I love being in learning mode — it’s where my curiosity thrives. But if I’m honest, it’s also where my momentum can disappear if I’m not paying attention. Here are some tips on finding the sweet spot.
There’s this thing we don’t talk about enough in business (or life): learning mode.
The sweet spot where your brain feels alive, curious, and wide open — but also, the place where momentum can go to die if you never climb out of it.
We’re told over and over that the reason we’re not hitting our goals is because we’re stuck in learning mode. We’re not “taking action,” we’re not “implementing,” we’re just reading books, taking courses, watching tutorials, or scrolling through a list of “top 10 things you need to know before you launch.”
And yes…staying in perpetual learning mode can absolutely slow your success. But here’s the other side of it that we don’t acknowledge enough: when we switch to action mode too soon and stay there too long, we can get just as stuck.
Instead of making intentional moves, we’re just reacting.
Instead of adapting to new opportunities or shifts, we’re stuck on “what we learned back then.”
Instead of staying relevant, we’re operating on outdated information — and we don’t even know it.
It’s a cycle. And it’s exhausting.
The Thin Line Reality Check
The balance isn’t 50/50.
It’s not about perfectly splitting your time between learning and doing.
It’s about finding the percentage that matches the stage you’re in right now.
- When you’re brand new to something? Learning will naturally take up more space.
- When you’re in growth mode? Action will take the lead — but not every ounce of your energy.
- When you’re refining or rebuilding? You may need to shift the balance back toward learning for a while.
This applies to everything — not just your business strategy, but your wellness, your relationships, your daily routines.
Me vs. Learning Mode
If you’ve been following me, you know I’m in a heavy learning season. For my wellbeing. For my joy. To find my clarity.
With a researcher personality who’s also deeply multifaceted, learning is both my superpower and my Achilles’ heel.
I can follow a rabbit hole with the best of them — easily fascinated by new tech, new strategies, new ways of doing things.
Case in point: ChatGPT-5. I am enamored. Yes, there are some kinks (introductory rollouts always have them), but the possibilities? The creativity? The promise of what it can do? I’m all in.
But here’s where my issue lies: a lot of what I’ve been learning about it doesn’t serve me right now. Not in the moment I’m in. Not in the next 30 days. Maybe not even this year.
I’ve spent hours vibe-coding and exploring features without first getting clear on what I’m actually trying to create, and why I’m even creating it. Oh, it’s been fun, but not what could be fun and useful to me or you, if I took a little more time to figure out why I’m creating or generating something.
That’s not productive curiosity. That’s distraction disguised as progress.
Taking a Cue From AI About Learning
One thing AI makes crystal clear: the pace of change is lightning fast.
What you learn today could be obsolete by next week.
That’s why your first priority should always be to grasp the basics — the core principles that don’t change. Once you have those, everything else is just an update or an enhancement.
And the #1 basic? Clarity.
Clarity about what you’re building, why it matters, and where you’re headed.
Learning mode can be a powerful driver of growth — or a sneaky reason you’re stuck.
The key isn’t to stop learning, but to balance it with intentional action so you can make real progress.
Here are five simple ways to keep your curiosity alive without letting it slow you down.
How to Keep Learning Mode From Derailing You
1. Learn for the season you’re in.
Ask: Does this knowledge serve me now? If not, save it for later.
2. Set guardrails.
Decide how much time you’ll devote to learning before you shift into action.
3. Audit your input regularly.
If what you’re consuming doesn’t align with your next step, pause it.
4. Park the “fluff.”
If it’s just “nice to know” info, save it for when you’d otherwise be mindlessly scrolling or binge-watching your favorites.
5. Return to your clarity checkpoint often.
Revisit your why before you add something new to your to-learn list.
The bottom Line...
Learning is powerful.
Action is powerful.
Neither one works without the other.
The goal isn’t to “stop learning and just do it,” nor is it to “pause everything until you’ve learned enough.”
It’s to find your personal, seasonal balance — the mix that moves you forward now without pulling you off your path.
Journal Prompts for Balancing Learning & Action
1. What am I learning right now, and why did I choose this topic?
2. Is this knowledge something I can use in the next 30 days?
3. What do I need to pause learning in order to make progress today?
4. Where in my life am I acting on outdated knowledge?
5. What percentage of my week should be learning vs. doing right now?
6. How will I know it’s time to shift that balance?
7. What’s one “fluff” topic I’ll save for later so I can focus now?
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