Whenever you want to learn something new, the most effective way to do it is to learn like a baby.

Babies are learning machines. The first glimpse I got of this fact was when I was 17, talking to an older coworker who had a daughter. I was telling her that I would never have kids, because they’re way too much work. “How would I even begin to teach a baby an entire language?”

My friend laughed, and said, “You don’t teach babies how to talk. They just figure it out.”

That struck me. How many people do you know who’ve attempted to learn a language as an adult? How many succeeded? How many didn’t try at all because the prospect was far too daunting? Maybe this has even happened to you.

And yet, infants all around the world learn entire languages, sometimes two or three at a time, every day. People say, “Yes, because their minds are like sponges. It’s easier for them to learn languages!”

But what does it mean for one’s mind to be a sponge? Why is it that it’s easier for babies to learn languages? They teach themselves languages while they teach themselves how to use their bodies — from sitting, to crawling, to feeding themselves, to walking and running, and so on. Imagine how daunting it is to have to figure out on your own how to communicate in a foreign tongue, and motor skills at the same time!

But essentially all babies figure it out, because they put their brains to work and apply an incredibly successful method of learning.

How to learn like a baby

While you can never return to having the same number of neural connections that infants have, there are a few key components you can leverage to turn your mind into a sponge, like a baby’s.

The first is strong motivation. In order to acquire a new skill, be it a language, a sport, an instrument, investing, flying a plane, or anything else, you have to have a strong personal desire to do it. That’s why almost all babies eventually walk and talk. They want to play with other kids, and they want to join the conversation! They’re motivated to be included in their community. Babies who have older siblings tend to hit motor milestones earlier, because they are motivated to keep up with their big brothers and sisters. Some babies wait much longer than others to start talking. Most frequently, babies wait to talk because they don’t feel like talking yet. Oftentimes, older babies lack the motivation, not the capacity, to start speaking.

The next essential ingredient to mastering a new skill is to immerse yourself in it. Anyone who’s become conversationally fluent in a foreign tongue will tell you hands-down, the best language learning tactic is immersion. While this can mean moving to another country and completely living your life in another language (the most hardcore way), you can also flood your brain with the language with music, books, TV/movies, and any other kind of media. This is exactly how babies learn how to speak. They listen to their caretakers talk for years. They most likely listen to music, podcasts, audiobooks, and television in that language. Their brains are actively solving the riddle each day, connecting the dots, and making stronger connections with each repetition. 

Immersion is relevant for every skill, not just language. Imagine you want to learn how to become a crypto trader. You have very little financial knowledge, but you have a strong desire to adopt this skill. You might wonder where to begin. Do some research, and start! Flood yourself with information every day. Learn who the top investors are to follow, and read their writing. Listen to podcasts, read books and blog posts, and eventually, dots will start to connect. Simultaneously, find out which platforms you could use, and pick one. Set up your account, allocate a portion of money you’re willing to lose, and practice with it. You’d be surprised how adept you become after six months of immersive learning and practice.

This brings us to the last vital aspect of learning well: the unsexy tango of tenacity and resilience. When you are intrinsically motivated to learn something new, and you’ve begun to immerse yourself in it, you’re going to hit plenty of obstacles along the way. It’s going to be hard — one of the hardest things to do is adopt an entirely new skill! You’re going to fall down. While you immerse yourself, you’re going to look like a novice, because you are one. 

Babies are all novices. They don’t quit trying to walk because they fall down. They fall again and again and again, and they get up and try again. Babies are tenacious. There is no option other than persevering. Babies don’t worry if they look stupid when they’re learning to speak. They make mistakes, they get corrected, and they try to apply what they’ve learned the next time.

It’s a common fallacy to think you can’t do something because you failed at it. But in order to fail at anything, you have to have tried it, with some level of capacity. Usually a failure is when you fell short. That means you’re on your way to doing it right next time.

A fourth component of learning like a baby that is not necessary but it is extremely helpful — this is the element of play. Why is it that babies want to play so much? Why do little children have so much enthusiasm to play? It might be an evolutionary advantage, because play is the perfect environment for learning, and learning is crucial to survival. Play lets you practice your developing skills in a low-stakes environment. Most adults lose their enthusiasm to play, but many regain it when they have small children. 

Notice the aspects omitted from the baby’s strategy. To learn masterfully, you don’t need a teacher. Mentors are treasures, but having one should not be a prerequisite of learning. To learn masterfully, you don’t need to absorb a bunch of theory first. Yes, priming yourself with basic information can give you a leg up, and you should consider that part of your strategic immersion. But you will never learn if you don’t act. Babies don’t sit around strategizing in spreadsheets or making to-do lists before tackling their daily practice. A baby will never learn to speak if she never attempts to say a word. A baby will never learn to walk if he doesn’t risk falling to take a step.

All parents know they can’t teach their babies to crawl or walk. Their baby can only look to their example and take their encouragement, but babies ultimately do it on their own time. Teachers, mentors, and peers who are learning alongside you can make huge contributions to your learning, but they aren’t necessary. Consider if they were all you had — would your learning be complete?

With motivation, immersion, and resilience, you can be an immaculate learner. You can acquire any skill, no matter how complex. Remember, babies do this all the time. If they can do it, so can you.

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Thanks to Jelleke Vanooteghem for the photo.