Online marathons are now everywhere - they are held by both large schools and private bloggers. The formats are different: paid and free, short and long, languages, marketing, psychology or cooking... Everything seems to be simple – take it and learn! But then why do many people leave the race after studying just a couple of lessons?
Let's analyze how studying marathons work, why they are needed and what will help you reach the finish line without losing motivation and interest.
What is a studying marathon and why has it become so popular
Online education has long ceased to be something exotic. In recent years, more and more people have been learning new skills remotely, and the marathon format fits perfectly into this trend. These are intensive programs limited in time: participants complete tasks at a fairly fast pace, and at the finish they receive a small prize from the organizer - or just a pleasant feeling of accomplishment and a baggage of new knowledge.
The benefits of such marathons are not only in the acquisition of information: they help you understand how easy it is for you to integrate learning into your daily life and how much time you can really allocate for this. Of course, no one will become an expert in 15-30 days, but you can feel interest in the topic and get into the habit of studying regularly. But how to keep up with this pace is a separate question.
It all starts with a goal
Without a clear understanding of why to participate in the marathon, you will not have enough strength or desire for a long time: classes will quickly be pushed into the background, and at the first difficulties there will be a temptation to quit everything. Therefore, the first thing to do is to decide what exactly you want to get from participation. You need to answer yourself a few questions: why this studying is for, where it will lead you, whether it will be the beginning of a new path or an additional step towards an already set goal. If the goal is still blurred, it is worth specifying.
To do this, it is useful to use the SMART principle. The point is to make the goal specific, measurable, doable, relevant, and time-bound. Compare: just "learn English" and "improve spoken English to a level that allows you to pass an interview at an international company in two months." It is clear that the second is much more productive and clearer!
At the same time, it is important to find motivation. It is different for everyone: someone wants career growth, someone dreams of impressing friends, and someone wants to feel confident in a new field. Here you will have to honestly understand yourself, understand why you are ready to get up early, find time in the evening or give up the series. As soon as this personal meaning appears, it will become easier to move.
Learn to manage your time
The excuse "no time" appears most often. But in fact, it's not about the lack of hours in the day, but about the inability to properly organize things.
The most efficient way is to divide tasks into small blocks. If the marathon involves half-hour tasks, and you do not have the opportunity to allocate 30 minutes at once, break it up! 10 minutes in the morning, afternoon and evening is almost a full-fledged activity.
It is useful to allocate a specific time for the marathon in the schedule in advance. As for a meeting or a working meeting – without the right to postpone or cancel. During this time, you should turn off unnecessary notifications, postpone things and focus only on learning. To keep your attention easier, you can choose simple concentration techniques, for example, the pomodoro method: 25 minutes of study – 5 minutes of break.
Perfectionism is the enemy of results
Many people do not reach the final of the marathon because of the desire to do everything perfectly. You missed one task - and now it seems that the point is lost! But in learning, as in life, it is not perfect performance that is important, but stability. If you managed to do the task not to the maximum, this is not a failure. It is much more important that it is made at all! You need to allow yourself not to be an excellent student, to allow yourself to make mistakes from time to time. This is how any learning works – in childhood, no one reproached themselves for falling at the first steps, but adults often demand the impossible from themselves, and this prevents them from moving forward.
It is useful to encourage yourself for completed tasks. You can come up with nice little things — a cup of delicious tea after class, a sticker in the habit tracker, or a walk: such small rewards help to keep motivation and not be afraid of mistakes. Also remember: even 80% of the marathon is a good result!
Learning is easier in a company
If it is difficult to go through the marathon alone, it makes sense to look for like-minded people. Firstly, it makes it easier to understand difficult moments, exchange experience and get advice. Secondly, support from other participants helps not to give up.
Many studying programs create chats or closed communities for this. If this is not possible, you can invite friends to participate together or find thematic groups on social networks. Often, even an agreement with one person who also goes through a marathon helps: it is easier for the two of them not to give up, there is easy healthy competition and responsibility.
Gradually form a habit
To make learning a part of everyday life, you need to turn it into a habit. Just as you don't think about it when you wash your face in the morning, over time you can start to perceive classes as a natural part of the day.
Do not immediately set yourself impossible tasks: it is better to start with 10-15 minutes a day and gradually increase the time if desired. Habit is formed through regularity, not through compulsion. The main thing is not to scold yourself for skipping. If you miss a day, it's okay, you can continue tomorrow. Over time, it will become clear that studying is not hard labor, but a way to make life more interesting, and such marathons will not be a test, but a pleasant challenge that is quite capable of overcoming.
Instead of a conclusion
Learning marathons are a great way to gain new knowledge and understand how to incorporate learning into your life. The main thing is to set a clear goal, find your own motivation, manage your time wisely and not demand perfection from yourself, look for associates and gradually develop the habit of learning.
If you adhere to these principles, the chances of reaching the finish line increase significantly. Even if you fail to complete all the tasks, you will still take an important step forward for yourself, and this is already a decent result.
