I’ve been struck by many of the posts from other blogs here on PsychCentral, because their themes sound so familiar to me. Mindfulness, dealing with powerful emotions, setting realistic self-expectations…these are all messages I put out all the time, especially to my older teen and adult learners.
Older learners are more capable of metacognition, which basically means “learning about how you learn.” Mature learners can reflect on their strengths and weaknesses, their learning styles, and their cognitive growth over time.
And chances are they’ve also accumulated fears, negative attitudes, bad habits and self-defeating mindsets.
Here are some of the things I urge my mature learners to do:
Learning Tips for Older Teens and Adults
1. Acknowledge and Respect Your Emotions. Many people have negative emotions surrounding math, writing or other subjects. Notice and accept these emotions. Don’t fight them or berate yourself for having them.
2. Set Aside Perfectionism. Your goal is to learn, not to perform flawlessly.
3. Get Help. Friends, teachers, tutors, help-sessions…seek help wherever it is available. Be active. Reach out. Get your questions answered and your learning needs met.
4. Carve Out Time Every Day. Get into a regular study routine. Use light-assignment days for review or preview.
5. Do Your Assignments Mindfully. Mentally immerse in the material. Feel your brain working hard and enjoy that feeling. Try not to rush or think about the next thing you’re going to be doing.
6. Geek Out. Try to get interested in the material. Do a Google search, check Wikipedia, chat with your teacher.
7. Pace Yourself. Take a break if you become frustrated or mentally fatigued. Come back to hard problems or assignments; they may look easier after a mental rest.
8. Keep Your Eyes on the Prize! Maintain a long-term perspective. Remember how far you’ve come. Feel the satisfaction of personal growth and achievement over time.
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