Scientists have also found that making mistakes is not only perfectly fine when learning, it’s actually essential. It can be difficult to resist the urge to try to be perfect all the time, but this mindset can be damaging when attempting to learn something new. We can’t be scared to fall off of our bicycles or too embarrassed to practice that foreign language we’ve been trying to learn with native speakers. Research has found that students are much more successful in their learning and performance when they are assured that failure is normal and to be expected. When we put too much pressure on ourselves, we actually inhibit our learning. But when we relax and understand that it’s not the end of the world to make mistakes, we do much better.
We’ve all been told that “practice makes perfect” when working on acquiring a new skill, but sometimes, too much practice, or at least too much of the same practice, loses its impact. Our brains crave novelty, and when we are presented with new ideas and experiences, they release dopamine. These feel good hormones are exactly what we need to gain motivation to learn and retain information, and once we actually do learn something new, we get to experience a nice, fuzzy rewarding feeling. So don’t be scared to mix up exactly how you like to learn!
We hope this list has taught you something new, pandas. Perhaps you even have the perfect conversation starter for the next time you run into a colleague at the coffee machine or when your partner asks you, “How was your day, honey?” Keep upvoting the information you find particularly unbelievable, and feel free to share even more shocking facts in the comments below. Then, if you’re in the mood to learn even more new information, we’ve got another Bored Panda article featuring fascinating facts right here!
