The Lost Art of Learning: Why Effort Makes It More Fulfilling
Learning for the Sake of Learning
Something that almost all of us have lost is the child-like wonder of learning for the sake of learning—without any immediate use for it. Most people only learn something when there is a practical, immediate need, like securing a job. This is where things start to change, especially after school. Once people leave formal education, they often stop learning, which is amusing when you consider that the majority of people have not picked up a book since their school days. Why does this happen?
In the past, when you look at experts in their respective fields, you will find that a significant percentage of them dedicated themselves to mastering a single topic, studying every aspect of this to its absolute limits. Many of these individuals went on to create groundbreaking ideas that are still widely followed today. Even after formal schooling, they continued to deepen their knowledge for the sheer love of learning.
Now, I’m not suggesting that this type of deep, dedicated learning is entirely absent today, nor that breakthroughs are not still being made. However, it has become less common in a world where quick solutions and immediate applications often take precedence over the pursuit of mastery.
In contrast, today’s fast-paced world has transformed learning into something more transactional: we trade our attention for quick lessons, gaining just enough knowledge to apply it immediately in practical ways, such as acquiring a job.
For me, I’ve recently been delving into learning psychology for fun. I don’t have a real-world need for it, apart from personal curiosity, but the process is incredibly rewarding. I would argue that true learning is about the process and the journey, not just the end result. When we embrace learning purely for the joy of discovery, we rekindle that child-like curiosity that has been lost in the race for practical knowledge.
Instant Access vs. Effortful Learning
In today’s world, learning has become easier than ever. Gone are the days when you needed to go to a library to research or be taught a subject. With the rise of the internet, information is at our fingertips. Tools like Google, Wikipedia, and AI chatbots allow us to access virtually any information instantly. You would have thought with all of this convenience, learning would be faster and more satisfying.
Research shows that the constant availability of bite-sized information can hinder our ability to engage deeply with topics, leading to a fragmented understanding that lacks the depth necessary for true mastery. This is known as "cognitive overload", where too much instant information leads to indecision and surface-level engagement.
But here's the thing: Is it really learning? It feels too easy, doesn’t it? There is no reward in the process, no moment of triumph when a concept finally clicks after much struggle. Without the sweat, tears, and frustration that comes with working through a challenge, learning loses its excitement. It becomes rote and mechanical, devoid of the sense of accomplishment that comes from deep engagement.
The Gratification of Struggle
The struggle of learning is something everyone faces at some point. We have all struggled to grasp a topic or complete a task. For me, recently, I bought a axis cube "https://rubiks.fandom.com/wiki/Axis_Cube", which is a harder version of a Rubik’s cube. I spent a couple of months working on it, and when I finally solved it, I experienced a euphoric high, a feeling of accomplishment that many people would pay for, but the majority of people don’t get that sense of fulfillment today; Why? Because it is so easy to just watch a tutorial or read the answer online instead of working through the problem yourself.
That feeling of achievement does not come from simply finding the answer quickly. It comes from persevering through the struggle, learning through trial and error, and eventually mastering the challenge on your own.
Surface Level Learning
We touched briefly on the concept of surface-level learning earlier, and now it is time to break it down further. Surface-level learning is what most people rely on today. It is the easy route, where you gather just enough information to get by without truly understanding the topic.
Surface-level learning is rampant in today’s world because of the rise of ‘quick fixes.’ We skim articles, watch short-form videos, or listen to podcasts without deeply engaging with the material. This ‘information-snacking’ prevents us from developing true expertise or comprehension, ultimately limiting our ability to connect the dots and apply knowledge effectively.
Now, I’m not entirely against surface-level learning. There are times when you do not need to know everything about a subject to enjoy it. For example, you do not need to know the entire history of the table tennis ball to play table tennis or the 'ins and outs' of filmmaking to enjoy watching a movie. However, the problem arises when we rely on surface-level learning as the default method, without diving deeper into topics that pique our curiosity or help us grow intellectually.
Overcoming Resistance to Learning
Fear of Failure
Learning something new, like a foreign language, can be paralyzing because of the fear of making mistakes. You might avoid speaking the language because you are afraid of mispronouncing words. But overcoming this fear and practicing anyway leads to improvement. This mirrors how, in programming, you have to make mistakes in order to understand and fix errors. Mistakes are just part of the process.
In fact, failure itself can be a powerful teacher. Just like Thomas Edison, who famously failed hundreds of times before inventing the light bulb, every mistake brings us closer to mastery. Instead of fearing failure, we should embrace it as part of the journey toward success.
