Aurelija Ganusauskaite: Navigating What Counts in Learning

Learning can be a multilayered topic, or it can be as simple as eating with your non-dominant hand once a day. Nonetheless, it’s what I’m passionate about and what I believe helps people live more impactful lives.

I’ve been a lecturer for 13 years now and have taken on the role of Learning and Development Manager at Kilo Health. You could say I’ve had plenty of time to gather insights into the topic of learning, and you can never stop talking and analyzing it from every angle. However, this time, I want to share some simple steps that you can implement into your life, focusing on motivation, concentration, and the ability to say “no”.

So, shall we embark on this journey together?

Win the focus game

If someone were to ask me for strategies to improve concentration and make the learning process more effective, I would advise against seeking quick fixes. Concentration is a skill that must be developed gradually, and it involves building good habits and addressing specific challenges.

First, eliminate multitasking. Instead of trying to juggle a hundred things at once, channel your complete focus into the task at hand. You’ll be amazed by how much better that one task looks after you’ve had your complete focus on it. 

Establish a daily habit of dedicating time to your goals, such as reading a book for 10 minutes, and progressively increase the duration each day.

Next, kick distractions to the curb. This means resisting the temptation to constantly check your email and phone.

Time management is a key part of effective learning, but it’s not about making an overwhelming to-do list. It’s also a habit to cultivate. Start by setting clear daily goals instead of just going with the flow. Ask yourself, ‘What’s the most important thing I need to do tomorrow?’

Prioritize your tasks and kickstart your day by tackling those priorities. And, of course, take a moment to reflect on how it all went.

Say NO

You’ve probably heard this many times, but just say NO. Saying yes may give you more opportunities and take you on adventures, but it can lead to a decrease in the quality of your work.

Avoid trying to do everything. Concentrate on the most crucial tasks, even if they aren’t the most enjoyable. Prioritize what’s most important.

Furthermore, I recommend paying attention to your energy levels, as this ties in with the ability to say no. Say no and find time for yourself in your workday. This could be time for a walk, for a coffee, or a nap.

Also, don’t turn down vacations. It’s quite sad to see people not taking their vacation days throughout the year. Taking vacations is an important part of boosting your ability to focus, be productive, and work effectively.

Just as the world needs its seasons of rest and rejuvenation, so do we. Nature’s cycles remind us that taking a break is essential for growth and renewal.

Sometimes, the problem in your life isn’t that you don’t manage to do something. Rather, it’s that you are all over the place and don’t know what you want, where you are going, and what you should be doing to reach your goals.

Seize motivation by the horns

What about the ongoing debate about motivation?

The interesting thing is that motivation often grows while you’re actively engaged in a task. It may not initially appear when you’re contemplating it, but rather emerges while you’re immersed in the work.

In simple terms, sometimes you just have to start doing things even when you don’t feel like it. This is where procrastination can creep in. How can you prevent procrastination?

One effective method is breaking the larger task into smaller, more manageable sub-tasks, especially when you find a task challenging or aren’t quite sure how to approach it. Because if you don’t understand something about what you need to do, you will automatically procrastinate doing it.

From a neuroscience perspective, even something as small as writing the title of your essay can give you the sense that you’ve started working on your task, which in turn can boost your motivation. This is due to an increase in dopamine levels.

So, our goal isn’t to wait for motivation to strike, but rather to find ways to initiate tasks, make deals with yourself, and determine your approach. Doing so can lead to a sense of motivation.

Before we call it a day, dive into these fantastic reads: ‘Atomic Habits,’ Indistractable,’ and ‘The One Thing.’ Or plug in those headphones and let Andrew D. Huberman’s podcast give you some valuable insights.

At Kilo Health, we offer the opportunity to learn and become the top professionals in the field. We also embrace a growth mindset and thrive on the energy of highly driven people. Sounds nice? Take a glance at our careers page, and let’s dive into a learning adventure together.

Aurelija Ganusauskaite

Learning & Development Manager

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