If you have ever started a course, a hobby, or an exercise program, you have probably come across the “Day One” excitement. For Skills Training, it may mean a new notebook, clothes, schedules, and a vision of your bright new future. Your hopes for the future collide with a bit of daydreaming; you may just be excited to have new tools to use, whether it is a laptop or a toolbelt.
But then the reality check happens. After a week or two, you think your enthusiasm is gone. You start thinking of quitting or, at least, not putting in as much effort as you did before. It may be that your skills training program, course, exercise, or hobby is just a bit harder than you planned on.
That’s okay. It happens to everyone. You can always overcome those moments with a bit of grit and a lot of knowledge. We’re here to help you dodge and overcome the most common traps that everyone falls into when learning or trying something new. This helps you continue to progress on your path and not give in to defeat!
Mistake #1: The “All-Or-Nothing” Time Trap
Do you find yourself waiting for the perfect moment often? The perfect time to study, to apply to a program, to learn? A good amount of time to save for a study block, according to Cal Newport, is 1-3 hours. However, you may never get there if life gets in the way and you say that you can only work when you have all of that time blocked off. Things such as a sick family member, broken appliances, overtime at your day or night job, all can add up to why you can’t take the time to learn.
This means that you will fall behind in your own perception of how you are doing. You’re studying, or learning will fall behind, and you’ll be stuck trying to get all that time back.
Remember, Skills training is not a sprint. It’s a marathon. No matter what you are learning, becoming skilled means taking the time you need. Break up the time into slots you can fill in your day.
One method that works is to take 15 minutes. For 15 minutes, the time it takes to whip up a quick meal, watch 30 reels on your phone, or talk to friends, you can instead park yourself at a book, review your course notes, or visualize construction techniques. 15-minute intervals can feel more manageable, especially if you are unused to studying. Study for 15 minutes, then take a break. This is similar to the Pomodoro Technique: study for 15 minutes, break for 5 to 10 minutes, and repeat. You can work yourself up to longer when you can do so without feeling stressed.
Consistency beats intensity every time.
Mistake #2: Passive Consumption vs. Active Practice for Skills Training
You may have caught yourself reading a textbook, a how-to guide, or watching a video, and thinking, “I know how to do this”, because it seemed so easy at that moment. You kept reading or watching and felt like it was getting easier. Then, later, you pick up your tools, sit at your computer, or try to recite from your notes… and nothing happens. This can also happen in exams, tests, and when meeting employers. It is very common!
This knowledge fade happens when the skill you need doesn’t leave your short-term memory to become an actual skill. If you have ever studied a math problem and thought you understood, only to fail that question, you likely know what it is like.
To overcome the fading, try this instead. Every 20 minutes of study time, whether reading manuals or watching instructional videos, do a practice exercise. This might be practicing a communications email, mimicking the right technique to hammer, or pretending to drive a forklift while sitting on your couch. It is about the repetition in your muscle memory, in your hand-to-eye movements, that can help create an easy way to remember how to perform a skill. Even if it is new to you, this is a great way to help create a solid connection you won’t forget.
Mistake #3: Ignoring the Foundation of Skills Training
We know. The Forklift part of Logistics & Warehouse Training looks so cool. In any program, it can be tempting to want to skip ahead of the basics so you can do the cooler, more advanced stuff. It might mean playing in Canva instead of learning to use Microsoft Outlook, wanting to learn to use a floor buffer instead of learning protocols… the list goes on. When things feel a bit dull, the grass is always greener on the other side.
The consequences of making leaps like this can mean you slow down even more the further you go along. You don’t truly understand the logic of earlier learning because, in your eagerness to get to the later parts of the program, you skimmed. This can mean that you can’t pass your forklift driving tests, finish a key part of a construction build, or more. Hitting that wall will bounce you back hard, and then you have to spend more time learning something that should have been learned modules ago.
A good way to look at your learning is that with each skill you should be able to explain it, in a clear way, to a friend (or your pets!). Slowing down at the start actually makes you faster in the end. Don’t move on until it becomes easy to talk about what you just learned. This will also help you with tests and assignments, making your learning easier to digest and understand.
Mistake #4: The “Lone Wolf” Syndrome
Despite what you may have heard, going it alone isn’t always the best choice, especially if you are trying to learn and grow with skills training. This doesn’t just mean that you think you know more than anyone else. Another side to feeling like you need to go it alone is that you don’t want to bother anyone, instructors or peers. Instead of asking for help, you might worry that you’ll look stupid or that you’re wasting everyone’s time. So you never ask for help, even when you need it.
