Have You Ever Wished You Could Relearn a Skill or Subject with the Knowledge You Have Now?
In today’s rapidly evolving world, the ability to learn, unlearn, and relearn is no longer just a bonus—it’s essential. With industries constantly shifting, new technologies emerging at breakneck speed, and the demand for adaptable, lifelong learners on the rise, relearning is the key to staying relevant and thriving.
Whether you’re a student aiming to master a difficult subject, a professional seeking to stay ahead in your career, or a lifelong learner passionate about acquiring new skills, relearning can enhance your cognitive abilities, boost your career prospects, and keep you ahead of the curve in an ever-changing world. This blog post will delve into the science behind relearning, explore its benefits, and offer practical strategies to make this crucial skill part of your daily life.
Rewire Your Brain: The Science Behind Relearning
Neuroplasticity is at the heart of our ability to relearn. This remarkable feature of the brain allows it to form new neural connections throughout life, meaning our brains are far more adaptable than we often give them credit for.
Understanding Neuroplasticity: Neuroplasticity refers to the brain’s ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural pathways in response to learning, experience, or injury. This adaptability is what makes relearning not only possible but often easier than learning something entirely new. When you relearn, you’re not starting from scratch; you’re building on a foundation that already exists, even if that foundation might be rusty or overgrown.
Consider, for instance, the famous study of London taxi drivers conducted by researchers at University College London. This study found that as these drivers learned to navigate the city’s complex street layout, their hippocampi—the region of the brain associated with spatial memory—actually grew larger. This structural change in the brain underscores the power of neuroplasticity and how our brains can adapt in response to the demands we place on them. If navigating London’s labyrinthine streets can reshape the brain, imagine what targeted relearning can do for you.
The Practical Power of Neuroplasticity: Knowing that your brain is capable of such profound change can transform your approach to relearning. Whether it’s refreshing your knowledge of a foreign language, updating your skills in a professional field, or rekindling a forgotten hobby, this understanding should embolden you. The barriers we often place on our potential—thinking we’re “too old,” “too rusty,” or “not cut out for it”—begin to crumble when we realize that our brains are built to adapt.
Imagine you’re a mid-career professional looking to re-enter the workforce after a few years off. The industry you left behind has evolved significantly, and new tools and practices have emerged. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed, but armed with the knowledge of neuroplasticity, you know that your brain is up to the task. By approaching relearning systematically and with confidence, you can rewire your brain to meet the new demands of your industry.
Relearning in Action: Real-World Success Stories
Relearning isn’t just about refreshing your memory—it’s about revisiting what you’ve learned with a new perspective, which often leads to deeper understanding and better retention. This is especially true in today’s professional landscape, where the ability to relearn can be a significant competitive advantage.
The Benefits of Relearning: When you relearn a skill or subject, you engage with the material in a way that’s different from the first time around. You’re not just recalling facts; you’re synthesizing new information with existing knowledge, filling in gaps, and often uncovering deeper insights. This process can lead to more profound comprehension and long-term retention.
Take the example of a software developer who returns to programming languages they haven’t used in years. By relearning these languages, they not only refresh their memory but also incorporate new best practices, modern frameworks, and recent developments in the field. This makes their skillset more robust and versatile, giving them a significant edge in a fast-moving industry.
In another case, consider a healthcare professional who initially trained on now-outdated medical equipment or procedures. As new technology and methods emerged, this individual might have found themselves needing to relearn almost everything they thought they knew about patient care. However, by embracing the relearning process and understanding the updates and innovations in their field, they could not only improve their own practice but also provide significantly better outcomes for their patients. Relearning in this context isn’t just a professional benefit—it’s a matter of life and death.
Staying Current in Your Field: For professionals, relearning is crucial to staying relevant. Industries evolve, technologies advance, and what was cutting-edge knowledge five years ago might be outdated today. Relearning allows professionals to adapt, innovate, and maintain their expertise. Whether it’s attending workshops, taking online courses, or engaging in self-directed study, professionals who prioritize relearning are better equipped to navigate changes in their field and seize new opportunities.
