Contents
No matter how busy we are, there’s always time to learn or learn something new, says Justin Kitsch, creator and CEO of Curious. And he offers several life hacks, tested on himself.
Justin Kitsch, who, in addition to the functions of the CEO, honestly fulfills the role of father, coach and educator of three young children, is well aware of how difficult it is for a busy person to find time to learn something new. Ironically, his site is dedicated to helping busy people learn new skills. Here are a few tricks to help you build a daily learning regimen and build healthy learning habits.
1. Make a list of what you want to learn
Think about what knowledge and skills you would like to get if you were studying at the institute now? Bookstores and public libraries are also great sources for topics and questions you might be interested in exploring. I try to have 5 to 8 such topics on my list at all times. Some of them are large-scale, like an academic course in college, mastering a foreign language or a musical instrument. But most of them are not so significant. For example, to do or try something for the first time in my life, to explore the meaning of a word or an idea that I do not understand. Whatever your desires, making a list will help you deal with more of these issues.
2. Arrange apps differently on your device
Smartphones and tablets are an invaluable resource for filling free time with educational information or … empty and unnecessary activities. Remove pointless games and shopping apps. Move social networking apps like Twitter, Instagram (an extremist organization banned in Russia), and Facebook (an extremist organization banned in Russia) away from the home screen so you have to spend time looking for them every time.
Keep a notebook in front of your eyes so that you will be tempted to continue developing your drawing skills.
In the meantime, while you’re looking for a shortcut to one of these networks, make a conscious effort to open one of those cool learning apps you’ve posted in its stead…yes, right in plain sight, on the main screen, so it’s easier to reach them.
3. Set aside small chunks of time to study
I try to find 5-15-30 minutes for classes from the list every day, depending on the complexity of the task. If we are talking about learning a foreign language, then I need 30 minutes and an application like Duolingvo. It takes me 15-20 minutes to listen to academic courses at TED or Curious. To listen to music (I always have a list of works at hand), sometimes five minutes is enough.
4. Read books electronically
I am constantly updating my virtual library with new books — and I read mostly non-fiction books, non-fiction and historical novels. I use the Kindle app, which works on both phone and tablet and allows me to continue reading at any time on either device. Moreover, I can read several books in parallel, switching from a 900-page autobiography to memories of building an orphanage in Africa or to a self-development manual.
5. Create all the conditions for classes
Keep a notebook in front of your eyes so that in every free moment you will be tempted to continue developing your drawing skills. Always carry flashcards with Spanish (or French) words in your bag or backpack to brush up on your vocabulary on occasion. I also keep my guitar on a stand right in my office. And when I go there to check my mail, I play a few chords of the song I’m working on right now.