The moment you stop needing to be the smartest person there, you start learning again.

Holding that position eats all of your attention. You are scanning for openings, defending the answer you already gave, steering the conversation toward what you happen to know, and none of that leaves room for taking anything in. Learning requires being visibly behind for a while, which is exactly what the position forbids.

Be the least informed person in one room this week on purpose. A club, a shop floor, a conversation with people ten years older than you. Ask questions instead of contributing, and notice how much faster the hour goes.