By Katie Azevedo, M.Ed.
We’re going to talk about skills that will make you a better learner. Yes, this includes study skills. But study skills arenât just skills to get you through your next exam. Legitimate learning techniques and good school habits will also benefit your career and personal growth. They’re far more valuable than quick hacks.
The secret is to learn skills that go beyond school. The secret is to learn how to learn, adapt, think critically, and succeed in any environment â even as technology and career demands evolve.
Why is this important? Because what weâre expected to learn is constantly changing. New technology, shifting job markets, and endless information require more than just memorization or short-term study tactics.Â
To thrive in both academics and beyond, you need skills that will make you a strong, adaptable learner who can handle changing expectations.
In this blog post, Iâm sharing six essential skills that will make you a better learner who is sharp and capable â not just in school today but also in your career.
6 Skills That Will Make You a Better Learner â Now, and in the Future
Success in school certainly involves good grades and a good transcript. But itâs also largely about developing learning habits and cognitive skills that remain valuable in an evolving academic and professional world.
Master the list below, and youâll be able to handle (almost) anything.
1. Learn How to Learn (Meta-Learning)
Knowing HOW to learn is one of most valuable skills you could have for your life. Bold statement, but true.
You spend years of school being told to learn vocabulary, to learn math processes, to learn content â but youâre not HOW.
Think about this: If you want to play a song on the piano, you must learn how to play piano. If you want to join a soccer team, you must learn how to play soccer. The same can be said for school, although for some reason, most people donât think of it this way.
Knowing HOW to learn is essential if you want to learn information for real. Want to learn vocabulary? Thereâs a method for that. Want to learn information for your AP biology test? Thereâs a method for that.
The problem is that schools donât teach students how to learn. They donât teach you how to take information from outside sources, like lectures and textbooks, and store it in your brain for later use.
Where to start: The two most critical strategies of true learning involve active recall and spaced repetition.Â
Active recall study methods include:
- Practice quizzes
- Flashcards
- The blurting method
- The Feynman technique
- Mind mapping
- Explaining material to someone else
These methods help reinforce learning and improve retention.
Spaced repetition is a framework for planning your study sessions so you have multiple short sessions over multiple days.
But the absolute BEST way to learn how to learn is to join SchoolHabits University.
SchoolHabits University is my online course. Itâs where I teach you useful and effective study skills that you need. Learn more about SchoolHabits University here.
2. Adapt to New Technology and Tools
High schools and colleges rely heavily on technology to deliver content. Videos, EdPuzzles, learning management systems â the list is endless. And the workforce is no different.
Itâs one thing to be confident with social media and the apps on your phone â but that doesnât set you apart from anyone, because most students are experts at that kind of thing. The real advantage is your ability to adapt to and learn new technologies that youâve never seen before.
In the professional space, the reality is that as soon as you get used to a particular piece of technology or app, youâll have to move on to the next one.
Students who are open, flexible, and able to learn new things (see tip #1) are the ones who thrive with these changes.
Thereâs a time and place for analog tools, and Iâm the first to celebrate a good old notebook. But students who know how to use spreadsheets, build websites, and work with video and audio files are way ahead. Also, those who interact ethically with AI-based technology stand out even more. Like it or not, these skills give them a big advantage over others.
3. Develop Strong Independent Learning Habits
Another critical skill that will make you a better learner (and adult) is independent learning.
In high school and early college, teachers tell you what to learn. They teach you most of what you need in class and give you access to resources to learn more. This is all well and good, but to be a better learner, you need strong learning habits outside the classroom.
- Can you track your tasks and complete them without being told?
- Can you get things done even when you donât feel motivated to do them?
- Can you manage your time without being reminded or nagged?
- Do you know how to figure things out when you get stuck?
Students who can learn and manage themselves independently will have a much easier time adjusting to changes and challenges in school and career.
4. Build Focus and Deep Work Skills
Your ability to focus can be a superpower. In a world full of distractions â social media, constant notifications, and breaking news all the time â your ability to do deep, focused work will set you apart from those who havenât mastered this skill.
Deep work (a word coined by Cal Newport) link is when you give uninterrupted focus to a cognitively demanding task. Itâs what allows you to think, create, read and write with absolute concentration. Some people call this a flow state. Link.Â
Deep focus helps you work efficiently. It prevents you from wasting time on tasks by switching back and forth.
The problem? Deep work is hard and takes practice. You canât just expect to sit down and focus for an hour if youâve never trained your brain to do so.
