Bypassing the frustration of slow-learning

Lately, I've been focusing some time on learning things I'm not really confident with (mostly design related skills) and I realised some bias I had because I'm usually a fast learner. If you're like me, perhaps this can help you relieve some frustration.

When I refer to fast-learner, I mean able to learn faster than most in a specific field. As an example, I've a very analytical brain so logical topics (mathematics, physics, computer science, piano) sticks really fast and they make sense to me: it's logical. In the contrary, visual topics such as art/design/ sticks slower as my brain needs more time to process them: they feel illogical.
🚩 You can be fast in multiple fields and it can give a lack of empathy for people struggling with things you think are easy. Be nice to others and try to always remember you're likely the slow one on a different topic! 🚩

1. Don't try hard 🧑‍🌾

Fast learner are tempted to try hard, and it's okay when knowledge sticks. But when it doesn't, it just provides incomplete knowledge and frustration.
It's far more efficient to review notions multiple times than trying to swallow everything at once.

Try harding is often a defensive mechanism of your brain to keep your fast-learner illusion alive. It creates the false impression that if you work harder and compress time, it would be similar than having the knowledge stick as fast as usual.
You'll soon realise unfortunately, than you're missing most of the subtleties, and you'll feel down and frustrated, leading to resignation like me saying:

I'm just not fit for design. - Axel VAINDAL

Wrong. You're just not giving your brain enough time to process the information. Let the knowledge be processed before swallowing more.
You would never expect to go to the gym, workout for a week 10hours a day, and get shredded. Why do you think it would be different for your brain? 😉

2. Read slowly 🔍

Fast learner has a tendency to read faster than most, and the brain is still able to process information.
When the topic is advanced/complex/unfit for you, slow your reading. It will help your brain assimilate content faster. Slow is fast 🐌

Reading fast is an habit you develop when you're familiar with most of the topics you read and when information connects easily.
It's a nasty habit when trying to learn things you're not familiar with as it leads to missing important piece of information your brain would have caught otherwise.
Try to think of it as if you were a child learning to read: it takes time for the child to recognise letters and words and being able to read them without having to decrypt. When you encounter topics you feel are unfit for you, it's likely you're trying to go too fast like the child reading words without understanding them.

3. (Really) Accept your weakness 👶

We often tell ourselves we are just not fit for some work, but the truth is, it's just denial that it takes longer to learn than what we are used to. There is no shame in learning slower than others, it's okay. Be nice and kind to yourself.

As previously said, you're a child trying to learn reading.
Would you mock a child trying to learn? No. (if you do, you're most likely evil 👿)
Encourage yourself like you would encourage a child learning, celebrate small accomplishments and take as much time as you need.

The beauty with learning, is that once assimilated, nobody can take it away, so you should enjoy the journey 😊.

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