How to learn a new skill: A step-by-step guide

It's a common misconception that there's a cutoff age for learning new skills. And sure, it might be trickier for an adult to dedicate the same amount of time to learning as, say, an eight-year-old whose biggest responsibility is not losing their Pokémon cards on the bus. But with the right approach, you can learn a new skill at any age. 

For example, at the ripe age of 30-something, I learned a new language, learned how to knit, and even became skilled at writing with my non-dominant hand—all equally important life skills. 

No matter what you want to learn, here's a step-by-step guide to help you learn any new skill. 

Table of contents: 

• Why is it important to learn new skills?

• How to learn a new skill: A step-by-step guide  

• Add AI to your learning journey

Why is it important to learn new skills? 

I could write an entire article devoted to this question, but that's not why you're here. But if you'll entertain me, here are three of the most compelling reasons why it's important to learn new skills. 

• Brain fitness. Learning a new skill is like a workout for your brain. It strengthens neural connections and can even help form new ones, which supports memory, problem-solving, and overall cognitive function.

• Career flexibility and advancement. Picking up new skills—whether technical, creative, or interpersonal—helps you adapt to industry shifts, take on new roles, or pivot to entirely different careers. For example, taking an AI course can help you stay current as AI reshapes industries across the board. It also shows employers that you're committed to your professional development, which can open doors to promotions, leadership roles, and new opportunities.

• Confidence boost. Learning something new usually means stepping out of your comfort zone and pushing past any self-doubt. Even the act of trying can build a sense of pride and accomplishment—and that confidence often carries over into other areas of life.

How to learn a new skill: A step-by-step guide

Here's a step-by-step guide on how to learn a new skill. The exact method will vary depending on what you're learning—picking up Spanish isn't quite the same as learning to pilot a small plane. But this is a good framework you can apply to any skill you're learning. 

1. Define your goal 

As Oscar Martinez told Michael Scott, you can't just declare bankruptcy and expect anything to happen. 

The same goes for goals: simply declaring that you're going to learn something doesn't just make it so. Instead, set a SMART goal (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-bound) so you can get clear on what you're trying to achieve. 

Now take your goal one step further by writing it as an affirmation. Here's how: 

1. Use "I" statements. Make these goals personal to you. 

2. Make it positive. Write your goal in terms of what you want to achieve—not what you don't want. 

3. Write it in the present tense. Write your goal as if it's happening now instead of in the future. This will encourage you to work on achieving the goal immediately rather than putting it off. 

For example, instead of the goal, "I will stop working as a law clerk, and I'll no longer have to commute for an hour into the office each day," your affirmation might be, "I work from home as a software developer for a video game company." 

But don't stop there. Once you set your goal, create an actionable, trackable plan to help you make progress toward it. 

2. Break your skill down into sub-skills 

Most skills are more than just that skill—they're a bunch of smaller skills combined together. When you break the skill you want to learn down into sub-skills, it's easier to figure out where to start (and how to avoid that "I have no idea what I'm doing" feeling). 

Take public speaking, for example. To get better at it, you might work on these sub-skills: 

• How to structure a clear, engaging message

• How to use non-verbal cues, like body language and eye contact, to support your message

• How to handle audience questions without freezing up or rambling 

Think about the skill you want to learn, then jot down the smaller skills that will help you get there. That way, you can tackle them one at a time instead of trying to master everything at once.

3. Choose your learning method(s) 

Learning styles are flimflam, but we all have preferences for how we like to learn. Some people enjoy reading. Others pick things up faster by watching videos, getting hands-on training, or talking it through with someone who's done it before. But don't box yourself into just one learning method—different methods may be better suited for different goals. 

Let's say you're learning Japanese. To learn how to write in Japanese, the best tool for the job might be a Japanese grammar textbook. But if you want to improve your listening and verbal skills, reading a textbook won't be as effective as chatting with a native speaker.

