How to Learn Anything Fast: Teach Your Brain to Focus

As part of my lifelong battle with focus, I spend a bit too much time trying to find lesser-known or spoken about ways to increase my ability to be able to do what I want to. I particularly love finding out that I’m already doing something unconsciously to help myself focus, and realising how and why it helps, so I can then do it more intentionally and better - these are the life changes I adore making. Here are my top recent tips on how to focus better, learn better (and faster) and ultimately enjoy life and studying more. Comments and suggestions always welcome! Hope it helps xx

To make your life easier:
0:00 Intro
1:00 The neuroscience (& solution) to boredom
3:40 Machine Learning, predictions & surprise
7:59 A new type of attention

If you want to stay in touch:

Or leave a comment, I (try to) answer 100% of comments :)

[svahora]

1. Low rewards will decrease dopamine, instead of asking "how is this interesting or why should I care?", remind yourself to seek the novelty to increase dopamine and focus. Ask yourself, "how is this different to what I currently know?", and "how is this new?".
2. Predict what is going to come next and come up with conclusions. Continuously do this because if you're consecutively right or wrong about your assumptions, the surprise will increase your focus. (Babies focus more with magnetic building blocks, only after they understand how non-magnetic blocks work. This is how ML and AI works with predictions.)
3. Generate intrigue by reminding yourself about the questions that you have about the topic that have not been answered yet.

[dawnl]

It always feels to me as though Elizabeth is just highlighting the ways that neurodiverse brains naturally excel, but often have trauma from being forced to learn things in a linear boring way and being criticised for appearing "scatter-brained". It's extremely validating to see her present them as techniques that can develop a neurotypical brain further with practise too. It feels like a hegemonic shift much due.

[Theaterofthoughts]

The recent uploads are way more easier to understand than the first ones. I feel this is because she is speaking slower than before and that means she is getting more confident in her videos. Great content as always please keep progressing!

[Ari_diwan]

Her thumbnail is better than movie posters 🙌

[toni]

My biggest problem with learning is how my brain gets overwhelmed with all the stimulation, processing, information. I technically know different ways to learn more information in a shorter amount of time, but it also tends to overstimulate me more, and make me more exhausted, and for longer. At this point I am actually interested in learning SLOWER so that I can still learn things while not overstimulating myself and burning out.

[adultscienceofmind]

I have ADHD, and my biggest problem is Focus. I always feel overwhelmed with my chaotic to-do list. Thank you for your sharing. I hope you will make video to help ADHDers.

[ToddErnst]

I am getting to be an old dude (55) but I'm still going to work on a master's degree in clinical mental therapy. I have about 1 year to go, but I've noticed my attention/focus slipping. So much of what you are saying resonates with how I'm studying. I have a week long intensive coming up and I think I'll have new tools to work with. Thank you for doing so much to help others grasp what they're learning, and in a way that grabs the viewer's attention. God bless you in your 80k hours.

[candiceseretin]

I am so happy to have watched your video within the first hour of it being uploaded. I love your thumbnail for this video, I also love the animations that you have added into your video. Generally I absolutely love your videos. I also enjoy your videos on books that you have read. I have learnt a lot from you. Thank you so much and keep it going.

[keltyfirebloom]

I’m going to check out 80, 000 hours! Thank you Elizabeth for this video and the rest. The biggest way that you are helping me is by thinking differently about things I’ve always had a fixed way of thinking about. 🙏🏼

[restfulstillness]

Okay, I watched the whole video, and I agree that novelty, surprise, and intrigue can increase focus by activating curiosity, but I do want to state that after the discussion on the virtues of attention, it's odd that there was no mention of using different meditation, breathing, mindfulness, visualization, or relaxation techniques to train the mind to remain at ease and focused at all times. I liked that the video covered how to implement the approaches listed as a continuous practice, but a lot of the advice is highly analytical and suitable mainly for those who already engage in deep introspection, either consciously or unconsciously. Simpler methods are available for people at all stages. These would synergistically boost the effects of the approaches presented.

[whitewalker]

You're a doctor. You're a painter. You teach math.You're a speed reader. A great Youtuber. What else can you do?

[estherlouisefreire]

I was just telling my sister yesterday about how I feel like your brain works the same way as mine. I have a few productivity youtubers that I watch, but I feel like you're the one that thinks more like me so your take on things is always so helpful! Would you consider doing a video about waking up early and being consistent with that? As a night owl I always struggle so much with that!

[julilly]

It makes me so happy to see when you just uploaded a new video. I learn a lot from you, thank you so much for everything you do. You're absolutely awesome in so many ways, and you play a very inspiring role in my life!! Sending you a lot of love.
Just fun fact story, the first time I heard you, I thought the playback speed was accelerated, but nope lol. Now I got used to, and I love the speed. I almost get frustrated over other channels when they speak slow, or comparatively slower than you, which represents most of them, if not all ahah

[InPursuitOfCuriosity]

Great video. Not only are there hilarious edits, but there is plenty of useful information to be gained as well. Besides picking the topic that aligns with your interests, I think Intrigue is the most potent way to focus on a subject. Asking questions like "what questions do I have in response to hearing this information?" or "What implications does this information have for my life or the lives of others?" are helpful.

[ObeZoneX]

“Making the right choices in life as much as you can” is a principle for success. Many people don’t take the time to consider the potential consequences of a chosen path. The gift we have is the ability to see and learn from others experiences without having to suffer the folly of their bad choice. Great job Elizabeth, I too have learned something. Thanks for the tips you’ve shared on how to focus. A mind prepared to learn will always be aroused by the aroma of knowledge. How to make people awake from a state of slumber is the key to a door of unlimited subscribes. The mind is a powerful tool. 👍🏻

[mqkbipb]

English is not my native language, so it's a little bit difficult for me to focus on a new information like this (neuroscience is completely new to me😄) but while I was watching the video, I was trying to use the techniques Elizabeth talked about. And it's INSANE! Feels like a whole new world has just opened to me. I absolutely adore you, Elizabeth, and thank you for everything that you do!)🥰

[ylanda]

great timing!! i just graduated highschool and have to wait until oct to enter uni, so right now i sm just trying to entertain myself and self-study on my own. lack of focus has been quite the obstacle, so thank you loads for this video <3

[TheCreatorsAttorney]

I love you so much!! I finally started my creator law firm protecting creators. I will always be so grateful to you for helping me start my channel. I think I’m going to be featured in the Colin and Samir newsletter speaking about the SAG strike. It’s being finalized now so I hope you are subscribed and will see it. Know that you were the best part of Ali Abdaal’s course. I was so lucky to have you when you still had time. You’re brilliant and know you’re an inspiration to all women creators. ❤❤❤❤

[malcolmgreene]

Love this; seek the new, different, surprise, draw conclusions, be intrigued, and discerning. Above all enjoy what you do. This is help one focus!

[TheMatschkind]

Always drawing conclusions and predicting what will happen next in a lesson is what I always did naturally. It explains why it was often times enough for me to sit in the lecture and pay attention to pass an exam, no need to spend much time 'sitting down and learn'. 
Now I just need to figure out how to do it with my thesis writing. The pace it much slower than in a lecture, so it's hard to keep focus, and everything is so open that I am not immediately proven right or wrong, rather I get sucked down a rabbit hole that does not help with my progress.