Staying Organized: 5 Learning Strategies
to Help Master A New Skill
See also: Lifelong Learning
Are you thinking about learning a new skill? Awesome! It is always a great idea to learn something new, start some new projects, and be creative.
There are so many great ways for you to use your free time and enjoy DIY activities or to relax your mind while being crafty and imaginative. However, before being able to enjoy yourself, it is necessary to put some effort in to master the new skill.
Mastering a new skill is always a challenge, especially if you plan on doing it on your own. However, it is not impossible! The only thing you have to do is plan your learning progress and organize yourself.
Your odds of mastering a new skill are much higher if you stick to your strategy.
Here are 5 learning strategies which can help you master a new skill.
1. Gather Information
Before getting your hands dirty and trying something for the first time, you should gather as much information about the new skill as possible.
That means you should read blogs and articles, find out how other people started out, and what are the things you need to prepare beforehand, etc.
You shouldn’t start practicing unprepared.
Any kind of a mental preparation will help you become more determined to succeed and you will take things seriously. By being insightful and informed, you can secure an easy and care-free start to the learning process. Whatever skills you are trying to master, the internet offers thousands of blogs, YouTube tutorials, handbooks, and Q&A communities which are available to you 24/7.
Preparation is the key to success, so make sure you use all the resources you find interesting and dedicate a couple of days to researching this first phase of mastering a new skill.
2. Set a Specific Time for Practice
Mastering a new skill takes time and dedication!
You have to find the best time of your day to commit yourself to practicing the new skill. Many people make the mistake of thinking they don’t have to be specific about their practice hours. Instead, they believe it is easier to practice on the spur of the moment, whenever they feel like it or they feel bored.
This kind of a mindset won’t take you far.
On the contrary, it is essential that you stay organized!
Setting a specific time for practicing the new skill will help you keep up with your progress and stay on the right track.
So, think about your week and your free time. Make up your mind and make a practice schedule. It can be any time of the day, any day of the week, it doesn’t matter. The only thing that matters is that you stick to your plan and practice eagerly.
3. Set Smaller Goals
When trying to master a new skill, we all start by imagining ourselves becoming the best craftsmen, instrument player or artist there is!
We envision the success and long for that moment of proficiency and skillfulness. This is why often, when we start practicing, we get disappointed quickly. We seem to be so far away from our goal that it starts looking impossible to reach.
These moments of weakness can break us easily, and make us quit.
In order to avoid being discouraged, we need to think differently. The key is in setting smaller goals!
Hey, you’ve only just started playing the guitar yesterday. Don’t expect to be rocking Clapton’s solo parts after a day or two of practice. Instead, set a smaller goal such as mastering one or two chords.
A small goal is easy to reach, and it is part of your overall learning process. You will feel ecstatic once you reach that goal and inspired to keep on going.
4. Find a Practice Partner
Happiness is best when shared! The same goes with success. Starting a new project such as mastering a new skill isn’t something you should hide from people. Not even in the beginning.
One thing you can try is to ask a family member or a friend to join you. Let them know what your plans are and ask them to hop on board! If this goes well, you can organize group practice sessions, sharing your progress and helping each other out.
If you can’t find a partner this way, search for an internet community of people mastering the same skill. This way you will still have someone to share your ideas and improvement with.
Once you’re in, you get to hear about other people’s experience, ask for tips and help other members. You may even make some new friends along the way.
One thing is certain - if you have someone to share your learning experience with, you will be far more motivated to succeed!
5. Don’t Give up
Let’s get one thing straight- mastering a new skill is going to be hard! It will take a lot of hard work, practicing and possible failures, in order to start seeing an improvement.
Until that first successful moment, you will feel like quitting a thousand time. Don’t! You are a step closer to reaching your goals with each day that goes by.
Every time you feel like giving up, take a breath and look back at the moment you first started. There is already an improvement, isn’t there?
So, be patient and keep on going! It will be worth it once you get there.
What do you say?
Are you ready to start planning the mastering of a new skill? If so, you have our full support! Just keep in mind these learning strategies and make sure you follow your plan. Just stay organized, practice patiently, enjoy the process and you’ll get there.
Good luck!
Further Reading from Skills You Need
The Skills You Need Guide to Personal Development
Learn how to set yourself effective personal goals and find the motivation you need to achieve them. This is the essence of personal development, a set of skills designed to help you reach your full potential, at work, in study and in your personal life.
The second edition of or bestselling eBook is ideal for anyone who wants to improve their skills and learning potential, and it is full of easy-to-follow, practical information.
About the Author
Kristin Savage nourishes, sparks and empowers using the magic of a word. She does her voodoo regularly on the 'Pick Writers' blog and occasionally contributes to other educational platforms.
Along with pursuing her degree in Creative Writing, Kristin is gaining experience in the publishing industry with expertise in marketing strategy for publishers and authors.