The problem this solves
“I spend 90% of my time studying and 10% doing. Should I flip it?”
Primary keyword: practice vs theory
What you'll learn
- Why a 50/50 split beats 90/10
- What to do on the 'doing' side
- What to do on the 'learning' side
- A two-week 50/50 experiment
The science behind it: Deliberate Practice
Deliberate practice is structured, focused effort aimed at improving a specific aspect of performance, with immediate feedback and progressive difficulty.
Why it matters
It is the form of practice that produces expert performance; mere repetition, no matter how much, does not.
How to apply it
- Identify the weakest component of your current performance and design exercises around it.
- Seek immediate feedback for every attempt.
- Increase difficulty just beyond your current level, not far beyond it.
Common mistakes
- Practising what you are already good at because it feels good.
- Practising without feedback and assuming improvement.
- Confusing hours of repetition with hours of deliberate practice.
Read the full concept: Deliberate Practice.
Where this fits
Part of module Recall and Practice.
More articles in this module
- What Is Retrieval Practice? Beginner's Guide : retrieval practice
- Active Recall vs. Passive Reading: A Side-by-Side : active recall vs passive reading
- Free Recall Without Flashcards : how to do free recall without flashcards
- Spaced Repetition vs. Cramming: A Real Comparison : spaced repetition vs cramming
- Interleaving, Explained Like a Friend : interleaving practice