Ever felt stuck trying to learn something new?

Like no matter how hard you try, progress just doesn’t seem to stick?

It’s not because you’re not smart enough.

It’s because you’re probably not using the right learning system.

The good news? Your brain is built to learn—and you can speed up the process if you understand how it works.

Today, let’s break down the neuroscience behind rapid learning and five techniques to master any skill faster.

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Your Brain on Learning: How It Actually Works

Think of your brain like a muscle.

The more you use it, the stronger it gets.

Every time you learn something new, your neurons form new connections. 

The more you repeat and practice, the stronger these connections become—a process called neuroplasticity.

But there’s another key ingredient: dopamine. 

This “reward chemical” fuels motivation. When you make progress, your brain releases dopamine, reinforcing the behavior and making you want to keep going.

Translation:

• The more small wins you create, the faster you’ll learn.

• If you feel stuck, it’s not because you’re bad at learning—it’s because your brain isn’t getting enough rewards.

So how do you use this to your advantage?

The 4 Stages of Learning (and Why Most People Quit at Stage 3)

Every skill you learn goes through the same four stages:

1. Discomfort Stage → Everything feels hard. Your brain is struggling to form new connections.

2. Improvement Stage → You start getting better, confidence builds, and dopamine flows.

3. Plateau Stage → You stop making fast progress. This is where most people quit.

4. Success Stage → If you push through the plateau, you break into true mastery.

Key takeaway: The plateau is not a sign to quit—it’s a sign you’re close to leveling up.

Now, let’s talk about five science-backed strategies to move through these stages faster.

5 science-backed strategies to move through learning stages faster.

1. Apply the 80/20 Rule

Most people waste time on things that don’t matter. The key to rapid learning is focusing on the few things that drive most of the results.

Example:

• Learning a new language? Don’t memorize 10,000 words—learn the 1,000 most common ones first.

• Learning an instrument? Focus on the most-used chords instead of random theory.

→ Identify the vital 20% of skills that produce 80% of the results.

Why it works: Your brain learns faster when it recognizes patterns. If you focus on the essentials first, you’ll grasp the bigger picture quicker.

2. Teach What You Learn

If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.

Teaching forces your brain to:

• Organize information more clearly.

• Identify gaps in your knowledge.

• Move ideas from short-term memory to long-term storage.

Try this:

• After learning something new, explain it to a friend (or even to yourself out loud).

• Write a short post about it.

• Record a quick voice note summarizing what you learned.

Why it works: The act of teaching deepens your understanding and solidifies memory.

3. Seek Feedback Early and Often

Most people learn too slowly because they make mistakes but never correct them. Feedback cuts your learning curve in half.

Example:

• A self-taught chess player might take years to improve by trial and error.

• A chess player who gets feedback from a coach will improve 10x faster.

→ Get a mentor, coach, or experienced peer to review your progress and point out corrections.

Why it works: Your brain processes mistakes faster when someone helps you see them clearly.

4. Shift Your Identity

Your self-image controls your learning speed.

If you say, "I’m trying to learn," your brain sees learning as an optional activity.
If you say, "I’m a fast learner," your brain starts acting accordingly.

Example:

• Instead of saying, "I'm trying to get better at coding," say, "I'm a programmer."

• Instead of "I'm trying to eat healthier," say, "I eat healthy food."

→ Your actions will start matching your new identity.

Why it works: The brain resists change unless it aligns with your self-image.

5. Embrace Discomfort (It’s a Sign of Growth)

Most people run away from frustration and discomfort. But that’s exactly where growth happens.

Feeling stuck? Good. That means your brain is working to build new neural pathways.

Example:

• When learning to type, your hands feel awkward at first.

• When learning a new skill, your brain resists at first.

But if you keep going, the discomfort fades—and the skill sticks.

→ Reframe discomfort as proof that you're learning.

Why it works: Growth happens outside your comfort zone. If you're too comfortable, you're not learning fast enough.

Your Action Plan (How to Apply This Today)

1. Pick one skill you want to learn.

2. Identify the vital 20% that gives you the most progress.

3. Teach what you learn to reinforce knowledge.

4. Find a mentor or feedback system to accelerate progress.

5. Reframe discomfort as a positive sign of learning.

The fastest learners aren’t naturally gifted—they just use better strategies.

Now it’s your turn: Which of these techniques will you apply today? Hit reply and let me know.

Last Word 👋

I love hearing from readers and I'm always looking for your feedback.

Hit reply, say hello, and let me know what you think of The 12 Habits of 2025.

I'd love to chat with you !

All my best,

~ Elevated Path