Do you leave studying till the last minute even when you know your life is on the line?

Let’s talk about that.

These 5 tips for how to learn more when you have less time are for anyone who wants to learn more.

But especially for those of you who never have enough time to study.

But you feel like you don’t have enough time to actually study. And when you do sit down to learn, you can’t stay focused.

The problem is that our schedules are crazier than ever. There is too much to do in a single day. You have a plan to study later, but when the time comes, you sit down to do the work….

But you can’t focus.

And you get nothing done.

And when you do study, it doesn’t stick.

Then you go back and have to read the same page, and the same paragraph, and do the same thing over and over…

And it feels so frustrating because you aren’t making any real progress.

If any of these scenarios sound like your last study session, this is my solution for you.

My 5 tips for how you can learn more when you have less time will make you a more efficient learner.

What exactly are you learning?

“When you first start to study a field, it seems like you have to memorize a zillion things. You don’t. What you need is to identify the core principles—generally three to twelve of them—that govern the field.

The million things you thought you had to memorize are simply various combinations of the core principles.”

John T. Reed, Author

What does you actually mean, if you say I’m going to study Spanish today for 30 minutes? When most of us sit down to study, we think only of a broad topic.

But we need a specific goal.

Is your goal to build travel related vocabulary?

Are you trying to improve your conversational skills?

Are you studying for a test on conditional verbs?

Tip #5: Clearly define a SMART goal for each study session.

Specific, Measurable, Assignable, Realistic, and Time-bound goals create effective criteria that you know you can achieve in the limited time you have.

For example, if you are learning how to write a sales funnel, your SMART goal could be:

Tomorrow morning between 830-9AM, I will learn how to write a 150 word opt-in page by studying three examples and then making one.

By defining exactly what you’ll learn, you’re more likely to stay on task and succeed.

🤲🏽 Focus does not mean saying Yes, it means saying No.
Steve Jobs

Where are you going to learn?

It’s easy to tell someone to eliminate all the distractions before they sit down to study. But what does that actually mean?

You need to make sure you are learning in the right spot. If you’re in a bad location, you will set yourself up for failure before you begin.

Tip #4 is to create a minimal learning environment.

Find a quiet place. It can be in public, but then you need ear buds to cancel out distracting sounds.

Lighting also effects your level of attention and energy. Make sure your spot is not too dark, or too bright.

Can you clearly see your material?

If your eyes are stressed, or you’re exhausted, you will forget more and remember less of your learning.

Are you comfortable?

But not cozy. Sit upright in a supportive chair, or stand to study.

But make sure you are in a position where you can be still.

A physical slouch affects you psychologically, and cramps your learning.

Remove anything from your desk or table that might distract. Turn off notifications on your phone and computer.

But before you start your scheduled study time, read over your SMART goal. Now remind yourself why you are learning the topic.

🤲🏽 Leonardo da Vinci once said,
Learning never exhausts the mind.

Do you study for hours and still forget?

When I was a college student, I would spend hours and hours in the library. I’d eat, sleep and hangout there.

But I did not get a lot done. In fact, I was a pretty average student until I got a job, and I had less time to study.

“Skill is the result of deliberate, consistent practice, and in early-stage practice, quantity and speed trump absolute quality.

The faster and more often you practice, the more rapidly you’ll acquire the skill.”

―Josh Kaufman, The First 20 Hours

More frequent, shorter lessons and study sessions are more effective.

Are you scheduling your learning every day?

Do you put each session in your calendar?

Tip #3 is to schedule & time each and every learning session.

Reward yourself after your timer ends. But keep the treat small.

Make another coffee.

Walk for 10 minutes.

Stretch or snack.

But make sure you know your next priority.

🤲🏽 Mahatma Gandhi once said, It’s not just words. Action expresses priorities.

How do you know if you learned anything?

Your timer goes off. You’re done! You reward yourself. Amazing!

But what now?

Next step is to go back and check your SMART goal. Do this immediately after each study session.

Did you complete your specific task?

Tip #2 is to create a fast feedback loop.

For example, I can measure if I studied 3 examples of opt in pages, and wrote my own 150 word page. SMART goals will provide a yes or no answer right away.

Was your study session a success?

Why was I successful, or not?

When will I study again?

How can I improve my results next time?

Now write down your answers.

🤲🏽 If you want to master something, teach it. The more you teach, the better you learn.

Richard Feynman

With a gun to. your head, could you explain what you learned to anyone?

When we think of tests, most of us imagine ourselves trapped in a classroom, forced to sit at a desk.

But we’re actually testing ourselves all the time.

When was your mother born?

What did you have for breakfast yesterday?

A test is a check of quality and performance.

You might remember your mom’s star sign, or the month she was born. But not her birthday, or the exact time.

You might say eggs. Someone else might say, three scrambled eggs with a piece of dry brown toast, and two cups of black coffee. Get it?

Tip #1 is to test your knowledge by teaching a friend.

Start a conversation with a friend. Explain in 5 minutes or less what you learned in your last study session.

There is no better way to reinforce learning than to explain a concept in your own words. Quick, before you forget.

Teach a friend how to learn more with less time.

🌊 My mission: I will teach you how to do LESS.

I believe everyone can learn to earn, save, and sleep well with financial freedom.

Thanks for reading.

I write copy & content. I teach courses. I show up everyday.

But I do LESS. Learn. Earn. Save. Sleep.