Episode 28 - Make Learning a Daily Habit.

 Effortless English Podcasts

Effortless English Chat

Make Learning a Daily Habit.

Alex: Hey everyone, welcome back to Effortless English Podcasts!
Alex: I’m Alex, your host, and today we have a fun but useful topic to talk about.
Alex: We’re discussing how to build a lifelong learning habit.

Luna: And I’m Luna!
Luna: That sounds like a lot of work, Alex.
Luna: Why do we need to talk about this?

Alex: Because learning is important, Luna.
Alex: And because most people stop learning after school.
Alex: You know, once they get a job, they just… stop.

Luna: Well, yeah!
Luna: School is hard.
Luna: After graduation, people want a break!

Alex: Sure, but that “break” becomes years of no learning.
Alex: Studies show that most adults don’t continue learning after their early 20s.
Alex: And that’s a problem.

Luna: A problem?
Luna: I mean, I don’t spend my evenings studying, but I still learn new things.
Luna: Like… how to cook a new dish or how to avoid emails from my boss.

Alex: That’s survival, not learning.

Luna: Same thing!

Alex: No, it’s not!
Alex: Lifelong learning means actively learning new skills and knowledge.
Alex: And it has huge benefits over time.

Luna: Like what?

Alex: Career growth, better problem-solving, staying mentally sharp…
Alex: Even higher income.
Alex: One study found that people who keep learning earn up to 20% more than those who don’t.

Luna: Money?
Luna: Okay, now I’m listening.
Luna: What do I have to do?

Alex: First, you need to change your mindset.
Alex: Learning isn’t just for school.
Alex: It’s something you should do for life.

Luna: That sounds very serious, Alex.
Luna: I thought this podcast was fun.

Alex: It is fun!
Alex: And learning doesn’t have to be boring.
Alex: That’s what we’re talking about today.

Luna: Okay, fine.
Luna: But before we start, let’s tell our listeners about the transcript.

Alex: Good idea!
Alex: If you want to read along, we have a full written transcript of this episode.
Alex: You can find the link in the video description.

Luna: And don’t forget, we also have multilingual subtitles!
Luna: Just turn on CC if you need them.

Alex: Alright, now let’s jump into the topic!
Alex: How many people actually continue learning after school?

Luna: Probably not many.
Luna: But let’s find out.

Alex: Alright, let’s start with some numbers.
Alex: Do you know how many adults actually keep learning after school?

Luna: Hmm… not many?
Luna: Maybe… half of them?

Alex: Way lower.
Alex: Studies show that only about 20% of adults actively keep learning.

Luna: Wait, only 20%?
Luna: So 80% of people just stop learning?

Alex: Pretty much.
Alex: After finishing school, most people never take another course or study something new.

Luna: That’s crazy.
Luna: But I guess it makes sense.
Luna: School is stressful, and once you’re done, you just want to relax.

Alex: Exactly.
Alex: But that’s part of the problem.
Alex: People see learning as something hard instead of something fun.

Luna: Well… it was hard.
Luna: Exams, homework, boring lectures…
Luna: No wonder people stop!

Alex: Yeah, traditional learning can be painful.
Alex: But learning doesn’t have to be like school.

Luna: Then why do so many people avoid it?

Alex: A few reasons.
Alex: First, time.
Alex: People think they’re too busy.

Luna: That’s fair.
Luna: Work, family, Netflix… there’s not much time left.

Alex: Second, motivation.
Alex: Without tests or teachers, people don’t feel pressure to study.

Luna: Right.
Luna: No deadline, no learning.

Alex: And third, they don’t know where to start.
Alex: When you’re in school, everything is structured.
Alex: After that, you’re on your own.

Luna: That makes sense.
Luna: But… do people really need to keep learning?
Luna: I mean, isn’t a job enough?

Alex: Well, let’s think about it.
Alex: If you stop learning, your skills stay the same.
Alex: But the world keeps changing.

Luna: Okay, true.
Luna: But does that mean I have to go back to school?

Alex: Not at all!
Alex: There are so many ways to keep learning.
Alex: And most don’t involve boring textbooks.

Luna: Good, because I hate textbooks.
Luna: They’re like sleeping pills.

Alex: Exactly my point.
Alex: Learning can be fun and practical.
Alex: But first, you need the right mindset.

Luna: So step one: stop thinking of learning as school?

Alex: Yes!
Alex: Step two: make it part of your daily life.

Luna: Like how?