Fitness/Exercise: Mental Resilience and Growth
The process of learning something difficult requires mental resilience, and this is where physical challenges, like training for a marathon or completing something like 75 Hard, provide valuable insights. Training for a marathon, for example, is a slow and often painful process. But as you push through the exhaustion, you gradually build strength, endurance, and mental toughness. The same is true for learning challenging concepts—whether in school, work, or a personal project. The initial struggle can be overwhelming, but as you persist, you gain the resilience needed to face more complex problems and ultimately succeed.
75 Hard, a fitness and mental toughness challenge, requires participants to follow a strict regime, eating a restricted diet, working out for an hour and a half each day and reading daily. Though it sounds incredibly intense, many who have completed this describe it as one of the most rewarding experiences of their lives, demonstrating that pushing through difficulty leads to growth, both mentally and physically.
The concept of mental endurance applies directly to learning—just like physical training. The discipline needed to tackle difficult projects or grasp tough concepts leads to growth. It is not about the immediate outcome more about the effort and persistence that pays off in the long run.
Lack of Motivation
You might struggle with motivation when studying for a difficult exam or learning a challenging concept. A simple yet effective technique to overcome this is to break the task into smaller, manageable chunks. For instance, when tackling a programming project, focus on one function or module at a time, rather than the entire project. By celebrating small milestones along the way, you can keep your motivation high, and each step feels like a more achievable victory.
A couple of other techniques have worked wonders for me as well. One is using an egg timer. Write down one task that needs to be done and race against the clock to complete it within a set time limit. This approach taps into the natural desire to win the challenge, while also boosting focus and productivity.
In today’s world, where our attention span is constantly under attack by distractions, it is becoming more important than ever to find ways to focus. Recent studies indicate that the average human attention span has decreased significantly over the years. A 2024 study found that the typical adult in Britain has an average attention span of just 17 minutes and 10 seconds (thesun.ie). Additionally, research from 2023 highlights that the average attention span on a screen has decreased from 2.5 minutes to just 47 seconds over the past two decades (brainmindsociety.org).
If this trend continues, it is not hard to imagine a future where goldfish, with their average attention span of 9 seconds, might actually have a better focus than humans. This projection shows just how drastically attention spans are shrinking in our digital, distraction-filled world. Goldfish 1 - Humans 0
By using techniques like the "egg timer" and breaking tasks down into manageable pieces, you are not only improving focus but also training your mind to be more resilient in an age of constant distractions.
Distractions
With the rise of instant gratification—through social media, games, or quick online browsing—it's easy to get distracted and avoid difficult tasks. Combatting distractions requires setting clear boundaries and creating dedicated spaces for focused learning. For example, when practicing a difficult piano piece, turning off distractions for a set amount of time helps you immerse in the material. Similarly, eliminating distractions while coding helps you focus on solving the problem at hand.
Start Learning for the Joy of It
Pick a subject you have always wanted to learn, but never did, simply for the joy of learning. This could be a new language, a musical instrument or even a creative skill like drawing. The goal is to embrace the process without focusing on the end result. This act of learning for pure enjoyment will rekindle that lost sense of wonder and deepen your appreciation for the challenges of study. Let me know in the comments as It is a great way to find your experiences and a great place to keep each other accountable.
Embrace the Effort
In addition to learning for the joy of it take a topic which is hard. For me i am currently learning Chopins 1st ballade, a monumental task for any professional let alone an amateur but I will get into that in another post. Choose something challenging and dedicate yourself to it. Whether it’s learning to play a song on an instrument, tackling a difficult concept in coding or understanding a complex theory. Focus on the effort and experience of learning, not just the outcome. The process is where the true reward lies!
Reflect on Progress
Take time each week to reflect on your progress, no matter how small. Whether it’s playing a more difficult piece on the piano or fixing a tough bug in code, acknowledging your progress keeps you motivated. The journey of learning is just as important as the destination, and celebrating your small victories along the way helps maintain momentum. This is a great thing for a dedicated journal. Just write down each day what you have done, the good and the bad, what you are struggling with and within a couple of weeks you can look back at all the progress you have made.
True learning is not about easy solutions but about immersing yourself in a topic, struggling and eventually mastering it. Learning for its own sake should be about growth, mastery and the journey, not just the outcome.
Thank you for your time! Share this with anyone who’d find it interesting, and make sure to stay tuned for more valuable insights.
I’m curious—what fun subjects are you diving into lately?