An Ideal Day of Learning
Every single day, I dedicate time to learning. While the amount and intensity of learning varies from day-to-day, I attempt to follow this plan as consistently as possible. But life happens, and if I am unable to accomplish all of my learning objectives, it is not something that I lose sleep over. Learning is a process and is meant to be fun. So with that in mind, I learn is more of a hobby than an obligation. This makes it sustainable for me and something that I look forward to.
Below is what an ideal day of learning looks like for me.
Reading
Spiritual Reading
First thing after waking up, I like to begin my day with spiritual reading. It’s 5am, my phone is still on airplane mode, and my book is sitting next to my bed. Before doing anything, I dedicate around 15 minutes spiritual reading, which I define as anything that forces me to reflect on my soul, purpose, and relationships. This includes religious scripture, philosophy, or other thought-provoking texts. Very often, I will review previously read texts to keep important concepts top of mind.
Currently reading: King James Version of the Holy Bible (Old and New Testament)
Last read: The Mastery of Love by Don Miguel Ruiz
Next read: Nichomachean Ethics by Aristotle
Educational Reading
At some point during the day, often before bed, I like to dedicate at least 30 minutes to educational reading. If before bed, my phone is already on airplane mode and I will either listen to binaural beats, baroque music, or read in complete silence. Educational reading is anything that allows me to learn about a specific topic, whether for application into my life or curiosity.
Currently reading: The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene
Last read: Behave: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst by Robert Sapolsky
Next read: The Immunity Code: The New Paradigm for Immune Centric Health and Radical Anti-Aging by Joel Greene
Podcasts
Podcasts are one of the most efficient ways to learn. Whether driving, exercising, walking the dog, cooking, or anything in between, I love to throw on podcasts continually learn and gain exposure to new ideas and science. In an ideal day, I will listen to at least 60 minutes worth of podcast content, although I always listen at x2 speed, so I can cover content much more efficiently. The exception to this is language learning podcasts, in which I will listen to at normal speed.
Any topic you are interested, educational or leisure, there are podcasts that cover those topics. My favorite topics to listen to include health, aging, disease prevention, fitness, nutrition, human performance, neuroscience, psychology, business, leadership, and entrepreneurship.
My three favorite podcasts are listed below. Check them out!
• Impact Theory with Tom Bilyeu
• Ben Greenfield Fitness
• School of Greatness with Lewis Howes
Language Learning
Beyond the countless cognitive and anti-aging benefits of language learning, I am obsessed with learning about other languages and cultures. The ability to gain perspectives and insights from other parts of the world, expanding access to the rest of the world, is one of my most coveted personal development goals. I also find language learning to be incredibly fun and rewarding, so every day, I commit time to learning languages.
Currently, I am actively learning German, Spanish, and French. In an ideal day, I will do a minimum of 10 minutes of active study for each language, referring to online lessons, grammar or vocabulary review, writing, or speaking. In addition, I try to implement as much passive study as possible, accomplished by watching TV shows and movies or listening to music, radio, or podcasts.
Resources used:
• Premium Busuu membership (https://www.busuu.com/)
• Live tutor lessons through Busuu
• Coffee Break Languages podcasts (https://radiolingua.com/)
• TuneIn Radio (https://tunein.com/)
• YouTube
• Netflix
• Conversations with friends
Instruments
Scientific literature also shows that learning instruments have incredible cognitive benefits due to the complexity of audiovisual processing. Currently, I have been slowly learning to play the guitar, mostly just by taking 10 minutes before bed each night to strum a few chords. Previously in the summer, I was also learning the piano during the day. Although I don’t have any specific goals in my instrument learning, I find making music to be beautifully relaxing and rewarding, although certainly a long-term learning process.
As for resources, I simply use YouTube lessons and videos and do my best to make music that doesn’t hurt my ears!
Learn II Perform
Most of my learning occurs through the Learn II Perform platform. To constantly provide new and valuable content, I spend significant time daily researching, reading, making notes, creating content, and consolidating information for Learn II Perform. Beyond the scientific literature and experimentation related to human optimization, I also spend many hours learning about technology, marketing, entrepreneurship, branding, and networking in an attempt to enable Learn II Perform to positively impact as many people as possible. For this reason, the Learn II Perform learning typically takes a focused, deep dive into specific topics, as opposed to a curiosity-driven exploration found in my educational reading.
How about you, do you have a dedicated learning plan? I’d love for you to share what you are doing to actively learn, what you are learning about, and any tips and advice that you may have to help others.
And lastly, if you’re not sure where to start, get in touch with me and let’s talk about it!