Alex: We’ll talk about that soon.
Alex: But first, let’s look at why lifelong learning is so valuable.

Luna: Ooh, benefits!
Luna: If there’s free food or extra sleep, I’m interested.

Alex: No free food, sorry.
Alex: But better jobs, smarter thinking, and even a longer life?
Alex: That’s coming up next.

Luna: Fine, I’ll stay.
Luna: Let’s hear why learning is actually worth it.

Alex: Alright, so why should people keep learning?
Alex: What’s the real benefit?

Luna: You said something about better jobs and longer life.
Luna: That sounds like a scam.

Alex: It’s not a scam!
Alex: Studies show that lifelong learners earn more and live longer.

Luna: Okay, explain.
Luna: How does learning make you live longer?

Alex: Well, it keeps your brain active.
Alex: People who keep learning have a lower risk of memory loss.

Luna: So… learning is like exercise for the brain?

Alex: Exactly!
Alex: Just like muscles, your brain gets weaker if you don’t use it.
Alex: But if you keep learning, it stays sharp.

Luna: Okay, fine.
Luna: But what about money?
Luna: You said learning helps you earn more.

Alex: It does.
Alex: People who keep learning get promoted faster and find better jobs.

Luna: Makes sense.
Luna: More skills, more job options.

Alex: Right.
Alex: Employers want people who keep improving.
Alex: If you stop learning, you fall behind.

Luna: So you’re saying… learning helps me get rich?

Alex: Well, not overnight.
Alex: But in the long run, yes!

Luna: I like money.
Luna: Okay, what else?

Alex: Learning also helps with problem-solving.
Alex: You become more creative and better at making decisions.

Luna: Hmm…
Luna: So if I learn more, I can win arguments against you?

Alex: No, because I’m always right.

Luna: Ha! We both know that’s not true.

Alex: Anyway…
Alex: Lifelong learning also makes life more interesting.

Luna: What do you mean?

Alex: Well, when you learn new things, you get curious.
Alex: You see the world differently.

Luna: Oh, I get it.
Luna: Like when I learned about psychology.
Luna: Now I can tell when people are lying.

Alex: Wait, you can?

Luna: Yep.
Luna: And guess what?
Luna: You do it a lot.

Alex: I do not!

Luna: You just did!

Alex: Ugh…
Alex: Can we go back to the topic?

Luna: Fine, fine.
Luna: So lifelong learning keeps your brain sharp, helps you earn more, and makes life interesting.
Luna: Anything else?

Alex: Yes!
Alex: It also makes you more confident.

Luna: How?

Alex: Because when you learn new things, you feel capable.
Alex: You handle challenges better.

Luna: Ohh, like when I learned how to change a flat tire.
Luna: I felt like a genius.

Alex: Exactly!
Alex: Learning gives you that feeling.
Alex: And that’s why it’s so powerful.

Luna: Okay, I admit it.
Luna: Learning sounds pretty great.

Alex: Told you!
Alex: Now, let’s talk about why it’s so hard to keep learning.

Luna: Ugh…
Luna: There’s a downside?

Alex: Well, yeah.
Alex: If it were easy, everyone would do it.

Luna: Alright, let’s hear it.
Luna: What’s stopping people from learning?

Alex: So, we know lifelong learning is great.
Alex: But if it’s so great, why don’t more people do it?

Luna: Because it’s hard.
Luna: End of discussion.

Alex: Ha, very funny.
Alex: But seriously, what makes it so hard?

Luna: Well, first, people are busy.
Luna: Jobs, family, social life… there’s no time left.

Alex: Yeah, time is a big issue.
Alex: After a long day at work, most people just want to relax.

Luna: Exactly!
Luna: You finish work, go home, and boom—Netflix calls your name.

Alex: And that’s problem number two: distractions.
Alex: Social media, TV, video games… there’s too much competing for attention.

Luna: Yeah… learning is not as fun as TikTok.

Alex: That’s the problem!
Alex: Learning feels like work, while entertainment is easy.

Luna: Well, yeah!
Luna: Who wants to study after a long day?

Alex: And that brings us to problem number three: motivation.
Alex: When there’s no deadline, people don’t feel the urgency to learn.

Luna: Right.
Luna: In school, you study because you have to.
Luna: But as an adult, no one is forcing you.

Alex: Exactly.
Alex: And without a deadline, people just say, “I’ll do it later.”

Luna: And “later” becomes never.

Alex: Yep.
Alex: But wait, there’s one more big challenge.

Luna: Oh no, what now?

