Can I just ask a small favor of you? Be proud of yourself! Seriously, take a moment to celebrate where you are on your photography journey. Think of where you started, and how far you have come!

Now, think back to the time when you committed to learn photography. Do you remember that moment when you realized that this is no pond, baby!?!? This is an ocean! That the more you learned, the more you realized that you didn’t know. That moving into manual mode is crazy awesome, except now you need to master lighting, and editing, and calibration, and angles, and posing, and when to offer your skills as a service, and oh. my. goodness. It’s sometimes just too much to manage!

The high’s of celebrating an “aha!” moment and the lows of sheer frustration from not being able to understand or employ another concept can make learning photography feel like the never ending yo-yo. Then, factor in time. You want to learn every little detail, but who has the time? If you are like so many others, you are learning what you can, when you can.  The vast amount of information is both a blessing and a curse, and it’s difficult sometimes to know where to turn next.

Here are a few tips to help maximize your learning when time is limited:

1 | Keep a list of a few manageable and specific things you’d like to learn.

I keep my list in “Notes” app on my iPhone so that it’s always accessible. I add and delete from my list constantly. If I can’t sleep, if I am in car line to pick-up my kids, or if I am waiting for an appointment, I’ll tackle one little piece of information at a time. Right now, my to-do list looks like this:

2 | Manage how you are exposed to information, and seek out QUALITY!

When I made my leap for learning, I took the “rampage” approach. I frantically downloaded every free e-book, file, and template. I pulled all-nighters reading and filling my head with everything I could find. I signed-up for every newsletter and email that could educate or inspire me. Where did that get me? I ended up with a full laptop and an overwhelmed mind. I needed a plan to learn. Turns out, I needed workshop, but we will talk about that next. My point is: clean out the clutter. If you find that you are constantly deleting emails from the same company because the information isn’t valuable, unsubscribe and find one that does provide information that benefits you. Do the same with your Facebook feed. Unfollow the ineffective. This way, when you do have a moment, you aren’t looking for the “good stuff.”  It will be there waiting for you.

3 | Take a class.

If there is a topic that really has you stumped, find a great workshop. I find that courses push you farther and faster than learning alone sometimes. Even when I thought I knew how to maximize my camera in manual mode, I took what was essentially a Shooting 101 course. I cannot tell you how many lightbulbs turned on for me! It became the solid foundation on which I could UNDERSTAND more information. It was the turning point when other concepts finally began making sense.

4 | Consider joining a forum.

This has been, by far, the most effective use of my time. Here’s my plug for forums: they prove to you that you are not alone in this journey. You can peruse other photographer’s questions AND answers. And, best of all, you can engage others and ask questions from people who (generally) get it!

5 | Give yourself a break.

Sometimes life is just too busy! That’s okay! Don’t let the burden of time (lack of) weigh you down. Accept that photography isn’t what you are going to focus on today, but agree with yourself that you’ll come back to it with fresh eyes tomorrow. A positive approach will likely keep you motivated. Remember that every time you master a concept, it is a gift to yourself.

In all, I’m suggesting that throwing it all against the wall and hoping something sticks might not be the best method of learning on limited time. This is how I manage learning on these busy days. How do you do it? I would love to hear your tips and tricks in the comments below, so that we might all achieve our goals with time to spare!