Own Your Learning and Keep Growing
I had three half-written articles about this topic from the last 12 months. Seriously, I needed to edit A LOT and just hit publish!
Today, I want to talk about learning. Life-long learning. How we learn as adults. Yes, I think we should still be actively learning new things, at every age. I have this quote in my head when I think about this topic - and I have heard it credited to many different people, here it goes: “You will be the same person in five years as you are today except for the people you meet and the books you read.” When we don’t learn new things or do new things, we don’t grow. And if we stop growing, we may wither.
The good news is, as adults, we get to choose what we learn about (mostly). Sure, you might be required to learn things for your job, or the general education courses as you pursue higher education, but those are also choices. I remember when my now college senior son was finishing high school, he was so excited because in college he would get to CHOOSE his path of study and it could be something he was truly passionate about.
I recently worked with two different cohorts of adult learners, and I will start working with another this week. When I teach adult learners, we usually have a curriculum to cover. But the great thing about working with adult learners is the experience is also an invitation. It is an invitation for the adult learners to own the process for themselves. And so I'm inviting you all, and myself, to do the same.
When a person has agency over themselves, their motivation increases. Meaning, when the choice is YOURS about what and how you learn, you are more motivated to learn.
So, let’s walk through the process together. And I truly mean together, because this is a project I am working on this month, too!
Before you think I am only telling you what to do, let me be completely transparent - my non-fiction reading pile is OVERWHELMING. I have added to the “pile” of non-fiction books, both hard copy and digital - regularly over the last year, but have not made much progress consuming them. I’ve learned A LOT in the last 12 months, but it’s time to get moving on my reading pile!
I read daily. I read very quickly, which leads me to overestimate my capacity and available time for reading. I love books and don’t want to call books clutter, BUT - if I am never going to read a book, then why do I own the book, right?! And here is the truth, my guilt around my growing reading pile has kept me from writing about it, but that ends now! Let’s get started!
EMBRACE THE IDEA THAT LIFELONG LEARNING IS AWESOME
It’s awesome and it’s the goal of every education institution, to cultivate a love of learning, to help their students want to be life long learners. When we learn, we grow.
IDENTIFY YOUR NEEDS / WANTS
As I wrote in the last few months, we need to recognize The Gap, between where we are today and where we want to be, then we set goals and identify learning needs to make that happen.
Ask yourself, “What do I think I need to know? Are there things I need to learn about, to get me from where I am today to where I want to be?” Yes, those are learning needs.
There are thousands of examples of “Needs Assessments” per google, but we don’t have to get complicated if we don’t want to. Let’s start with “What do you want to learn more about?”
And a caveat, here is what I am NOT talking about, and this was from one of the half written articles I often mention that I love my clients, and I do, but occasionally, I still have to tell them “No”.
One organizing client suggested that I learn about antique furniture so that I could better help her sell her antique furniture. A second client wants me to know the difference between silver and silver plating, but I do not. A third assumed I knew the difference between precious gems and costume jewelry because an organizer she used to work with knew the difference. Sorry, no. The best thing I can do for all of those clients is to find them experts who already know those things. It might even be the same expert. But it is not me. We all have our strengths, but unfortunately for these client requests, antique furniture, silver and jewelry are not mine.
The point, however, is not to list all the things I don't know anything about, though that might be funny. The point is: I know lots of things. You know lots of things. And anything else that you and I want to learn about should come from inside of us. Those come from my needs assessments, wants and goals, and those will help me form my own educational plan.
As examples, it could be money management, time management, how to thread a sewing machine, how to thread a fishing pole, or change the oil in your car.
I'm inviting you to own your own education process, your own journey, your own path. Identify what it is that you want to learn more about. What are your learning outcomes? For example, it could be “I want to become more informed about money and money management so I can buy a house, or plan for retirement”.
And, my friends, learning needs can be learning wants! What am I interested in? What am I excited about?! And get specific! If you want to be healthier, don’t just say I want to be healthier. Try “I want to explore better nutrition for my age and gender, and introduce more plant based protein into my regular meals.” (this is one of mine, for example!) In Spring of 2020, I learned how to play the ukulele! That was certainly a learning want, not a need!
CRAFT YOUR CURRICULUM / MAKE YOUR PLAN
A Plan allows you to pace yourself. We don’t have to learn everything about everything all at once. What I'm suggesting is an educational plan, to bring your own curriculum to life. A PLAN.
Using the money management idea from earlier, we don’t begin our learning by making millions of dollars. We also don’t start by taking a huge risk and spending or investing all our money in the first idea that comes our way.
We learn basic concepts first, we learn the vocabulary of money and spending and investing, if that is what we’re interested in. We lay the foundation, we learn from experts.
Using my ukulele example, if you wanted to learn ukulele, too, you might start with basic music theory or with easy songs that you are already familiar with. We start out simple and work our way up!
And now, the How! OPPORTUNITIES / SOURCES:
When crafting your learning plan, consider your own learning style: audio books, youtube videos, classes, webinars - truly, the options are endless! And pair your learning needs and interests with opportunities you already have, or think about where else you can look and learn!
There's so much information available to us. There has never in the history of the world been as much information as we have readily at our fingertips.
AND: I shouldn't have to say this, but vet your sources. Be a critical thinker. We need to participate in learning from trusted sources. In public education, we teach our students to be critical thinkers. Check your sources: does this sound logical, can we find the same information from more than one source, is the data research based? Yes, friends, check your facts.
OK, and Back to Sources for Learning!
Your local library (free free free!)
Your local community colleges (free and low cost), with community education programs
Other local organizations; for example, my local school district offers free adult education classes, and our local recreation department has dozens of offerings every month.
On-line webinars (free or for a fee)
Youtube
Books you already own! Reminding myself here, and all of you: this article started out because of my reading pile. One of my favorite sources for learning are books, and I am starting with the ONES I ALREADY HAVE!!
Find your experts: In the career readiness programs I teach for, we talk about finding the person or people that are doing what we want to do, and asking them for suggestions, or if they are famous, reading up about them. One of my students wants to be a Jack of All Trades (in his words), and likes to watch the HGTV shows about renovations. I consider that learning, too!
On Social Media, Subscribe and follow thought leaders (and no, I did NOT say influencers): for example, I subscribed to a newsletter today, with the LazyGeniusCollective.com
Professional organizations you’re already a part of:
For example, I am a member of NAPO - the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals, plus two local NAPO chapters, and they each have meetings with continuing education every month.
Professional and personal development conferences
FINALLY, THE WHERE AND THE WHEN:
Schedule the Time. Like for REALS!
This is where I absolutely drop the ball. There are dozens of areas in my life, times of days, types of tasks - places in my life where I have daily, consistent habits to complete necessary tasks. I am completely capable of consuming my reading pile. But I have not yet scheduled daily consistent time to read non-fiction.
Here’s the good news - I have revamped my home office and made sure to add a lovely chair, table and reading lamp. And just today, I stated that I want to take back my mornings. After running ragged for the last month or so, the plan is to spend at least 20 minutes a morning on non-fiction reading. That doesn’t feel like a lot yet, but it will still be 2 more hours a week spent on my non-fiction reading pile than I am spending now!
So, what is it going to be, friends? What do you want to learn more about? Recognize that nothing is holding you back but you! Identify your needs and wants, craft your plan, find your resources, and make time and space for learning and for yourself!
