When was the last time you considered how learning impacts your life? If you are like most people, then you probably haven’t considered this question in a long time. In truth, most people do not pause to consider how learning impacts their life. After all, post-graduation, people typically do not receive grade evaluations, and most people do not find themselves in situations where they must study for a test.
Even though you might not consider learning to be an important part of your life, your ability to learn impacts every aspect of your life.
Since engaging in effective learning strategies is related to success in every domain of life, it is important to consider your understanding regarding learning processes. One of the most effective learning strategies is focused on improving self-regulation, which includes the ability to monitor and control your own emotions, behaviors, and thinking processes.
Self-regulation has been a focus of research in developmental psychology and is a central mechanism for typical development. As children and adolescents mature, they become increasingly competent at self-regulation, including the ability to regulate their own emotions.[1] In fact, self-regulation begins in the first months of life when infants gain control over bodily functions and learn to self-sooth.[2] In childhood, self-regulation is related to moral development, social competence, academic performance, empathy, and adjustment.[3] Moreover, protracted self-regulation is related to psychopathy, learning difficulties, and maladaptive behaviors in childhood.[4]
The Lifelong Impact of Self-Regulation
Self-regulation has also been an area of focus in adult development. Research suggests that older adults have superior self-regulation skills compared to younger adults. Adults who are competent in self-regulation demonstrate self-control, have high levels of goal achievement, and are effective learners. Self-regulation is even positively associated to health outcomes[5] and relationship satisfaction.[6],[7] In one study, researchers found that self-regulation fostered intimacy, which was also related to high levels of wellbeing.[8]
The Critical Role of Self-Regulation in Achieving Goals
In terms of goal achievement, self-regulation is of paramount importance. Individuals who display high levels of intellectual functioning, attentional skills, and social cognitive skills are proficient at self-regulation. It should come as no surprise that self-regulation is of paramount importance to healthy emotional functioning. For instance, emotional awareness and regulation are recognized as critical processes in effective leadership and healthy social interactions.[9],[20] In terms of physical health, engaging in regular and intense levels of physical exercise requires self-regulatory strategies.[11] Likewise for financial health, being able to self-regulate is associated with delay of gratification in spending money and making financial decisions for long-term investments.[12]
Although self-regulatory behaviors are beneficial in many contexts, one of the areas most researched is learning. Educational research reveals that individuals with healthy self-regulation skills can maximize learning outcomes.[13],[14] This process is called self-regulated learning, which includes three distinct stages.[15] First, self-regulated learning involves making self-observations and planning in the context of setting goals. Second, skilled learners monitor their own progress toward achieving those goals. Third, self-regulated learning involves self-reflection and evaluation of the outcomes of their efforts. This last component is critically important, because this is the process by which individuals will adjust their strategies if they were not effective in attaining their learning goals.
Implementing Self-Regulated Learning: A Step-by-Step Guide
To begin implementing self-regulated planning, take the time to carefully consider and answer the prompts and questions that follow.
Step 1: Planning
Self-regulated learners begin with goal setting and planning. This step requires that individuals take into account factors like time constraints, strengths and weaknesses relevant to the learning task, and motivation for learning. To set yourself up for success, consider these questions when you are in the planning stage of self-regulated learning.
- Write down a concrete learning goal for this week.
- What previous successes and challenges have you had in the past with this goal?
- List three actions to complete in order to successfully accomplish your learning goal this week.
- What resources do you need to accomplish this goal?
- How will you ensure you have access to those resources?
Step 2: Monitoring
Now that you have set reasonable goals and planned your strategies, a self-regulated learner then implements his or her plan and monitors the results. If the chosen strategies are working well, then the learner continues with the same strategies; if not, then the learner makes adjustments and monitors the results until they are in line with his or her learning goals. This step requires some forethought, but mostly this will require monitoring during the week. Therefore, it is important that you revisit this list of questions throughout the week.
- What strategies will you use to monitor your progress toward your learning goal?
- To what extent have you been systematic about approaching your learning goal?
- What has been the most challenging aspect of your learning goal this week?
- How have you taken advantage of resources available to you?
- In what ways have you assessed whether or not you were successful with your learning goal?
Step 3: Evaluating
This step requires adjusting as necessary to the learning process. It is important that time or energy is not wasted engaging in ineffective strategies. Thus, the objective is to evaluate whether your learning has been effective and then make modifications to your learning plan as necessary. At the end of the week, respond to the following:
- Summarize what you learned this week.
- Spend at least 5 minutes teaching someone else what you learned this week.
- How can you apply what you learned to your life?
- What distracted you from making progress toward your goal?
- What should you change to be more effective in pursuing this goal?
In conclusion, it is vital to recognize that mastering learning and self-regulation not only propels you toward your career aspirations but also enhances your physical and mental well-being. By dedicating yourself to refining your learning processes—through meticulous goal setting, strategic planning, diligent monitoring, and thoughtful evaluation—you unlock the potential to transform all facets of your life, reaping widespread benefits that extend far beyond academic or professional achievements.
[1] Thompson, R. A. (1994). Emotion Regulation: A theme in search of definition. Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development, 59(2-3), 25-52.
[2] Thompson, R.A. (2001). Development in the first years of life. The Future of Children 11 (1): 21–33.
[3] Eisenberg N., Smith, C. L., Sadovsky, A., & Spinrad, T. L. (2004). Effortful control: Relations with emotional regulation, adjustment, and socialization in childhood. In R. F. Baumeister & K. D. Vohs (Eds.), Handbook of Self-regulation: Research Theory and Application (pp. 259-282). New York: Guilford.
[4] Eisenberg N., Spinrad T. L., & Eggum, N. D. (2010). Emotion-related self-regulation and its relation to children’s maladjustment. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 27(6), 495–525. doi:10.1146/annurev.clinpsy.121208.131208.
[5] Cameron, L. D., & Leventhal, H. (2003). The Self-Regulation of Health and Illness Behavior. London and New York: Routledge.
[6] Charker, J. J. (2003). Self-regulation and wisdom in relationship satisfaction. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Griffith University, Brisbane.
[7] Mikaeili, N., & Barahmand, U. (2013). Training in self-regulation enhances psychological well-being of distressed couples. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 84, 66-69.
[8] Busch, H., & Hofer, J. (2012). Self-regulation and milestones of adult development: Intimacy and Generativity. Developmental Psychology, 48(1), 282-293.
[9] Goleman, D. (1995). Emotional Intelligence: Why it Can Matter More than IQ. New York: Bantam Dell.
[10] Goleman, D., Boyatzis, R. E., & McKee, A. (2002). Primal Leadership: Learning to Lead with Emotional Intelligence. Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Press.
[11] Mullen, S. P., & Hall, P. A. (2015). Editorial: Physical activity, self-regulation, and executive control across the lifespan. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 9(614).
[12] Howlette, E., Kees, J., & Kemp, E. (2008). The role of self-regulation, future orientation, and financial knowledge in long-term financial decisions. The Journal of Consumer Affairs, 42(2), 223-242.
[13] Zimmerman, B. J. (1990). Self-regulated learning and academic achievement: An overview. Educational Psychologists, 25(1), 3-17.
[14] Zimmerman, B. J., & Schunk, D. H. (2011). Handbook of Self-Regulation of Learning and Performance: Educational Psychology Handbook Series. New York: Routledge.
[15] Tanner, K. D. (2912). Promoting student metacognition. Life Sciences Education, 11, 113-120.
