How to Be An Independent Learner

At some point in our lives, we’ve relied on academia to grow and learn. It gave us the structure we needed to create a solid base on those formative years. But nowadays, having a solid ground to build on, we can make our curriculums and be the captains that guide our learning process. When it comes to learning a new skill or improving your abilities, we might not need a full course on the subject, you may want to learn something specific. The reality is that learning independently is an option that can help you save time and money, and if you make it a part of your lifestyle, it will make you a master of whatever you choose, and the sky won’t even be the limit for you.

We sure know all the reasons why becoming an independent learner can be super beneficial. And it is not as easy as just wanting to seek new knowledge, although that is the first requirement, it is not all that’s needed. But worry not, we’ll break it down for you.

1. Set your goals

Think about any skill you want to develop as a project because, in the end, it is a learning project. Start this project like any other, defining what you want to achieve. Be intentional, write down where you want to be regarding the skill you want to master, and don’t hesitate to dream big. As long as you know what you want, you can make a plan to get there. In the beginning, setting the goal can be confusing, since you might not be sure how far you want to go or what you want to do with it until you are a little immersed in it.

It is very important that when you are setting goals, you do them S.M.A.R.T. That way, you’ll be giving yourself your best chance to succeed. A goal can stay on paper a whole year – like new year’s resolutions do most of the time – or they can become a reality if you treat them as an action plan. And what better way to do that, than making them Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound? If you do so, you will know exactly what you want to achieve, how to know if you are getting there, if they are realistic, and why you want to do it, while also having a time frame so you don’t leave them on some old notebook’s page.

2. Check your resources

Once you know where you want to go, you need to find out how you can get there and what you need and already have to do so. Do you have previous knowledge of the area? Is it something completely new? Does it require specific equipment? Ask yourself the questions that might be helpful to identify your strengths and weaknesses towards achieving this goal. What you have, what you need, and also the opportunities and threats that your environment presents that could interfere with the goal. Swot analysis is very useful to get to know what is in your favor and what to be careful with.

Resources don’t have to be personal attributes or practical equipment, your best resource could be a library near your house or a friend that knows a bit more on the subject and could mentor you. Look around you, and you could find people and places you could go to if you need help. Being independent means being the one responsible for your learning process, it doesn’t mean that you have to do it alone.

3. Manage your time

One of the best things about independent learning is that you have control over the schedule, it can be whenever you like and as much as you can. But this is a two-edged sword since being responsible for it also implies that no one is checking up on you or giving you a deadline. For some people, not having the class to go to or the test to study for can make it pretty hard to start learning and reach the goal. By doing it yourself, time management is key, you have got to take some time during your day for it, and put it on the schedule like you make time for work. The objective is to make a plan and try to follow it. Of course, you can be flexible, that’s one of its many benefits, but be consistent. Some like to make time for it during the weekends, others prefer studying at night, use the technique that works for you, but do it. Time management is the skill that can get you there if you use it wisely, but you need to get to it.

4. Track your progress

When you are the master of your own learning process, you need to be the one to hold yourself accountable. Keeping track of your progress helps you know on which grounds you are standing and how far you still need to go. So, keep tabs on your progress, and let them be a neutral form of self-examination. This way, you’ll get a hint of what to do next, or what needs reinforcement, without obsessing with how much you still need to go or how little you advanced this week. Remember that progress is not always a straight line, and probably you’ll be good as long as you are moving towards your goal.

Don’t be afraid to test yourself, find new challenges, and just see what you can do with them. It’s okay if you don’t succeed right away, that’s the magic of practicing and improving, failing is part of the process. Yes, you should be on top of your goals list, but acknowledge your achievements big or small. Don’t forget to be patient, everyone has their own time, and so do you.

5. Stay motivated

One of the biggest challenges you will face as an independent learner is to stay motivated. Some days you might not feel like doing anything and that is okay, but the day after you need to move one foot in front of the other and keep on moving. For some people, it is easier to keep the drive alive, but what is certain is that if you want this skill to stick around, you need that motivation to come from within. There is no external reward as motivating as inner satisfaction. Try to have a greater goal that transcends and moves you forward, even on the days you don’t want to move. Because you might be trying to learn origami, but if that desire to learn is linked to something bigger, like the mindfulness you can exercise while doing origami, then you could bet that it will stay a constant in your life until you reach the goal.

Becoming an independent learner doesn’t happen overnight. It requires discipline and resilience. But this day-to-day habit can help you become who you want to be on your own time and on your own terms. Growth is unavoidable on this path, so even though it is going to be some effort, it is worth the shot. What are you waiting to give yourself your best shot?

– Laura Navarro