You may have a natural talent in some area but without practicing the skills involved you will not improve. For example you may be a talented volleyball player but over time without practice you will lose your edge. A person with no skills in volleyball may quickly become better than you just by putting in the extra practice, effort and determination. These skills form habits which make people successful no matter where they are in their lives.

You are constantly learning everyday and in every area of your life. Some days you learn faster and easier than others. Sometimes it takes you more time to catch on but you experience the thrill of learning. Other times you may find the subject matter boring and unpleasant. When you learn the effective habits of successful learners you increase the days when the learning is easier, faster and more enjoyable.

Habit #1 Think about your thinking habits

Why should we think about the way we think?

Doesn't everybody think the same?

Are some people just born smarter?

Do we all learn the same way?

Get in the habit of thinking about "your thinking." Successful learners think about the reasons behind their decisions, questions, opinions, ideas and values. They understand how their learning fits into their lives. They take the time to understand the type of learner they are and find ways to become even better learners.

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A strong learner recognizes that everyone learns in different ways and at different paces. They practice the habit of looking within themselves to build on their own strengths and weaknesses. They also use the learning process cycle. First they prepare themselves by planning for the learning. Next they have check-ups during the learning. Finally at the end they review their learning.

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Before Learning

Think about any learning experiences that are coming up in your life and ask yourself:

Why do I want to learn this?

Why do I need to learn this?

How does this fit into my long or short term goals?

What skills do I have that will help me?

Which skills will I need to get?

What is the best way I can learn this?

Answering these questions beforehand allows you to accept the learning as something positive in your life. This helps remove any barriers in your mind and improves your rate of success.

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During Learning

Think about something you are learning right now. During this learning phase you will need to do some check-ups. Regularly ask yourself the same questions above as well as the ones below:

How can I manage my time so that I can learn this at a comfortable pace?

How can I use any options and choices to my advantage?

How will I take advantage of opportunities to develop my skills further?

How can I make myself open to new ways of learning?

How can I focus on learning different ways to look at and solve problems?

How can I improve my reading, writing, speaking and listening skills?

How can I keep focused on the "big picture" rather than on every little detail?

How can I use the help and assistance offered?

How can I get my questions and concerns dealt with?

How can I keep up my interest and motivation?

How can I organize this information in the best way possible?

How can I use this learning in the different areas of my life?

Keeping these questions in mind will keep you motivated in your learning. They will keep your mind focused and open to all opportunities for growth. The new learning will also flow into other areas of your life strengthening your values, ideas and decisions.

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After Learning

Reviewing your learning is an opportunity to celebrate accomplishments and plan for future growth. Think of a learning experience that you have already accomplished and ask yourself the following questions.

How can I improve my learning based on this experience?

How have I grown and what skills have I developed from this?

What did I learn about myself as a learner?

What will I try differently next time?

How will this knowledge help me in my life right now?

How will I share and celebrate my accomplishment?

How can I use this knowledge to help others?

Using the learning process cycle is a habit used by successful learners. With practice you will use it automatically in new learning situations.

Habit #2 Think positive thoughts about yourself

Why are people so hard on themselves?

Why is it so easy to criticize others?

How come it seems hard to give compliments?

Why do negative comments have such a huge impact on us?

Is it bragging if we properly celebrate our accomplishments?

Get in the habit of having a positive attitude. Focus on the positive aspects of your life. When things get tough support and encourage yourself with positive messages. By frequently saying good things to yourself your confidence and self-esteem will grow under any conditions. This is one of the most important habits that successful people use. Do not underestimate this empowering habit. Practicing it everyday will remove the negative messages that really do prevent you from reaching your goals.

You can compare it to a bank account.
The more positives you can save up the easier it is to achieve your dreams.
If you are constantly spending your time in the negative you are limiting your full potential.

