Why not learn something outside of your scientific field?
The classification of humanities versus sciences is becoming almost meaningless in society.
Now that AI and similar tools are so widely used, those with a humanities education must understand some of the underlying technology, while those with a science education actually need to understand thoughts and emotions to construct effective prompts for AI. Furthermore, a common area where those with a science education often feel a sense of frustration when entering the corporate world is 'communication'.
Therefore, regardless of whether you come from a humanities or science background, it is becoming necessary to step into both domains and learn with a certain level of depth. In this article, I would like to offer a proposal to those who have received a science education (especially students and young professionals) on how this type of learning might be useful for your future.
First, search broadly and thinly
If you are someone who thinks, 'I want to learn something outside my field of expertise, but I don't know what,' I think you should search broadly and thinly for 'what kind of learning subjects are out there'.
In terms of tools, I recommend searching for learning subjects using services that cover various fields, such as book summary services like Flyer, or Globis Unlimited if you enjoy watching videos. I personally started learning deeply about the topics written on this blog because of Globis video courses.
In the process of searching, you can learn about various fields broadly and thinly. If you find a subject that seems interesting or useful, you can temporarily cancel such services, learn that theme deeply, and once you have reached a certain level of proficiency or have become bored, you can return to these comprehensive services.
Start inexpensively first
At this point, once you have decided on a theme, some people might be tempted to sign up for expensive courses or seminars right away. I have also fallen into this trap and spent time wandering aimlessly. (Fortunately, I have never had any major regrets about my learning so far.)
To decide 'which service to use and invest time and money in to learn deeply,' you should have a certain level of knowledge about that field so that you can choose what suits you best.
Therefore, resist the urge to press the sign-up button for now. Instead, try buying about three introductory books (that are easy to read and inexpensive) on that subject. The reason I suggest three is that, in my experience, reading that many will give you a comprehensive perspective without bias.
Prevent loss of motivation by skimming
Are you reading the introductory books you bought line by line with a highlighter in your right hand? If you have already established a study habit, you might be able to complete it while maintaining motivation, but since this field is unfamiliar to you, it might be worth trying a different approach.
One recommended reading method is skimming. Pick one of the books you bought at random and flip through the whole thing. If possible, try to read through the entire book in about 10-20 minutes (depending on its thickness). If at that stage you feel, 'This book isn't interesting,' don't hesitate to pick up the next one.
First, it is important to feel that the field you are trying to learn is 'interesting.' While skimming, if you find parts that seem 'interesting' or 'might be useful,' read those parts carefully. If you gain something from that, you have obtained useful knowledge at the minimum cost, which is great for cost and time performance, and it will further fuel your motivation.
Explore tools for deep learning
By this point, you have a thin layer of introductory knowledge in your head and have also gained some deeper knowledge aligned with your interests.
Next, as for how to learn, it varies from person to person: (1) continue reading more books, (2) learn through video courses (e.g., YouTube for free, or Udemy for paid options), (3) attend schools or seminars, or (4) join a community of self-learners.
Basically, you will choose from these options based on your budget and the time you can invest, but if you want certainty, my recommendation is (3). Furthermore, if there is an in-person option rather than online for (3), that is even better.
The reason for this is that people tend to commit to things they have paid a certain amount of money for, and attending in person ensures there are no gaps in the information received during the lecture. Additionally, the emotional anchoring of having learned while sitting next to peers is very advantageous for memory retention.
Summary
Rather than a guide on how to learn or what to learn, this article has become one about the steps for strategically narrowing down fields of study and deepening your knowledge from there. When I think about it, everyone's interests are different, but I believe the key is how to connect the triggers for deep learning in a timely manner (with good cost-performance and time-performance). In that sense, I hope this has been helpful to you.