Alex: Traditional study methods don’t work for busy adults.

Luna: Meaning?

Alex: Well, most people think learning means reading textbooks or taking classes.

Luna: Yeah, and that sounds awful.

Alex: Exactly!
Alex: Those methods work for students, but not for busy professionals.

Luna: So what do we do?
Luna: Just give up?

Alex: No way!
Alex: We just need smarter ways to learn.

Luna: Smart, like easy?

Alex: Easy and effective.
Alex: The key is learning in a way that fits your life.

Luna: So… no boring textbooks?

Alex: Nope.
Alex: Just simple, efficient learning strategies.

Luna: Okay, I’m listening.
Luna: What’s the secret?

Alex: We’ll talk about that next.
Alex: The best hacks for busy people to keep learning.

Luna: Ooh, hacks!
Luna: Now that sounds interesting.
Luna: Let’s hear them!

Alex: Alright, now let’s get to the good part.
Alex: How can busy people keep learning without wasting time?

Luna: Yes, please.
Luna: I want maximum results with minimum effort.

Alex: Same here.
Alex: That’s why we need efficient learning strategies.

Luna: So, what’s the first hack?

Alex: Number one: short, focused sessions.
Alex: You don’t need hours to learn.
Alex: Just 15–30 minutes a day is enough.

Luna: Oh, that’s doable.
Luna: So instead of binge-watching a show, I could do a quick learning session?

Alex: Exactly.
Alex: Small, daily learning is better than long, exhausting sessions.

Luna: Okay, next?

Alex: Number two: use technology.
Alex: Podcasts, audiobooks, apps… learning is easier than ever.

Luna: Ooh, I love podcasts.
Luna: Especially the funny ones.

Alex: Well, guess what?
Alex: You can learn from podcasts too.

Luna: True.
Luna: I could listen while cooking… or pretending to work.

Alex: Hey, whatever works!
Alex: The point is, you can learn anytime, anywhere.

Luna: Nice.
Luna: What’s next?

Alex: Number three: habit stacking.

Luna: Sounds fancy.
Luna: What is it?

Alex: It means adding learning to something you already do.

Luna: Like…?

Alex: Like listening to an audiobook while driving.
Alex: Or watching a short educational video while eating.

Luna: Ohhh, so I don’t need to find extra time.
Luna: I just combine it with something else.

Alex: Exactly!
Alex: That way, learning becomes automatic.

Luna: I love that.
Luna: What else?

Alex: Number four: make it fun.
Alex: If learning is boring, you won’t stick with it.

Luna: So no textbooks?

Alex: Nope.
Alex: Use games, quizzes, or even TV shows in another language.

Luna: Oh!
Luna: I learned a lot of English from TV shows.

Alex: See?
Alex: Fun learning works.

Luna: Okay, give me one more.

Alex: Last one: teach what you learn.

Luna: Huh?
Luna: Why?

Alex: Because when you teach, you remember better.
Alex: It forces your brain to organize information.

Luna: So… if I explain something to a friend, I learn better?

Alex: Exactly.
Alex: Teaching is like double learning.

Luna: Hmm…
Luna: Maybe I should start a podcast.

Alex: Ha!
Alex: Good luck with that.

Luna: Or I could just keep arguing with you.
Luna: That’s teaching, right?

Alex: Sigh… sure, Luna.
Alex: Whatever helps you learn.

Luna: Yay!
Luna: So, to recap: short sessions, tech tools, habit stacking, fun learning, and teaching.

Alex: Yep!
Alex: Now, let’s share our own learning experiences.

Luna: Ooh, story time!
Luna: Let’s do it.

Alex: Alright, we’ve talked about why learning matters and how to do it efficiently.
Alex: Now, let’s get personal.

Luna: Ooh, story time!
Luna: So, Alex, tell us… are you a lifelong learner?

Alex: Of course!
Alex: But I’m also lazy, so I only learn in the most efficient ways.

Luna: Ha! That checks out.
Luna: So what’s your secret?

Alex: For me, it’s all about automation.
Alex: I use apps to feed me information without effort.

Luna: Example?

Alex: Like flashcard apps for new skills.
Alex: Or setting my phone to show new vocabulary on my lock screen.

Luna: Wait, so you learn every time you check your phone?

Alex: Yep.
Alex: And since I check my phone a lot, it works.

Luna: Okay, that’s genius.
Luna: But do you actually study?

Alex: Not in the traditional way.
Alex: I learn from real-world problems.

Luna: Meaning?