Let’s look at the field of digital marketing. A decade ago, social media was in its infancy, and concepts like influencer marketing or TikTok strategies were nonexistent. A marketer who learned their trade in 2010 but hasn’t kept up with the changes would find themselves woefully out of date today. However, by committing to relearning the new tools, trends, and platforms, they can not only stay relevant but also lead the charge in innovative marketing strategies that leverage the latest technologies and trends.
Hack Your Brain: Top Strategies for Effective Relearning
While the idea of relearning might seem daunting, especially if it’s been a while since you last engaged with the material, certain strategies can make the process more efficient and effective. By leveraging proven learning techniques, you can turn relearning into a powerful tool for personal and professional growth.
Spaced Repetition: One of the most effective strategies for relearning is spaced repetition. This technique involves reviewing information at increasingly longer intervals, which helps reinforce memory and prevent forgetting. Instead of cramming information in a short period, spaced repetition allows you to solidify your knowledge over time, making it easier to recall when needed.
For example, if you’re relearning a foreign language, spaced repetition apps can help you review vocabulary and grammar rules at optimal intervals. This approach not only helps you regain fluency but also ensures that the information sticks with you long-term. Spaced repetition takes advantage of the brain’s natural tendency to forget information that isn’t frequently used. By spacing out your reviews, you’re essentially tricking your brain into thinking the information is still relevant, keeping it accessible for longer.
Active Recall: Another powerful strategy is active recall, which involves actively retrieving information from memory rather than passively reviewing it. Research has shown that actively recalling information strengthens your ability to remember it in the future. This technique can be applied to anything from studying for an exam to preparing for a presentation at work.
For instance, if you’re relearning a complex topic like calculus, instead of just re-reading your notes, try solving problems from memory. This forces your brain to work harder, which in turn improves your retention and understanding of the material. Active recall not only strengthens your memory but also deepens your understanding, as it encourages you to connect different pieces of information and apply them in a practical context.
Practical Application: Beyond just recalling information, applying what you’ve relearned in real-world scenarios is crucial. This could mean using your refreshed coding skills to work on a new project, or applying new marketing strategies to a live campaign. The more you use the information in a practical context, the more ingrained it becomes. This principle is grounded in the idea that learning by doing is one of the most effective ways to retain and understand new information.
Consider the case of a language learner who has been relearning a language they studied years ago. By using spaced repetition apps, they review vocabulary and grammar rules at optimal intervals. But the real breakthrough comes when they start having conversations with native speakers, forcing them to actively recall and apply what they’ve relearned. This practical application solidifies their knowledge and gives them the confidence to use the language in real-life situations.
Collaboration and Feedback: Another effective strategy for relearning is to involve others in your journey. Collaborative learning can provide new perspectives, and feedback from peers or mentors can highlight areas where you might need to focus more attention. This approach can be particularly beneficial in a professional setting where teamwork and collaboration are essential.
For instance, if you’re relearning leadership skills, consider joining a mastermind group or seeking out a mentor who can provide guidance and feedback. Engaging in discussions, sharing experiences, and receiving constructive criticism can accelerate your relearning process and help you avoid common pitfalls.
Breaking Barriers: Overcoming Relearning Roadblocks
Despite its many benefits, relearning is not without its challenges. Mental barriers such as fixed mindsets, fear of failure, and the illusion of knowing can make the process more difficult and less effective. Overcoming these obstacles is essential to unlock the full potential of relearning.
Recognizing Mental Barriers: One of the biggest challenges in relearning is overcoming the illusion of knowing—the false sense of confidence that you fully understand something when in fact your knowledge is superficial. This can be particularly problematic when revisiting familiar topics, where you might skim through material and assume you remember more than you actually do.
