The Close and Turn Off Method

When you are learning something new, how do you do it?

Do you read (or watch) the concept over and over again until you feel like it has sunk in? Or do you go through it and try to put it into practice immediately?

While I do understand the purpose and allure toward the first choice (been there, done that), it is actually better for your learning and understanding to go through it and then put it into practice rather than waiting until you're certain you understand every single nook and cranny of the concept. But why is that?

Well, learning occurs when you engage your brain and challenge it. Reading the concept might challenge your thought pattern, but the act of reading is something that most of us have been doing for years now. So, in reality, the content might be difficult, but the act is simple. In fact, it can even be passive, so you might miss the whole thing just reading it.

On the other hand, reading and practicing pairs the task you're comfortable with doing with the task that is new and foreign. That makes your brain not only work but work in a different way than reading. It engages different centers in your brain and encourages retention of the material.

Why do I tell you all of this? Close the book, turn off the video, and help yourself learn.