Unlearning
We are all aware of the benefits of learning; how it keeps the mind engaged and neural pathways active. But what about the art of unlearning - doesn’t it seem counterintuitive to be adding things in, only to remove them at a later date?
Our brains are like computers in this regard. They benefit from a regular purge of information that’s outdated or unhelpful to run better. However, instead of deleting apps or programmes, our brains need to erase things like habits, beliefs, preconceptions and behaviours. Unfortunately, that sort of removal takes a lot more conscious effort than simply hitting delete.
The effort is worth it though with research backing up the benefits of ‘forgetting’ information to free up space in the brain to help with faster decision making, adapt to change better, and work more effectively – all-powerful outcomes towards your professional growth and development.
The most famous advocate of unlearning would have to be futurist and philosopher Alvin Toffler, who wrote, ‘The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn.’
Ready to get started on your unlearning journey? Try these steps.
1. Recognise what mental models or habits are no longer serving you.
About 40-45% of what we do every day isn’t a decision at all, but a habit. To get around this, you need to actively think about all your decisions and ask yourself, ‘Is this the best course of action, or is it just what I’ve always done?’ If you’re familiar with project management tools, you could try a retrospective (like the 4L’s) to review your choices and create actions. But don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater, make small changes.
2. Make room for the new.
Checking in on every decision takes a lot of commitment, so start with your foundational habits first as they’re often ‘keystone habits’, meaning they influence a series of other habits. If you exercise, for example, you’re also likely to make healthier eating choices. Take a good look at your beliefs and mindsets; are they fixed or growth? What sort of changes could you achieve by tweaking or removing them? It may also help to define and write down your objectives, i.e. “I want to unlearn ABC so that I can XYZ.”
3. Turn your new habits into the new normal.
Unlearning takes us out of our comfort zones and is therefore uncomfortable. Just like any behavioural change, it’s sometimes easy to fall back into old ways of thinking or acting. The key is to recognise that you’ve fallen off the wagon, not be disheartened, and keep moving forward. Try to identify what ‘triggers’ your old way of thinking or behaving so that you can prepare alternative responses.
So, next time the New Year chimes in, don’t ask yourself what you learnt in the previous 12 months, instead ask yourself what you unlearnt. And then keep unlearning, learning and relearning to stay relevant, or risk being washed away by the tide of change.