Of course it is not easy because breaking a bad habit takes motivation and commitment.
You need to take the time and energy to replace the old habit with the new habit.
Start giving yourself positives right now. Use the lists below as guides.
Begin by making a list of positive messages given to you from others in the past.

Add accomplishments that you are proud of.

Ask others to tell you what they like about you.

Whenever you begin to have negative thoughts or begin to criticize yourself look over these positive messages. Continue to add to them. Remember this works both ways. If you find yourself criticizing others try to find ways to be constructive rather than destructive. Keep in mind what you say can have a great effect on others now and in their future.

If you have any destructive comments that haunt you from your past deal with them in a realistic manner. For example if someone once called you irresponsible it may have created a permanent negative message in your mind. Get rid of it by focusing on how responsible you are now. Write out fifty different ways that you can be depended on.

Rephrase negative messages into positive ones. For example instead of saying, "I'll never be able to quit smoking," tell yourself, "I am slowly reaching my goal to quit smoking. Today I did really well by having one less smoke break."

Practice changing the messages below:

Habit #3 Always ask questions and ask for help

Do people think you are not smart when you ask questions?

Is it a sign of weakness if we ask for help?

Will we owe people if they help us out?

How do you feel when others come to you for help or assistance?

Do you expect people to know when you need help?

People all have unique experiences. They all have something to share or give. By asking questions you are given a shortcut to solving your problem. It is just like a game of snakes and ladders every time you ask a question or ask for help you go up the ladder. Every time you don't ask for help you set yourself back and get frustrated. Do not try and do everything by yourself. People enjoy helping and receiving assistance.

If you seem to have a phobia of asking questions start small. Ask little questions that you already know just to get comfortable with the person. When your comfort level increases you will be able to ask the questions you really want answers for. Just remember people can't read your mind. You will never know unless you ask. Teachers, tutors, coaches, secretaries, etc. are there to help and assist.

When you have questions it is also a good habit to ask information from a variety of people. Do not just ask the same people over and over. You will be pleasantly surprised to learn from different perspectives and life experiences. Their mixture of knowledge will help you make informed decisions.

Habit #4 Build healthy new habits to replace old ones

Are people born with good and bad habits?

Do you have bad habits that you would like to get rid of?

Do you want new habits that will help you reach your goals?

Do you think you will just wake up one day and bad habits appear?

Is it hard to keep good habits?

People know what they want and are enthusiastic to get it. This motivation is the energy or fuel needed to drive them to their goals. However if there is no place to put this fuel it quickly evaporates. By having effective habits you can properly store and channel this energy to experience progress. Once you can see that the habit is working it will be a lot easier to continue the habit.

Start by identifying a simple habit that you want to form (ex. I want to quit drinking coffee.)

Next make a list of all the valid reasons why you need this new habit. (ex. It is bad for my health, makes me irritable, give me bad breath, increases my cravings for junk food, gives me insomnia, etc.)

Then make it as easy on yourself as possible. (ex. I will replace the coffee with decaffeinated coffee or herbal teas.)

Give yourself a realistic timeline to practice this habit. (ex. The first week I will cut back to one coffee a day, the second week I will have one coffee every second day, by week three I will have a coffee twice a week, by week four I will have my last cup of coffee.)

Record your progress on a calendar. (ex. Put a check mark on each day that you successfully practiced your new habit.)

Jot down any setbacks you encounter along the way. This can help you identify what new habits you need to do next. Obstacles may include problems with time management, organization, self-esteem, techniques, skills, procrastination or stress. (Ex. My friend ordered coffee for me before I arrived. I ended up drinking it. I will skip my coffee tomorrow to make up for it. I also told my friend to help support my new habit.)

Give yourself rewards along the way to celebrate your success. (ex. I will reward myself after seven check marks by going out for lunch. After 28 checkmarks I will reward myself with an expensive supper.)

Enjoy the success from forming a new healthy habit and start on new habits. (ex. I did very good at quitting coffee by sticking to my plan. I will be successful at my new habit which is to have an exercise routine.)