Fell in Love with Learning: A Personal Journey of Motivation, Mindset, and Growth
Unlocking new ways to learn and grow with purpose and practical strategies
Abstract
In this post, I explore my personal journey toward a deeper appreciation for learning, shaped by motivation and effective methods rather than obligation. I discuss the role of neuroplasticity in learning, sharing how the brain’s ability to strengthen, prune, and regenerate neural connections has influenced my adaptability and memory retention over time. I emphasize the importance of quality sleep, stress management, and engaging deeply with topics of personal interest as key factors in optimizing my learning outcomes. I also share practical strategies that have worked for me, including structured routines, focused environments, and techniques like note-taking, self-testing, and teaching others, which have helped me reinforce knowledge and improve cognitive performance.
Learning is a skill, you need to workout on it!
Introduction
Let’s start with the premise that I didn’t enjoy studying when I was in school. I wasn’t a bookworm, and I found it difficult to engage with subjects I didn’t like. I only began to appreciate studying with certain subjects in high school and later at university. But my real love for learning only arrived when I was no longer obligated to study, especially when I started exploring and studying topics that genuinely interested me. Why? Do we get better with age? Actually, the brain is far better at learning and storing information when we’re much younger; it should require much less effort then. The main point is that there are generally two things missing in youth that are acquired over time: motivation and study method. For some, getting good grades is enough motivation even in school, while for others, a true life purpose and an effective study method are necessary. Studying is demanding, and as we’ll see in the discussion, it’s right that it is.
In essence, studying and learning is a skill that develops—it’s not something we’re born with. It requires practice. But we often forget what we’ve read and studied. For example, I can hardly remember anything from the advanced electronics I studied during my master’s in engineering. So why study if we eventually forget it?
Discussion
The learning process relates to neuroplasticity, or the ability of our nervous system to change and adapt according to experiences. In simple terms, the brain is made up of neurons connected by synapses. Neuroplasticity is linked to the brain’s capacity to do three things well:
Strengthen synapses, or the bonds between neurons
Weaken or eliminate connections
Create or replace new neurons
The first point is widely understood—learning means creating connections between neurons. The second is less obvious: why would we weaken connections that took effort to build? Because the brain is in constant optimization mode; weakening one connection allows others to strengthen, enhancing memory and learning of currently relevant information.
The third point relates to the brain’s capacity to expand and regenerate. This process is healthy for everyone and is essential for maintaining brain health. Unfortunately, it becomes a problem in conditions like Alzheimer’s, where neuron death accelerates faster than neuron generation.
How to Improve Your Learning Ability
The number one strategy—and paradoxically the first thing to do—has nothing to do with your ability to focus on studying: it’s sleep quality. If you want to study effectively, you need to have slept well the night before. Quality sleep is crucial for learning and performance. During sleep, the brain consolidates memories, making it easier to retain and integrate new information. This enhances problem-solving skills and helps apply what has been learned. Sleep deprivation, on the other hand, adversely affects cognitive functions like attention, memory, and executive function, diminishing focus and learning capacity. Even slight sleep loss impairs these processes, leading to decreased performance.
Many of us have experienced going to bed unable to remember something, only to wake up with the answer clear in our minds. Sleep works wonders. In my experience, it’s not just about the hours but also about consistency in going to bed and waking up at roughly the same time. Sure, if you sleep only 4 hours, it’s unlikely to be restful, but if, instead of the usual 8, you sleep 6 or 7 with excellent quality—thanks to a regular sleep schedule—then you’ll achieve great results.
Lower stress levels also improve focus. Meditation works exceptionally well for enhancing concentration. Just ten minutes a day (there are many guided sessions on YouTube, Headspace, or Apple Fitness+). Meditation works because it trains your nervous system to focus, similar to how you train your arm muscles in the gym. It’s challenging, especially at first, but the benefits are significant and ongoing.
Another factor that significantly improves study and learning speed is enthusiasm for what you’re reading. Even people with ADHD can focus very well on topics that are highly meaningful to them. This is often referred to as hyperfocus, something most of us have experienced.
Hyperfocus occurs because your brain’s reward pathways are more strongly activated by things you find genuinely interesting or important. Essentially, the brain releases more dopamine—a neurotransmitter linked to motivation and reward—when you’re deeply engaged in something you care about. For people with ADHD, dopamine levels are typically lower, which makes focusing on less immediately rewarding tasks harder. But when a task aligns with your interests, your brain compensates by shifting into a high-focus mode.
So, if a topic is important to you, your brain is likely extra-motivated to engage, allowing you to achieve a focus level that might not otherwise be as accessible. This characteristic can become a strength when applied strategically.
How to Structure Your Ideal Study Routine
There’s no doubt that continuous learning and knowledge improvement are fundamental for growth and better performance at work. It allows us to gain new perspectives and continuously trains the brain, improving its performance.
As with sleep and physical exercise, setting a regular study schedule is very effective for the brain. Planning a daily study session at the same time each day helps your brain prepare and train for the effort.
Yes, studying is challenging, and rightly so because creating neural pathways in the brain requires energy. Learning isn’t a process of effortless flow; it demands effort.
“Effort is the cornerstone of learning.” - Huberman
What I’ve found particularly helpful is establishing study-related routines, like drinking a coffee before studying or always studying in a specific café. These habits help create a calm environment and prepare the brain to focus. The number one enemy of studying is distraction: emails, social media, Netflix… I exclude YouTube and podcasts because they can be helpful study tools if you can dedicate the right focus to them. Over the years, I’ve found that running 15 km while listening to a podcast is enjoyable, but it’s not an effective learning method because you’re in a flow state and not fully dedicating your energy to learning. I’ve found it more productive to listen to good music, which has a performance-boosting effect.
How to Improve Your Ability to Remember What You’ve Studied
First, accept that it’s impossible to remember everything you’ve studied over the years. The brain selects what to remember based on its current purpose and utility. But remember, studying was not in vain; it helped build a mindset conducive to learning new things essential for growth.
It’s tough to accept, but I remember very little of what I studied in Electronic Engineering because, over the years, I’ve focused more on data and credit risk than on chips. So what was the point? I’m much faster than others at understanding certain technical topics.
In any case, to improve memory retention, the most effective methods I’ve found are:
Notes - I take notes, whether directly on the book or slides or on paper (for podcasts, videos, etc.). I use Apple Notes for this.
Self-testing - After studying, I write three or four questions and try to answer them based on what I’ve learned. It’s surprising how often I can’t answer, even though I just studied! This is normal and is part of consolidating neural circuits.
Teach/Write - Try to explain or teach what you’ve learned to someone else. This has been the most effective method for me. Writing clarifies thinking and deepens understanding because it forces us to articulate our thoughts clearly, identify logic gaps, and engage in structured reflection and analysis.
Conclusion
In reflecting on my journey with learning, I’ve come to see that true growth comes not from mere obligation but from the alignment of motivation, strategy, and interest. By embracing techniques like quality sleep, structured routines, and self-testing, I’ve found that learning becomes more impactful and sustainable. While neuroplasticity provides the biological foundation, it’s our conscious choices—how we approach, engage with, and internalize knowledge—that ultimately shape our ability to learn and adapt. In the end, learning is less about retaining every detail and more about building a mindset that allows us to continuously grow, adapt, and navigate new challenges with confidence.
References
(1) The End of Alzheimer’s: The First Program to Prevent and Reverse Cognitive Decline of Dele Bredesen
(2) Optimal Protocol for Studying and Learning - Huberman Lab Podcast
(3) Study habits of high effective medical students Department of Medical Education, College of Medicine, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia