Personalized Learning: Revolutionizing Your Life (Based on Episode 6)

What would you do if you had unlimited resources at your fingertips? According to a recent social media poll, most people would ditch anything that makes them unhappy—like a draining job or a toxic social circle—and dive into something completely new.

Let's imagine you’re one of those people, and you decide to take the leap: a dream vacation to New Zealand. You've never been there before, and the possibilities are endless. So, you start researching. You dig into the best travel routes, figure out how to get the most out of your time, and craft an itinerary full of adventure. That research and the decisions you made? All part of a personalized learning journey you created for yourself.

Personalized learning is a concept that sounds complex to many but is actually something we do more often than we realize. While we easily personalize parts of our lives—like planning a trip or curating our hobbies—applying this to our learning often feels overwhelming and impossible. For some context, I asked two popular AI programs what people typically personalize in their lives, and their responses included things like phone cases, smart home setups, subscription boxes, and fitness plans. But here’s the catch: those examples are customized, not personalized.

Customization is built for the masses, but sold to you in a way that makes you believe it's tailored to you as an individual. Don't drink that Kool-Aid! Personalized learning is THE game changer because it’s centered entirely around you. You are the focus, the creator, the innovator, and the one in the driver's seat of your own learning. It’s designed by you, for you, in ways that work best for you.

Many people believe we cannot personalize learning in every setting or for every individual. But in today’s world, I believe we can no longer afford not to.

Time to Transform

To start personalizing your learning and your life, begin by identifying areas where you want more control, creativity, or fulfillment. Ask yourself, "What isn't working and what doesn't align with who I am and who I want to be?" Personalizing your life does not mean changing everything overnight, but rather making intentional choices that align with your unique interests, strengths, and goals.

Let's get started:

1. Identify what matters most

   
   

   Reflect on what truly brings you joy, satisfaction, or growth. Whether it’s your career, relationships, hobbies, or self-care, understanding your priorities helps you focus on what you want to personalize.

   Ask yourself:

   • What excites me?

   • What feels like a drain on my energy or time?

   • How do I learn and grow best?

     
     

2. Set clear goals and boundaries

   
   

   Once you know what matters, set goals and design a plan that will align with your strengths and needs. It might feel daunting, but done right, it’s incredibly freeing. Personalizing your life means tailoring goals to fit you—understanding what to add and remove from your life. For example, if you're creative, a rigid job may not work—freelancing might. If you’re an introvert, set boundaries to protect your energy for what matters most.

   
   

3. Create an environment you'll thrive in

   
   

   Your environment plays a huge role in how you feel and function. Think about how your space, routines, and tools can be personalized to enhance your day-to-day life.

   • At home: Organize your space in a way that helps you thrive. Maybe you need to create an environment where you can relax or maybe one that boosts your productivity. Design your kitchen, your bedroom, or even a workspace that reflects your style and helps you achieve what you're wanting and needing in your life.

   • In your routine: If you're a morning person, schedule your most important tasks at the start of the day. If you’re not, allow yourself a slower morning to ease into your day.

   • At work or school: Your space is your sanctuary, so make it enjoyable. Add photos, a favorite scent, colorful organizers to stay tidy, and definitely get a plant! It boosts mood and triggers endorphins.

     
     

4. Learn the way your learn best

   
   

   Embrace personalized learning by creating a life that suits you. If you prefer hands-on experiences, seek out projects and experiments. If you learn through observation, dive into video tutorials or go to a local Brainery class. Don’t feel confined by ANY traditional structures—learning can happen anywhere, in ways that are enjoyable for you. Be your own advocate, and don't hesitate to shatter a societal box or two along the way!

How Can I Do It

Trust me, personalized learning works everywhere—I’m living proof. After years in K-12 and higher education, I loved the collaboration but felt drained, even in my dream job. Then the pandemic hit, remote work opened up, and I swapped the classroom for home. Now, I’m an Academic Coach, full-time caregiver to three kids under 2.5, and an aspiring podcaster/blogger. My life today? Four years ago, I wouldn’t have even dreamed of it. Living proof, right here! Personalized learning and experiences can happen LITERALLY ANYWHERE AND EVERYWHERE.

