Deliberate practice is the path to getting better results in any field. It's a specific method that makes the difference between an ordinary performance and an outstanding achievement. Let's talk about some guidelines for engaging in deliberate practice and how to start using them in your daily life right now!
General Guidelines
1. Be patient. A large body of research confirms that it takes about 10 years before most people develop into a virtuoso, whether you want to be a pianist or a titan of industry. Plus, that 10-year figure seems to be a minimum rather than an average.
2. Aim for consistency. As you would expect, you must practice regularly. Just like kids forget their course work during summer vacation, you may squander your efforts if you take prolonged breaks. If you feel like you're burning out or start to procrastinate, check out these 4 ways to increase your motivation.
3. Understand the learning curve. It's natural to enjoy dramatic results when you first take up anything new. Then, you hit a plateau where you need to become more strategic if you want to keep advancing.
4. Hone in on specific areas. Identify the areas where you want to improve and focus your practice there. For example, you may have acquired an extensive vocabulary in French but need to spend time listening to native speakers to improve your pronunciation.
5. Be prepared for lots of repetition. The willingness to endure repetitive drills is what distinguishes the best performers. Keep in mind that the most productive methods may not feel like a lot of fun, but consistency is key!
6. Keep your sessions relatively brief. Researchers have found that three to five hours a day is the absolute maximum for most people, spread over individual sessions of 90 minutes or less. Pace yourself according to the amount of time during which you can maintain an intense level of concentration.
7. Set specific goals. Use a blend of goals related to both outcomes and the process itself. The important thing is to approach your usual tasks with the mindset of becoming better at them.
8. Expand your mental model. Try to identify all the factors that go into your chosen experience. Keep adding to the list and experimenting with new combinations. For example, keep a journal so you can spot what conditions support or sabotage your healthy diet. Practice mindfulness and meditation.
9. Seek feedback. Outside observers may spot weaknesses that you may not see as easy. Partner up with a more experienced friend or consider hiring a coach or a mentor to guide you through your journey.
10. Evaluate your progress. Check in regularly to review how you're doing. Ask yourself what is going well and where you need to make changes.
Specific Applications for Deliberate Practice in Your Daily Life
1. Enhance your exercise routine. Sports are one field where deliberate practice has been studied extensively. You can use the same techniques as professional athletes to get the most out of your yoga classes.
2. Get creative. Music and other arts are also areas where practice obviously matters. You may want to resume the piano or guitar lessons you started as a in high school.
3. Move ahead in your career. Any occupation can be broken down into tasks where you can make continual improvements. Brush up on your financial management skills or take a more systematic approach to making successful sales calls. Study the way leaders tackle the world and the success they bring to their lives. What do they have in common?
4. Enrich your relationships. Even interpersonal relationships have many aspects that respond to practice. Experiment with delivering constructive criticism more tactfully with your family and co-workers.
Deliberate practice requires time and hard work, but anyone can reap the benefits, regardless of whether you think you have any special innate talent for the activities you care about most.
Focus on the areas where you want to improve and be patient. Over the long term, diligent repetition and targeted feedback will pay off.