Where to start if youâre new to deep focus:
1. Use the Pomodoro Technique:
Work for 25 minutes, take a 5-minute break, repeat. Once youâve done this four times, take a longer break for at least 30 minutes. Using the Pomodoro Technique can help you build focus over time. (Yes, focus training is a thing!)
2. Use Time Blocking to Plan Your Study/Work Sessions:
At the start of each week, look at your calendar and your upcoming assignments. Block out specific days and times to work on each assignment. Use this time exclusively for deep work, not for checking email or doing other admin tasks.
3. Get Serious About Minimizing Distractions:
Put your phone in another room. Not on airplane mode, not upside down on the desk next to you: in another room.
You can also use website blockers, noise-canceling earplugs, and analog tools when possible. (For example, when outlining an essay, can you use a paper notebook instead of Word or Google Docs? Doing so removes the temptation of the internet.)
Students who can concentrate for extended periods will learn faster, retain more, and be more prepared for careers that require complex thinking and problem-solving.
5. Strengthen Information Management Skills
You can learn all the information in the world, but if you canât organize it, retrieve it, and use it later, itâs useless.
Think about it: How many times have you taken notes that you never looked at again because they were disorganized or unclear? How many times have you saved an important document but couldnât find it when you needed it? How many times have you been unable to log into some website because you lost your password?
All of this is called Information Management. Strong learners (and strong professionals) know how to manage information in a way that makes it easy to access and use.
Where to Start:
1. Figure out a task management system that works for you.
If youâre a student, I suggest a simple assignment notebook that includes a weekly spread. Do not rely on your learning management system (aka Google Classroom, Canvas, etc.). If youâre a professional, use these tips.
2. Find a note-taking system that works for you.
Whether itâs the Cornell method, 2-column notes, digital notes, or some hybrid system you created yourself, your notes should be structured so theyâre useful to you.
3. Create a system for tracking important information.
Information management is about more than managing homework. Think about all the other kinds of information youâre responsible for: passwords, book recommendations, contact information, your goals, and more.
Apps like Notion, Evernote, or OneNote, and Google Keep allow you to store and organize knowledge for future use. Here are 10 lists I recommend all students have.
4. Master digital organization.
Your files, emails, and digital resources should be easy to find. Use folders, naming conventions, and search-friendly systems to stay organized. Pro Tip: Never leave a file untitled; occasionally, go into Google Drive (or OneDrive) and search for âuntitledâ â give all these untitled files better names.
Information management isnât just about school â itâs a lifelong skill youâll need to manage your future life as an adult.
6. Manage Energy and Prevent Burnout
Being a better learner isnât just about how good your grades are. Itâs also about how well you manage and protect your energy.
We all get overwhelmed and exhausted now and again. This happens during busy times like exams, right before holidays, and when you have things going on outside of school that consume your energy.
But burnout is different. Burnout happens when you push yourself too hard for too long without rest. Once you reach burnout, itâs harder to recover.
When youâre chronically exhausted and overwhelmed (burned out), your ability to think critically, remember information, remain emotionally regulated, and make decisions is drastically compromised.
Strong students have the self-awareness to recognize early signs of burnout and adjust their schedules and work habits accordingly.
Strong students (who turn into strong professionals) also know how to manage their time so theyâre not overwhelmed due to procrastination.
Where to Start:
1. Prioritize sleep.
No, you canât âhackâ your way out of needing sleep. Poor sleep leads to lower concentration, memory problems, and decreased performance. Get at least 7-9 hours per night. Too busy? I donât buy it. Change something.
2. Set boundaries with schoolwork.
Just because you could study 24/7 doesnât mean you should. (Also, please donât.) If youâre using spaced repetition, you wonât burn out.
3. Take intentional breaks.
Not all breaks are equal. Zoning out on social media for an hour isnât a real break. It just drains you differently. Instead, go for a walk, get a snack, listen to music, or do something that actually recharges you. This is another case for the Pomodoro Technique.
4. Slow down on other activities.
Sometimes when school feels overwhelming, itâs actually because the other parts of our life outside of school are chaotic. Maybe you need to cut back on your work hours, take a break from volunteering, or sit out a season of the swim team. Doing less school isnât an option, so doing fewer things outside of school is sometimes our only choice.
Final Notes About the Skills That Will Make You a Better Learner
Hopefully by now, you understand that learning isnât just about passing your next exam. Good students pass their exams, while good learners build the skills that will serve them in the real world.
If you develop these six core skills, youâll be able to adapt, grow, and succeed in any environment â whether itâs high school, college, or your future career.
And if youâre ready to take your learning to the next level, check out SchoolHabits University, where I teach the exact study strategies that will help you master these skills for life.