials
You could write pages about each of these techniques, but I wanted to share just enough to encourage you to dive deeper into the course or start practicing them in your daily routine.
I hope you found this an enjoyable read. If you’re reading this part right now, I would really appreciate a subscribe to my newsletter. They’ll only get better as I get better at writing them.
You made it to the end. That means you liked it or you’re very patient. Either way, subscribe, share, and tell your friends. I need a big network for reasons.
For moving pictures and questionable facial expressions, check out YouTube @dygres.