Fixed mindsets and fear of failure also pose significant challenges. A fixed mindset can make you believe that your abilities are static and that relearning is a waste of time. Meanwhile, fear of failure might prevent you from even attempting to relearn a skill, especially if you struggled with it in the past.
Overcoming the Illusion of Knowing: The illusion of knowing can be particularly insidious because it’s so easy to fall into. You might think you remember a topic well enough, only to find that when you try to apply it, the knowledge isn’t as solid as you believed. To overcome this, it’s important to test your understanding regularly. Self-quizzing, explaining the material to someone else, or applying the knowledge in a practical context are all effective ways to reveal gaps in your understanding.
For example, an engineer might feel confident they remember the principles of thermodynamics, but when asked to solve a complex problem, they realize their understanding is superficial. By actively testing their knowledge and filling in the gaps, they can overcome the illusion of knowing and truly master the material.
Shifting to a Growth Mindset: To combat these mental barriers, it’s important to adopt a growth mindset—believing that your abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work. This mindset encourages you to embrace challenges, persist in the face of setbacks, and see effort as a path to mastery.
Carol Dweck’s research on mindsets has shown that those with a growth mindset are more likely to take on challenges, persevere through difficulties, and ultimately achieve more. When it comes to relearning, a growth mindset allows you to view the process as an opportunity to improve rather than as a chore or a sign of inadequacy.
Overcoming Fear of Failure: Overcoming the fear of failure is another crucial step in the relearning process. Approaching relearning with curiosity rather than apprehension can make a significant difference. When you view challenges as opportunities to grow, rather than as obstacles to avoid, you’re more likely to persevere and succeed.
Take the example of an experienced manager who needs to relearn leadership skills to adapt to a remote work environment. Initially, they might resist, feeling that their established methods should still work. But as they begin to see the benefits of adopting new strategies, their fear of failure diminishes, and they start to embrace the relearning process. This shift in mindset allows them to become more effective leaders in the new context.
Embracing Failure as a Learning Opportunity: It’s also essential to reframe failure as a natural part of the learning process. Every mistake or setback is an opportunity to learn something new and refine your approach. By viewing failure in this light, you reduce the emotional burden it carries and open yourself up to more creative and effective ways of relearning.
For instance, an artist relearning a particular technique might struggle initially, producing work that falls short of their expectations. However, by analyzing what went wrong and making adjustments, they can improve their technique and ultimately create work that exceeds their original goals.
Conclusion: The Power of Relearning in Your Life
Relearning is a powerful skill supported by the brain’s natural ability to adapt and grow. By revisiting and deepening your understanding of previously learned skills or knowledge, you can unlock new levels of comprehension, adaptability, and success in your personal and professional life.
Whether it’s staying competitive in your career, mastering a new hobby, or excelling in your studies, the benefits of relearning are immense. The key is to apply effective strategies like spaced repetition, active recall, and practical application while overcoming the mental barriers that can hold you back.
Next Steps: Start by identifying a skill or subject you’d like to relearn. Commit to spending just 15 minutes a day for the next week revisiting this topic using the strategies discussed in this post. You might be surprised at how quickly your understanding deepens and your confidence grows.
Relearning isn’t just about brushing up on old knowledge—it’s about evolving, growing, and staying sharp in a world that never stops changing. So why wait? Begin your relearning journey today and unlock the full potential of your brain.
Reference List
- Maguire, E. A., et al. (2000). “Navigation-related structural change in the hippocampi of taxi drivers.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 97(8), 4398-4403.
- Bjork, R. A., & Bjork, E. L. (1992). “A new theory of disuse and an old theory of stimulus fluctuation.” From learning processes to cognitive processes: Essays in honor of William K. Estes, 2, 35-67.
- Karpicke, J. D., & Roediger, H. L. (2008). “The critical importance of retrieval for learning.” Science, 319(5865), 966-968.
- Dweck, C. S. (2006). Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. Random House.
- Oakley, B. (2014). A Mind for Numbers: How to Excel at Math and Science (Even If You Flunked Algebra). TarcherPerigee.