• Traditional Education Institutions

  • Let's say you're a teacher and you need to teach addition. Personalized learning in the classroom might feel daunting at first, so let's break it down. You decide to present the concept in a traditional lecture format. You know that half of your students understand and half don't, but you need to move onto subtraction and you can't wait because it's about to be Winter Break and you need to come back knowing they've all independently showed mastery of the concept. Teach them the concept, and then tell them prove mastery on their own terms. Don't put any constraints. Leave it open ended, "Okay, now that you've been taught the concept show me what you know and teach me. You can do it anyway you'd like as long as you show me before Winter Break." You'll get all different kinds of proof from Canva presentations, to toy soldiers and dinosaurs, and even Cheerio demonstrations. The point is, you'll have proof that each individual child understand the concept because they were able to choose their own path to meeting the standard of addition according to your curriculum they just did it in a way that was completely personalized for them. You'll guide their learning because most of your kiddos will probably need a little bit of help with inspiration, but you'll also feel amazing because you'll see your students thriving. Here are the undeniable benefits: It's a simple pass or try again system. You'll gain insights into how each child's brain works, teach the concept much faster since it's tailored to their learning and brain, you've given them control so your classroom management will be top-notch. Students will be so invested in finding creative ways to present the information, they'll also increase focus. Give it a try and let me know how it goes. (Hint: It will be great!)

    
    

• Corporate Businesses

  • After interviewing candidates, provide a paid trial period to ensure that both you and the candidate can gauge if they’re a good fit for the role. Personalize, personalize, personalize! This approach will lead to career growth, innovation, higher productivity, significantly improved retention, and reduced costs over time. People want to feel seen and valued, and a personalized onboarding process helps retain employees for the long haul. Here's how to start: Post-interview, have the candidate spend time with their learning mentor (drop the “boss” title). If you're hiring this person for your team, you have to get to know them. Stop just doing this for the C-suite in companies. Everyone should have this to be onboarded. Begin by discussing their life and career goals to gain a holistic view of the person. They’re not just a cog in the wheel—treat them as an individual to build a strong relationship, which in turn enhances communication. Explain how communication works within the company, including interactions with colleagues, B2B, and B2C. Bring in team members from various branches to share insights on effective communication. This will help the new hire understand and integrate into the company culture. Next, ask how they learn best and how they’d handle specific situations to tailor their onboarding experience. Learn how they best communicate and share the company's communication approach to then determine how you can work together to personalize their communication with others. Continue by discussing their skills and interests, offering role-based learning paths and opportunities for personal development. Key word is personal, not professional. The two actually go hand in hand. Encourage participation in personal development—think beyond standard Excel workshops to include things like 5K training with team members or attending a conference on neurodivergent thinking. This holistic approach to onboarding fosters both personal and professional growth, leading to a more engaged and committed employee. Holistic, personalized onboarding is the way to go!

    
    

• Infants, Toddlers, & Teens

  • This one is going to blow your mind. ASK THEM WHAT THEY WANT. SPEAK TO THEM DIRECTLY. DO NOT PUT WORDS INTO THEIR MOUTHS. Be a safe space for them. Most importantly play with them. Yes, I said play. Your teen, believe it or not, still wants that type of relationship with you, but believes that you're no longer fun because they have to follow all of your rules. Let them take charge. Just sit back and watch then participate when they give you their cue, and they will. BE CURIOUS ABOUT THEM. Everyone is just looking for connection. In order to personalize their lives and learning, it's important to let them take the wheel which isn't always easy, but it is always worth it.

Now What

Now go live your life! Go personalize your life. Have that talk with your "boss" and tell them what is and what isn't working for you or do a job search for something you're passionate about. Sit down with your teenager and ask them what they'd like to do this weekend, no rules, no strings attached (within reason) because you miss them and want to spend time with them. Reflect on what's going well and what isn't with a friend, and then identify what you need to personalize in your life to improve the situation. There is only one you ever in all of history, there is only one life you get (possibly up for debate), but you get the gist. Transform your life and personalize it!