Problem in developing a habit to watch learning videos

September 16, 2015 10:24 PM

I like to watch learning videos but, I find it hard to commit. Need help!

I usuaully watch learning videos on youtube about new languages and computer science. My problem is being committed to watching the whole series of 25 tutorials/lectures about 20-50 min long. Sometimes I would watch a learning video while eating lunch in my office. I find it hard to watch it at home because I often feel tired after work or just not in the mood to focus. I have no problem watching drama though. Watching videos in coffee shop or library would probably be a good idea but, I don't like to go out on the weekend. Any good suggestion or experience to share? Thanks in advance.

posted by liltiger to Education (8 answers total)

Do you keep a log, spreadsheet, or journal where you can make a note of what you've done so far and what you thought of it? That's what I do with several long-term personal projects / interests, and eventually it becomes sort of an incremental game (like 'cookie clicker') to just keep adding to it.
posted by Monsieur Caution at 12:47 AM on September 17, 2015 [3 favorites]

For things like this I need a project to do with my hands. If you do anything like knit or crochet this is a good time to do those repetitive projects that look impressive but are boring to do by themselves. Other ideas I've used include self-care stuff like giving myself at-home mani/pedi things, exfoliating and lotioning all over, simple but helpful slow posture stretches and yoga (great for shorter videos in a large number you want to space out over days), or even setting up a gadget-safe spot from view of my tub and doing bath + video time. Depending on how much you need to actually look at the video, you can do different stuff, too. Like lots of crafts and drawing can be done if you can look at your hands while you're listening to a lecture and only occasionally looking at the video. I've done a lot of really pleasant coloring in fancy grownup coloring books while watching educational videos. There's also chore things around where you're playing your video, like basic tidying and cleaning and such, which might make you feel doubly productive and thus accomplished, though that's totally not how I work.
posted by Mizu at 2:41 AM on September 17, 2015

This is one of those things you just need to schedule in and do, regardless of how tired you feel. You might find it easier to watch a video each Monday before you leave work, or set aside a specific evening where you will watch the video as soon as you get home (before dinner, before you get distracted by the TV).

I've revised for a lot of postgraduate exams while working long hours, and if you really want to do this you just have to make yourself do it each night. Or accept you don't actually want to do it, which is also fine since it doesn't sound like your career progression depends on it (mine does).
posted by tinkletown at 5:26 AM on September 17, 2015 [1 favorite]

If you're someone who likes having a thing that says you've completed a course, Lynda.com was recently bought by LinkedIn and you can now publish courses you've completed onto your profile. This is helpful to me because I can actually point to the thing and say "Look what I did!" (Note: I am not a Lynda.com employee, but I do use it in my real life job and people were so excited about this feature) If you don't need that type of validation, then regularly scheduling sessions for your "class" might help. Treat the session like you're sitting down in a lecture and take notes with a notebook and pen. Put away the cell phone and tablet and keep this time as classroom time.
posted by thefang at 6:06 AM on September 17, 2015

Have you tried pairing it with actually applying what you learn after watching the video? For example with the coding, you could say "I'm going to watch an episode every tuesday and thursday night, and then afterwards I will spend 20 minutes attempting to use what programing techniques I just learned."

I find those kinds of activities engaging, so it'd be a reward of sorts for making it through the video.


As far as languages, have you tried duolingo? I've found their service very engaging. They have some light gamification and very clear achievements that give you a sense of progress. Also since you actually participate during the lesson, it feels much less like a slog than doing language learning videos.
posted by mayonnaises at 6:54 AM on September 17, 2015 [1 favorite]

Although I hate dragging myself out of bed in the morning, I've had luck trying to do this type of reading or studying before work rather than after. You're fresher in the morning, before you've spent all day doing work; and it can be kind of nice to linger over breakfast & feel like you're learning something. You could also try building it into your morning commute - either downloading & watching videos if you're using public transit, or looking for audio-only podcasts if you walk/drive.

My other advice would be trying to break it up into smaller/more manageable chunks - e.g. it's easier to tell yourself you only have to watch for 10 minutes instead of mentally preparing for 20-30. Once you've started, you may find you have enough momentum to finish the whole video anyway - and even if you don't, 10 minutes a day still adds up pretty fast.
posted by staraling at 10:29 AM on September 17, 2015 [1 favorite]

Put a star on the wall calendar for every completed course. For every 5, put a sticker on the calendar. For every group of courses completed, give yourself an actual treat, something tangible. Then assess whether the courses are helping. try doing a course at lunch every other day.
posted by theora55 at 10:51 AM on September 17, 2015

Response by poster: Thank you for all your comments. I will try several good suggestions.
posted by liltiger at 2:19 PM on September 20, 2015