Forget To-do Lists. What About To-learn Lists?

We all have to-do lists. But what about a to-learn list?

A to-learn list is a way to keep track of everything you want to learn.

The beauty of a to-learn list is that it opens up space for learning in your busy schedule. Whether it has 1 or 100 items, a to-learn list is a way of organizing things you don’t know (but would like to learn) and giving yourself a roadmap to follow.

How to make a to-learn list

Step 1: List all the things that you’d like to learn

Sit down and brainstorm a list of things you’d like to learn. Don’t limit yourself at this stage; list everything that comes to mind, whether small or large.

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

1. New skills: Learning a new skill can be challenging and rewarding. It can also open up new opportunities and help you advance your career. Coding, playing an instrument, and cooking are just a few skills you might want to learn.

2. Academic subjects: Whether interested in history, science, or art, learning about a new subject can be fascinating and enlightening. What subjects are you embarrassingly ignorant in? What topics have you always wanted to know more about?

3. Personal development: From public speaking to meditation, there are many areas of personal development that can improve your life. Why not commit to learning more about one of them?

4. Fun and hobbies: Learning should be enjoyable! What hobbies would you like to take up? What new things would you like to try?

5. Diplomas and certifications: If you’re looking to boost your resume or make a career change, getting certified in your field can be a great way to do it. See which certifications might be beneficial for you and add them to your list.

6. How to do things: From changing a tire to parallel parking, there are many things that we should know how to do but don’t and, at this point, are too embarrassed to ask. These are exactly the sort of things that should go on your to-learn list.

7. New languages: Learning a new language can be a great way to connect with people from other cultures and open up new travel opportunities.

8. Fitness: Can’t do pull-ups? Want to learn how to run a 5K? Adding some fitness goals to your to-learn list can help you get in shape and improve your health.

   
   

Pro tips:

• Add as many different types of to-learn things to your list as possible. This will help you diversify your learning and ensure that you’re always learning something new, even when you don’t feel like doing anything.
• Learning doesn’t have to be limited to things you know nothing about. You can always learn more about what you’re already proficient in. Just because you’re an expert in your field doesn’t mean you know everything there is to know.
• I also recommend setting some goals for what you want to achieve with each item on your list. That way, you can measure your progress and feel a sense of accomplishment as you check things off.

Step 2: Prioritize

Now look at your list and prioritize one to three items based on how much time you think you’ll need to learn them, how difficult they’ll be, how interested you are in them, and how useful to your goals they will be.

You can also ask yourself if there are any items on your list that you can break down into smaller, more manageable pieces. For example, if you want to learn how to code, you can break that down into smaller steps, like learning front-end development, back-end development, or specific coding languages.

Step 3: Create a rough learning curriculum

Once you have your shortlist, create a high-level curriculum for each item.

The goal of this is to figure out the component pieces of what you want to learn and make a plan for how you’ll tackle them. No need to go too detailed here; just map out the main milestones.

Creating a curriculum is a great exercise since you must research what learning this particular to-learn item entails. You break it down in a way that makes learning easier while at the same time getting the big picture.

For example, if you want to learn front-end programming, your curriculum might look something like this:

• [ ]Learn the basics of HTML
• [ ]Learn CSS
• [ ]Learn about responsive design
• [ ]Build a basic website
• [ ]Build a more advanced website

If your goal is to learn fiction writing, your curriculum might look something like this:

• [ ]Make a list of books to read (Classic novels, books on writing craft)
• [ ]Read something from the list every day
• [ ]Write
• [ ]Understand different sub-genres of science fiction
• [ ]Plotting and structure
• [ ]Character development
• [ ]Dialogue
• [ ]Worldbuilding
• [ ]Editing and revision
• [ ]Publishing
• [ ]How to submit short stories to magazines

Pro tips:

• Your curriculum doesn’t have to be perfect. This is your starting point that will change as you learn more about the subject. The important thing is to get started.
• Don’t forget to factor in time for review and practice.
• You’ll also want to build some flexibility into your plan in case you get sidetracked or need to take a break.

Step 4: Find materials and resources

Now that you have a plan, it’s time to find the resources you’ll need to learn. Google is your friend. Here are some tips to get you started:

• Look for free lessons on YouTube
• Take an online course — for example, on Coursera, Skillshare, or Udemy
• Figure out what certifications or licenses you can get (e.g., CCNA for networking, CEH for hacking, Standard language proficiency certificates) and find resources that help you prepare for the exams
• Read blogs and articles on topics that interest you
• Listen to podcasts about subjects you want to learn more about
• Research DIY projects that can help you learn a new skill Find a mentor Join an online community

  
  

Pro tip:

• Use multiple resources that explain the same concept in different ways. That way, you can find the explanation that makes the most sense to you and helps you learn the material more effectively.
• Don’t feel like you have to do it alone — connect with other learners, join groups and communities, reach out to mentors, or find a study buddy or group

  
  

Step 5: Start learning!

Set aside time each day or each week to work on your to-learn list.

A common advice is to block-out learning time in your calendar each day to tackle one of your to-learn items. But learning can also be done in smaller snippets, like while you’re waiting in line or taking a break from work.

Personally, I am not a fan of rigid routines, so I stick to the rule of learning something, anything, from my to-learn list every day. It doesn’t matter what that is: it can be as little as memorizing a single new word in Spanish or as much as a 4-hour session in the CCNA course. Or I might just read a few pages from one of the classic literature books I have never read (currently reading Oliver Twist for the first time, embarrassing, I know).

The important thing is that I am making progress, however small, every day. And over time, those small steps will add up to big results.

• My results so far for 2022:
• Read 51 books and counting
• From zero to conversational Serbian
• From zero to basic Spanish
• Passed two courses toward an MBA degree
• Preparing for the CCNA exam

  
  

Pro tip:

1. Don’t set rigid goals and deadlines. Instead, focus on learning something from your list daily and being consistent with your effort.
2. If you miss a day (or two or three), don’t beat yourself up. Just pick up where you left off and keep going. Learning never ends

   
   

If you do things right, you won’t ever check everything off your list! And that’s exactly the point.

Do you have a to-learn list? What’s on it? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below.

Happy learning!

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