Learning Nerd’s Diary #64
Welcome back Learning Nerds!
This week’s newsletter is on all things habits. I’m moving houses this week and it’s exactly the opposite of what I’ve done this week!
👀 Sneak peak
Here is what I have in store for you this week -
💭 Learning About Learning: Learning Habit Loops
🥜 Learning Nugget: Sharpening a knife
💥 Coolest Thing I Learnt This Week:
Building a Learning Habit
Maximizing Your Learning Time
No Zero Days
🔦 Spotlight: Workshop time!
Let's jump right in!
💭 Learning About Learning
How many of you really want to learn something but can’t?
How many of you sign up for a course/ buy a book/ find that teacher but end up not finishing it?
I can feel the guilt seeping on the other side of the screening without you even speaking something.
Learning as adults is HARD.
And the biggest thing that comes in the way of learning as adults is making time for it in our daily lives. Even if someone has the intent and the agency to learn, life comes in the way and learning takes a backseat.
This is where the learning habit loops comes in.
Like all things, consistently is the secret rocket fuel for learning as adults. Unlike school and college where our entire focus is on learning, when we work learning is best served in small, daily habits.
Let’s figure out how to build one!
Building on the habit forming gurus like Nir Eyal and James Clear, here is a revised version of the habit forming loop for learning -
1/ Prompt 🫵🏻
The first step in building any habit is to have a prompt. A prompt is a trigger that signals your brain to initiate an action. Prompts could be:
A time
A location
A preceding event
A feeling
Other people
Without a prompt, the learning habit loop will not start.
2/ Need ❤️
The second step is to develop a need for learning. This happens by associate learning with a positive outcome or reward.
By developing a strong need for learning, you will be more motivated to stick to your learning habits.
3/ Action 🛠️
The third step is the desired learning action. This could be attending a course, reading a book, watching a video, attending a class, or practicing a skill.
The action must be tied to the prompt and the need and something that you enjoy doing. If you don't enjoy the action, you'll be less likely to stick to your habit.
4/ Delight ✨
The fourth and final step is the delight of completing your learning habit and moving towards your goals. This could take multiple forms:
A celebration
Making progress visible
Recognising the effort put
The key is to associate a positive emotion with the learning habit, so your brain learns to associate the habit with a positive outcome. Over time, the reward will become less important as the habit becomes more automatic.
So the next time you’re trying to learn something new? Try the Learning Habit Loop - Prompt, Need, Action, Delight!
By following these four steps, you can build learning habits that will help you achieve your goals and improve your skills. Remember, building habits takes time and effort, so be patient and consistent, and you'll see results!
🥜 Learning Nuggets
Learning is like sharpening a knife.
The more you use it, the easier it cuts.
💥 Coolest Thing I Learnt this Week
Building a Learning Habit
Last year I wrote an article on the 5 small steps you can take to build a learning habit:
Block an hour to learn everyday
Share it with someone
Weekly roundup
Make a learning charter
Make a learning budget
Maximizing Your Learning Time
“Without learning, life is stale.”
Scott writes about 7 small habits you can cultivate to make learning a part of your everyday life. My favourite one? Make you projects read to start -
No Zero Days
I’m also a productivity junkie - I love this idea of no Zero Days while building a new habit -
🔦 Spotlight
I’m doing a workshop this week on Learning Habit Loops!
Love & Learning
Until we meet next week!
You can get this directly in your inbox!