The benefits of lifelong learning are many. In an evolving world, continuous learning serves as an economic, social, emotional, and physical imperative, according to John Coleman from the Harvard Business Review.
Coleman also reveals that “reading, even for short periods of time, can dramatically reduce stress.” Unfortunately, it’s quite common to hit a wall when absorbing new information. When this happens, our immediate instinct may be to put our heads down and push through the content. However, this often proves counterproductive to our learning.
So, what do we do when this occurs?
Dr. Barbara Oakley, professor of engineering at Oakland University, reveals that one of the most effective methods in learning a new skill or subject is to simply stop. Stopping, in this context, doesn’t suggest ceasing our studying entirely, but rather taking a break to let our brains process and rest.
In the series Learning How to Learn, Dr. Oakley highlights methods of learning that people regularly and unconsciously do already. But, by being deliberate about these techniques, people can deepen their understanding and enhance their learning capabilities.
Sleep is a Natural Brain Boost
In a recent article from Johns Hopkins Medicine, sleep researcher Patrick Finan, Ph.D., indicated that “not getting enough sleep can affect your mood, memory, and health in far reaching and surprising ways.”
While the benefits of sleep may seem intuitive, a lack of sleep results in more than just grogginess. Doctors caution it may cause negative long-term neurological implications that could inhibit learning. According to Dr. Oakley, simply being awake creates metabolic toxins in our brains. When we sleep, we allow our brain cells to temporarily shrink, enabling fluid to flush these toxins out. This process helps increase our ability to grasp new concepts.
Our brains maintain relevant information while we sleep and discard irrelevant information– much like how we delete irrelevant files from storage to enable our computers to run faster. This allows our brains to “review or [rehearse] some of the tougher parts of whatever [we’re] trying to learn, going over and over neural patterns to deepen and strengthen them,” says Dr. Oakley.
While we can acquire new information and access it during periods of consciousness, a sleep study conducted by Harvard University suggests that consolidation – the process by which a memory becomes stable – occurs while we asleep. This is made possible by the strengthening of neural connections, as mentioned earlier.
Stop to Recharge
Our brains have two primary modes of thinking: focused and diffused. When we study or concentrate intently to understand something or solve a problem, our brains are in focused mode. Diffuse mode, on the other hand, is closely related to being in a state of neural rest. It occurs when you simply let your mind wander freely. It can happen when you go for a walk, take a shower, or even while falling asleep. Dr. Oakley suggests that utilizing both modes is equally important in the process of learning.
While all humans experience diffuse mode throughout the day, Dr. Oakley explains that being conscious and deliberate in activating diffuse mode is beneficial to our learning process. Although diffuse thinking doesn’t allow you to narrowly focus in on any given topic, it enables us to approach new concepts from a wider perspective.
Taking the time to continue your learning doesn’t need to be difficult. While it may require time and effort, it does not always necessitate the constant strenuous focus we might think. So, the next time you are losing focus or struggling through a new concept, stop forcing it. Step back, give yourself a break and allow your mind to rest.