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If you feel like your brain only has limited space and that to learn one thing more means forgetting another, this article is for you. If you want to learn, but are intimidated by the task that lies ahead, this article is also for you. And if you are repulsed by the concept of studying, you might find some reprieve in this article as well. If you aren't described by any one of the above statements, then please enjoy the article anyways! Here are some tips to help you become a better learner:

1) Admit you don't know.
Don’t let your existing knowledge interfere with your ability to learn even more. Our pesky brains like to create relationships to new concepts from previously learned concepts that we're comfortable with. This means that if you're a chemist and you're trying to learn how to cook, your brain will organize your new situation in terms that you're used to. Suddenly baking pancakes becomes a chemical equation. However, any cook can tell you that the proportions are just a suggestion and the real soul of cooking lies in using your intuition and senses.

Sometimes we neglect to recognize our potential when we assume we have all the knowledge we need. Most teachers and teaching methods will emphasize technique to students, so after so many classes and training sessions, you are equipped with fundamentals of whatever discipline you've taken. These classes should be seen as only the beginning. Real skill comes from trial and error, years of experience, and converting technique into instinct.

Often the pursuit of knowledge requires us to listen to things we simply don't want to hear. If you're familiar with the nature and history of knowledge, you know that it is a flexible and fluid environment, often influenced most dramatically by concepts that are radical and taboo. To put it into perspective; some very respected historical figures have been persecuted and punished for presenting some of the principles that we hold on to today as core truths of our world. You have the choice of being a nay-sayer to all opposing ideas or an early advocate to a new way of thinking.

2) Enjoy adapting.
Opportunities to learn are all around you, you just have to know how to recognize them. When you're about to throw your hands up, zone out and claim that the subject is beyond you - stop! This is exactly when you should start paying attention to what is going on. There are people who have been using computers for 15 years, but still don't know how to fix them when a problem occurs. This is because while computers are familiar to them, they repeatedly dismiss the chance to learn more about them. People don't branch out and learn because they are afraid. In the case of computers, the most common fear is that the problem will get even worse. In most cases, this fear is a product of an industry trying to protect itself by making things appear to be complicated. The reality is that most things in your daily life are fairly simple to grasp, you just have to be willing to adapt.

Don't worry about learning everything there is to know. Simple principles and concepts will do when it comes to operating in unfamiliar territories. Like walking in a country where nobody speaks your language, all you need to know is a few simple phrases and how to be polite. People who tell tales of these foreign adventures are often admired for their courage. Next time you find yourself surrounded by things that aren't familiar, gather a little courage for yourself and try to make sense of all that Greek.

3) Have a purpose.
Necessity is the mother of invention. Alternately, nothing you learn will stick to your brain if you have no practical application for it. Let your needs and desires guide you toward what you want to learn. For example, when learning a new programming language, I already have an idea of what I want to do with it. If I follow a couple tutorials just because I want to absorb some knowledge, the time I spend will not take me very far. However, if I have a new application that I want to develop, taking the time to develop it in a new programming language will ensure that what I learn will stick with me a lot longer.

4) Take breaks.
Typically, our brain remembers most of what we learn within the first 10 minutes and last 10 minutes that we spend studying. Everything in between those times is up for grabs. Knowing this, we're able to tune our study habits to absorb the most knowledge into our long-term memory. By backing off and taking frequent breaks, we can tailor the input into our brain so that we retain as much as possible. Some people may have higher thresholds for retention, which allows them to study for longer without taking a break. If you've got ADD like me though, sometimes chapters are too long and information should be assimilated on a page by page basis.

5) Conceptualize, not memorize.
Much of this list is centered on setting a higher standard for ourselves. This includes not taking things at their face value. For instance, my writing style relies on my readers' ability to perceive metaphors and insinuation; if you read point #2 and take in just the words and give no thought to its meaning, then you'll be stuck wondering why the hell I'm talking about walking around in a foreign country. Have you ever given someone advice on how to use technical jargon when speaking with someone, only to have them butcher it and sound like an idiot? It is because they don't understand the concepts; they only know the words.

School has a way of grooming us for retaining names, locations and dates, but leaves us with little satisfaction when we ask the question, "Why?" To help secure a special place inside of your long-term memory, it helps to give all of those cold hard facts some super glue in the form of context. Clever memorization poems and rhymes can't hold a candle to the act of filling out a scene in history with all of the drama that came with it. Learn WHY Aaron Burr shot Alexander Hamilton, WHY the South wanted secession, or WHY Hitler came to power. Teaching yourself these things engages your imagination and gives you a more vivid and memorable account of your subject.

As a side note, the power of a concept is much greater than that of a fact. This is something that leaders know very well and it is the reason why grade school is filled with fact memorization instead of abstract conceptualizing. If you are a parent, I strongly urge you to round out your kids' education with lessons in conceptualizing. Not only will it help them grasp the bigger picture, it will prepare them for leadership roles in their future.

6) Know your method.
It bears mention that we all have different ways in which we absorb information best. Some of us need to see something performed before we can grasp it, while others need to actually DO it. Some of us can read a book and learn its teachings, while others have to parse it and put it into their own language. Knowing your best method of learning is the key to grasping on to new concepts and methods.

While you may prefer a specific learning technique, it is also important to change things up fairly often. If you rely on only one method of learning, you could be missing some details. In order to really know something, you must see it from all angles. Conceptual learning may be effective for learning the big picture, but the key to competent decision-making is a good grasp of tangible facts. There is nothing wrong with visual learning, but most material that society develops is written, which can leave a visual learner at a disadvantage if they don’t practice that method of learning.

7) Do something with your knowledge.
For those of us who learn by rationalizing ideas in our head, our biggest threat is inactivity. It simply isn’t enough to know something; you have to put it into action. Especially if you learn broad concepts better than idiosyncrasies, applying your knowledge in the real world will help you get acquainted with all of the details and it will fill out your experience card. This may be the hardest point to adhere to because it requires one to hop into action, but its worth as a form of learning is immeasurable.