Here are a few learning methods to help you learn a new skill: 

• Online courses and tutorials (Coursera, Skillshare, YouTube)

• Books and guides

• Practice projects

• Study groups or mentorships

• Private lessons

• Purpose-built apps for specific skills

• AI chatbots

Pick one or two learning methods that feel right for you—you can always mix in more once you find your rhythm. 

4. Set a realistic learning schedule 

It's tempting to go all in at the start—spending hours learning your new skill while the motivation is fresh. But that's usually a fast track to burnout.

Instead, carve out consistent, manageable time slots. Even 15 to 30 minutes a day can add up quickly. If it helps, try time blocking (setting aside specific times on your calendar) or habit stacking (adding your learning time onto an existing routine, like right after your morning coffee). 

5. Practice 

This one might seem obvious, but stick with me.

First, let's clarify the difference between two types of practice that are key to building a new skill: 

• Rote learning. This involves memorizing things based on repetition. For example, reciting the French alphabet from A to Z over and over again. 

• Deliberate practice. This involves intentional, goal-directed rehearsal paired with applying your learning to different situations. For example, pronouncing a randomized mix of French vocabulary using your base knowledge of how to pronounce each individual letter. And if a combination of letters is particularly tricky for you, you might seek out more words containing those combos to improve your fluency. 

While rote learning might help you, say, recite the French alphabet super fast, it won't, by itself, help you achieve verbal proficiency. Instead, this is what deliberate practice and applying your knowledge to varied, real-life scenarios will help you achieve.

One final note: it's tempting to practice what you're already good at, but be intentional about also practicing your weaknesses. For example, I'm very comfortable reading in French (to myself), but I'm significantly less comfortable speaking French out loud. So when I practice in my language learning app, I force myself to do more speaking exercises than translation ones. 

6. Take frequent breaks

While it may seem counterintuitive, taking frequent breaks is just as important as practicing regularly. Done strategically, breaks can reduce brain fatigue and boost your performance. 

Create a structured schedule that incorporates a mix of focus periods and breaks. The Pomodoro technique is a great approach for tackling exercises that are less exciting (like practicing piano scales) or tasks that require little thought. For other tasks that require creativity, innovation, and/or problem-solving, try the more flexible Flowtime technique. 

7. Track your progress

Tracking your progress isn't just about staying organized—it's what keeps you motivated and helps you spot what's working (and what's not). 

Start by setting a rough timeline for what progress might look like. This is where those sub-skills you listed earlier come in handy. Use them as your milestones so you can tackle each one step by step. 

Depending on the skill, you might:

• Keep a journal or log

• Record before-and-after examples

• Set mini-milestones and celebrate wins

I know from experience how important this is. Ever since I saw my high school French teacher write on the chalkboard with both hands, I've been dead set on becoming ambidextrous. Unfortunately for me, true ambidexterity is rare. But that hasn't stopped me from pursuing the ability to skillfully write with both my hands.

I've been actively working on this for years now. There are days when I'll look at my left-handed writing, deflate a little, and think, "Well, it looks like a second-grader wrote this." But then I compare it with earlier writing samples, and I can quickly see how far I've come. 

This is the value of tracking your progress. It gives you a clearer representation of how far you've come, reminding you that you're doing something right. 

Add AI to your learning journey 

To be abundantly clear, none of the above tips will immediately take you from novice to expert. (If it did, I'd be touring with Cirque du Soleil right now and signing autographs with my left hand instead of writing this article.) 

Learning a new skill takes time and effort—there's no way around that—but that doesn't mean every part of the process has to be manual. With AI, you can make it easier to stay on track, keep yourself motivated, and even turn learning into a habit.

For example, you can use a chatbot builder like Zapier Chatbots to create a personalized chatbot to help with your skill. It can help you define your learning goals, give you tips on how to build the sub-skills that ladder up to your goal, and even serve as a private tutor, depending on what you're trying to learn. 

Related reading: 

• The best way to learn technology? Click all the buttons

• When to give up on a goal—and how to do it

• How to achieve your career growth goals through experience and exposure

• Mental models to help you make better business decisions

This article was originally published in 2017 by Farheen Gani. The most recent update was in May 2025.