Transcription
There's a learning method I've used for years to force myself to study, even when I'm tired or burnt out. It's called the Ladder Method. I use it to study learning science while working full-time as a doctor and running a business. I also used it for my full-time Masters, graduating top of my cohort. It's one of my most useful daily techniques, and anyone can use it. I'll show you how it works with this textbook. But first, let's understand why we avoid learning.
We don't feel overwhelmed tying shoelaces or walking 20 steps, but climbing a mountain feels overwhelming. Yet, those small actions are the first steps of climbing a mountain. Our brain judges how hard something is and how much energy it requires. Our brain is the most energy-consuming organ (20% of resting energy), so it's efficient at avoiding unnecessary energy intake. Studying is very energy-consuming for the brain.
One of the most energy-intensive tasks for your brain is organizing information – crucial for memory and understanding. Imagine marbles (new information) and cups (brain organization). Each marble is a fact; each cup is a category. Your brain analyzes each marble, deciding which cup it fits in, based on similarities. This thinking uses energy, which we feel as mental effort. Once organized, the effort decreases. This process repeats until learning is complete.
So, why does this feel overwhelming? Imagine having no cups. Instead of deciding which cup a marble goes in, you must decide how many cups you need, which ones to get, and what to do if you're wrong later. This takes far more effort, creating the "I don't want to study" feeling.
Three ways your brain uses lots of energy while learning: understanding the information, comparing it to existing knowledge, and deciding where to place it based on similarities. Doing all three at once is overwhelming.
So, what do we do? Let's say I want to study this chapter. I see a lot to cover and feel overwhelmed. This is where the Ladder Method helps. We break the topic into "rungs" of effort, each low-effort.
I look for easy-to-understand information, easily comparable to what I already know, and easy to organize. I use nonlinear note-taking (explained in other videos) and highlight parts (for demonstration; I usually don't highlight). As you see, I've skipped most, building a basic scaffold. This makes the topic easier. If tired, I can stop here.
The second rung involves the same process, building on the scaffold. It takes longer, as more makes sense. Still, it's low-effort, as I've established the major categories. [Music] [Music]
The second rung took about 35 minutes. I covered more detail, refining my understanding. Much of the time was spent organizing. Before, I used energy understanding and roughly organizing. Now, I refine those decisions and comparisons. Same effort, different use.
The third rung should cover the rest. I add details to my map or flashcards. Most topics take three rungs.
This works because each rung requires the same effort, splitting the work. Every session is easy, avoiding hard things. It gets easier; each rung covers more, but our foundation strengthens. The more you learn, the easier it gets.
Use this approach for projects, starting with high-level planning and adding detail with each rung. This is one application; my full program covers more. For those new to this, it's a game-changer. (Link in description) This and dozens of techniques are in my program. Using the Ladder Method makes studying less daunting and reduces procrastination. While amazing, it's just one part of learning. Check out the next video suggested by YouTube (they know us best!). Thanks for watching!