When you avoid asking for help or participating in group activities meant to help you learn, it can lead to you feeling like you’re hitting a wall. Misunderstanding the text or lesson and not asking for clarification can stall your learning ability. You’ll grow increasingly frustrated as the roadblocks start to build up in your learning until you consider quitting.
You don’t need to let it get that far. Remember that facilitators, teachers, and instructors are here to help you. They can’t read your mind or guess whether you are having difficulty until you either tell them or you begin to fall noticeably behind. The tiny things that you misunderstand may be easily fixed, long before it grows into something unmanageable.
Use resources available to you. This may mean studying in a group, visiting your facilitator during office hours, and using resources that your course provides. Remember that asking a question and needing help isn’t a sign of weakness; it is being forward-thinking and preparing yourself for the workforce.
Mistake #5: Neglecting Your Mental Health
Have you ever experienced anxiety, depression, or burnout? You’re not alone if you have struggled with your mental health. According to CAMH, 1 in 5 Canadians experiences mental health issues in any given year. Mental health struggles affect all of us, not just one type of person. When it comes to training and learning for a new job, it is very common to experience a variety of mental health problems, and burnout is a very big problem for many students
When you ignore your mental health and think that you will just push through what you are going through, you are ignoring vital health concerns. Your brain slowly stops absorbing information and goes into survival mode. It would be like staring at your computer screen or a tool your facilitator is demonstrating with, and nothing seems to be connecting. You know that you should be learning, but you can’t seem to force yourself to learn it. It is as if all the information you are digesting is floating by you instead of being absorbed. It can feel like you are losing all of your interest in what you are studying, and the end goal of where you want it to take you suddenly seems unimportant.
Life happens, and mental health is part of life. Taking a few days or evenings off from homework and learning may be what you need. The goal is to be open about what you are going through, especially when it is disrupting your life. Talk to your skills training facilitator about your struggles. They may have some resources for you. Remember to also talk to your doctor if your burnout or depression seems to be growing worse. Although it can be hard, you should try to be open about your struggles rather than hiding them. Organizations such as CAMH have many resources available, including local and online resources.
Mistake #6: Forgetting the “Why”
When you are in a program, learning all you can and attending classes, it can be easy to become buried in the technical details within skills training. You start obsessing over details, worrying over learning properly, and how you measure up to your classmates. It can be very easy to start comparing yourself to others and becoming laser-focused on the details.
This can become a problem. When you are overcome with the details of your skills training program, learning begins to feel like a chore. The opportunity you had seen before can suddenly feel like a distant memory. For example, if you were hoping to enter a construction career but became very focused on doing everything perfectly, the excitement you felt before would become flat and uninterested. You’d lose all interest, and eventually you may give up on that dream.
To conquer this feeling, remember your why. Why did you take this program? What life did you want to have at its end? Where do you see it taking you? Remembering your why can help you harness the energy and interest you need to overcome being too focused on details and not on the big picture. Visual reminders are very helpful; a board or a picture of where you want to be. Take a look at the prospects for your training: salary, lifestyle, career path. All of those can help you remember why you are doing this in the first place!
Conclusion: The Path Forward with Skills Training
You may think that your path forward is a straight line. But sometimes it isn’t; sometimes you have to jump over obstacles, switch your speed, or take a few steps backwards. Progress isn’t linear. It is okay to stumble or second-guess what you are doing. Just remember that it is only a ‘failure’ if you stop moving.
Skills can be learned by anyone. Take it one course, one day, at a time. Don’t overwhelm yourself by trying to do everything at once, in order to get it done as fast as possible. Some skills take time to learn, and not everyone learns the same way. Doing your best, reaching out for help when you need it, and keeping your mind healthy with rest and support are some great ways to keep yourself moving forward.
When it comes to developing your set of skills, remember that by taking the time it takes, you are setting yourself up to retain your skills and be able to do them properly, instead of in a rush and being sloppy. That’s something every employer is happy to have on their team.
Are you ready to start your learning journey on your way to a career? Talk to us about how we can help you at www.pathwayscareercollege.ca or calling 519-667-7795. You can also come to our free information session every Wednesday at 9:30 a.m.!
