I’m sure we can all admit to including “fast learner” as one of our skills in our resumes, and for a good reason. Most employers look for someone who can learn things quickly and with minimal supervision. Employees who can swiftly imbibe new concepts and learn new skills can be terrific assets to the company. They have a huge advantage over those who have a hard time learning new concepts or are struggling with processing information in a short amount of time.

We can’t all be blessed with an eidetic memory. But we can try to improve our learning skills. Yes, there are ways to learn faster. As part of our “Building SUPER Habits” series, here are some tips on developing the habit of Speed Learning.

Let’s start off with an easy one: READ.

Start by reading 15 pages of nonfiction every day. Some books that come highly recommended are:

• Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity, by David Allen
• The Power of Less, by Leo Babauta
• The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, by Stephen Covey
• Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard, by Chip Heath
• The Power of Full Engagement, by Jim Loehr

Repetition is key to speed learning.

Nobody really “studies’ for five straight hours. But it is kind of satisfying to tell everyone that you did, right? Don’t worry; everyone does that. However, it is not a secret that we don’t spend 100% of that time studying like we say we do. We do not count the time we spend taking social media breaks (checking our Twitter or Instagram feed), checking work email, watching Youtube videos, making ourselves a cup of coffee, or just staring out the office window to look at people and cars passing by.

It’s not really the length of time we spend studying but the number of repetitions we do. Repeating the information we learned makes sure that it stays ingrained in our memory. Top athletes, singers, musicians, and dancers all abide by this learning tidbit.

Making an analogy distinguishes fast learners from the rest.

An analogy is a comparison between two things, typically for the purpose of explanation or clarification. So right after you learn a new bit of information, try drawing a comparison to an existing piece of information or making an analogy to something to already know. You may connect that information to an application or try to draw a metaphor to understand the information better.

Drawing or doodling isn’t just for kids.

Most of us are visual learners. We do well by seeing the information. Therefore, it makes sense that infographics, charts, or other visual aids are easier to remember than written words. If it helps you retain information better, try creating graphs or charts that summarize the information you need to learn. Doodling on your notes or creating diagrams are very helpful tools for you to be able to remember new lessons clearly and accurately.

Linking is not just for sausages.

Linking is probably the most used speed learning trick of all. Linking is all about forming a connecting chain of mental cues in your mind. It doesn’t have to make sense but the zanier the metal image, the more you are likely to remember it. Say for example you need to remember to get eggs, milk, and batteries on your way home. You can create an outrageous image of battery powered eggs with udders and relate them to your grocery list. The crazier the  image, the better.

Johnny Mnemonic was right on the money.

We’re all familiar with the technique of creating mnemonics or systems that “assist or intend to assist memory”. In name mnemonics, you take the first letter of each term you need to recall and re-arrange it so that it forms a more recallable word. That’s how I learned all the colours of the rainbow, when I was young. I’d say Roy G.Biv and then easily recall all the colours: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet. I’d also say MiDAS to be able to recall the order of operation in Mathematics (Multiplication and Division before Addition and Subtraction). This technique is as useful and as effective then as it is now.

Try these tips on for size. You can pick one technique that you can master, or better yet, try them all and become a speed learner! If you have any tips that work for you, we’d love to hear about them. Til next time, remember to Stay Humble and Hustle Hard!

Written by: Jaie O- The Help