Alex: Meaning if I need to fix something at home, I watch a tutorial.
Alex: If I want to invest money, I read a quick guide.

Luna: So you learn only when needed?

Alex: Exactly!
Alex: Why study random stuff when you can learn practical things?

Luna: Hmm… that’s not bad.
Luna: Okay, my turn!

Alex: Oh boy.
Alex: Here we go.

Luna: So, I learn by doing things the hard way.

Alex: Of course you do.

Luna: No, listen!
Luna: If something is too easy, I forget it.
Luna: But if I struggle, I remember forever.

Alex: Sounds painful.

Luna: It works!
Luna: Like when I learned to cook…
Luna: I burned everything at first.

Alex: Yeah, I remember.
Alex: You almost set the kitchen on fire.

Luna: But guess what?
Luna: Now I’m a great cook because I learned from mistakes.

Alex: Okay, fair point.
Alex: So you believe in learning by failing?

Luna: Yes!
Luna: Failure is the best teacher.

Alex: That’s actually true.
Alex: Studies show that making mistakes helps you learn faster.

Luna: See?
Luna: My suffering had a purpose!

Alex: Ha!
Alex: Alright, so to sum up:
Alex: I learn by automation and efficiency.
Alex: You learn by struggle and failure.

Luna: Yep!
Luna: Two very different styles…
Luna: But both work.

Alex: And that’s the key.
Alex: Everyone needs to find their own way to learn.

Luna: True.
Luna: So, what’s next?

Alex: Next, we talk about fun and unusual ways to learn.

Luna: Ooh, weird learning methods?
Luna: I’m so ready for this.

Alex: Alright, we’ve talked about efficient learning.
Alex: Now, let’s talk about fun learning.

Luna: Finally!
Luna: Learning doesn’t have to be boring, right?

Alex: Exactly.
Alex: There are some unusual ways to learn that actually work.

Luna: Ooh, like what?

Alex: First, gamification.
Alex: Turning learning into a game makes it way more fun.

Luna: Oh, I love this already.
Luna: So… like language learning apps with points and rewards?

Alex: Yes!
Alex: Or making a challenge for yourself, like “learn five new words a day.”

Luna: Ohhh, so I can compete with myself?
Luna: Or even against friends?

Alex: Yep!
Alex: Competition makes learning exciting.

Luna: Love it.
Luna: What’s next?

Alex: Next, learning through teaching.

Luna: Oh, we talked about this before!
Luna: If you teach something, you remember it better.

Alex: Exactly.
Alex: Explain a concept to a friend, pet, or even a mirror.
Alex: If you can teach it simply, you truly understand it.

Luna: I like this.
Luna: I’ll start teaching my cat about history.

Alex: If your cat understands, you’re a genius.

Luna: I am a genius, thank you very much.

Alex: Ha!
Alex: Okay, next method: learning through storytelling.

Luna: Storytelling?
Luna: Like reading books?

Alex: More than that.
Alex: Turning facts into stories helps you remember them.

Luna: Ohhh, I do that all the time!
Luna: When I learn something new, I imagine a crazy story about it.

Alex: Exactly!
Alex: The brain loves stories.
Alex: That’s why we remember movies better than textbooks.

Luna: So… I should turn everything into a story?

Alex: If it helps, yes!
Alex: The crazier, the better.

Luna: Love it.
Luna: What else?

Alex: Another fun way?
Alex: Surround yourself with the thing you want to learn.

Luna: Meaning?

Alex: If you’re learning a new language, change your phone to that language.
Alex: If you’re learning music, put posters of famous musicians around you.

Luna: Ohhh, so you live in the knowledge?

Alex: Exactly.
Alex: The more you see it, the more your brain absorbs it.

Luna: I like that.
Luna: Okay, one more!

Alex: Last one: learn through curiosity.

Luna: Huh?
Luna: Isn’t all learning about curiosity?

Alex: Yes, but I mean chasing random questions.
Alex: Ever wonder why the sky is blue?
Alex: Or how airplanes fly?

Luna: All the time!
Luna: But I just forget to look it up.

Alex: That’s the trick.
Alex: Follow your curiosity immediately.
Alex: When you have a question, search for the answer right away.

Luna: Ohhh!
Luna: So learning becomes a habit?

Alex: Exactly.
Alex: The more curious you are, the more you learn naturally.

Luna: I love this!
Luna: Learning should be fun.

Alex: Yep!
Alex: So, what’s next?

Luna: Now, let’s help people start their lifelong learning habit.

