I’ve always been a person who is driven to learn new things and try to solve new problems.  But there was sometimes a disconnect between what I was motivated to learn and what I was required to “learn” when I was in school. Subjects and topics that I didn’t think were relevant (and still haven’t used in the real world), were very difficult for me to pay attention to for hour-long lectures in large auditoriums.

So, I have always believed that variety is the key to learning and retention.  And now there’s some research that backs that up.

[...] there are effective approaches to learning, at least for those who are motivated. In recent years, cognitive scientists have shown that a few simple techniques can reliably improve what matters most: how much a student learns from studying.

The findings can help anyone, from a fourth grader doing long division to a retiree taking on a new language. But they directly contradict much of the common wisdom about good study habits, and they have not caught on.

For instance, instead of sticking to one study location, simply alternating the room where a person studies improves retention. So does studying distinct but related skills or concepts in one sitting, rather than focusing intensely on a single thing.

via Mind – Research Upends Traditional Thinking on Study Habits – NYTimes.com.

I’ve been using the two techniques in bold above for a a long time in my work and personal life.  By having many diverse projects in the air at once I find it’s easier to both keep interested and see each project through to completion, but also to learn, invent and retain new information, techniques, or ideas.

Finding the right balance of focus vs. multi-tasking vs. relaxing is a science all its own.  But once you find your perfect ratio, your productivity and happiness will skyrocket.

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