Alex: Great idea.
Alex: Let’s give them some practical tips.

Luna: Let’s do it!

Alex: Alright, we’ve talked about why learning matters and how to make it fun.
Alex: Now, let’s get practical.

Luna: Yes!
Luna: How do we actually build a habit of lifelong learning?

Alex: First tip: Start small.
Alex: Most people fail because they try to do too much.

Luna: Ohhh, like deciding to read a whole book in one night?

Alex: Exactly.
Alex: Instead, start with just five minutes a day.

Luna: Five minutes?
Luna: That’s nothing!

Alex: That’s the point.
Alex: When it’s too easy to fail, you keep going.

Luna: Hmm…
Luna: So I could start by learning one new fact a day?

Alex: Perfect!
Alex: Small steps add up over time.

Luna: I like it.
Luna: What’s next?

Alex: Tip two: Make learning enjoyable.
Alex: If you hate the process, you won’t stick with it.

Luna: So… no boring textbooks?

Alex: Nope!
Alex: Find a way that excites you—videos, podcasts, games, whatever works.

Luna: Oh!
Luna: So if I love watching documentaries, that counts?

Alex: Absolutely!
Alex: Anything that teaches you something new is learning.

Luna: I love this already.
Luna: Next tip?

Alex: Tip three: Integrate learning into daily life.

Luna: Ooh, like habit stacking?

Alex: Exactly!
Alex: Learn while commuting, cooking, or even working out.

Luna: Oh!
Luna: I could listen to a science podcast while at the gym.

Alex: See?
Alex: You’re already a lifelong learner.

Luna: Genius.
Luna: Alright, what else?

Alex: Tip four: Use the "curiosity rule".

Luna: Wait… what’s that?

Alex: Whenever you have a random question, look it up immediately.

Luna: Ohhh!
Luna: Like when I wonder, “Why do cats sleep so much?”

Alex: Yes!
Alex: Instead of forgetting, you take 30 seconds to find the answer.

Luna: I like this.
Luna: So small actions = big learning over time?

Alex: Exactly.

Luna: Alright, last tip!

Alex: Tip five: Surround yourself with learning.

Luna: Meaning?

Alex: Follow smart people on social media.
Alex: Keep books or articles where you can see them.
Alex: Create an environment that encourages curiosity.

Luna: Ohhh!
Luna: So if I surround myself with knowledge, I’ll absorb it naturally?

Alex: Yep!
Alex: Learning becomes part of your life instead of an extra task.

Luna: I love this!
Luna: Learning doesn’t have to be hard.

Alex: Nope!
Alex: Just take small steps and stay curious.

Luna: Alright, I’m in.
Luna: Now, let’s wrap this up!

Alex: Yep!
Alex: Time for our final thoughts.

Luna: Let’s do it!

Alex: Alright, we’ve covered a lot today.
Alex: Let’s do a quick recap.

Luna: Yes!
Luna: First, we learned that most adults stop learning after school.

Alex: Right.
Alex: But lifelong learning has huge benefits—better jobs, sharper thinking, even a longer life.

Luna: Then, we talked about why learning is hard.
Luna: No time, too many distractions, and no motivation.

Alex: Exactly.
Alex: But we also found easy and fun ways to keep learning.

Luna: Like short sessions, gamification, and habit stacking!

Alex: Yep!
Alex: And don’t forget curiosity-driven learning.
Alex: If you wonder about something, look it up immediately.

Luna: Love that one!
Luna: Oh, and we shared our own learning styles.
Luna: You learn the lazy way… and I learn the painful way.

Alex: Ha!
Alex: Yes, but both work.

Luna: True!
Luna: Then, we talked about fun learning methods—like using games, stories, and teaching others.

Alex: And finally, we gave practical tips to make learning a daily habit.

Luna: Yep!
Luna: Start small, make it fun, and surround yourself with knowledge.

Alex: If you follow these steps, you’ll become a lifelong learner without even realizing it.

Luna: So, what do you think?
Luna: How do you keep learning in daily life?

Alex: We want to hear from you!
Alex: Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Luna: Yes!
Luna: Tell us your favorite way to learn—or the weirdest thing you’ve learned recently!

Alex: And don’t forget, the full transcript of this episode is in the video description.

Luna: Plus, we have multilingual subtitles!
Luna: Just turn on CC if you need them.

Alex: That’s it for today!
Alex: Thanks for joining us on Effortless English Podcasts.

Luna: See you next time!
Luna: And remember—stay curious!