“Learning isn’t a way of reaching one’s potential but rather a way of developing it.” – Anders Ericsson
Culture abounds with tales of prodigies – individuals that exceed increasingly complex capability with ease and fluidity. We enjoy this story. Perhaps because it provides a straightforward solution to the complexities of achievement. Maybe it proves easier to assume endowed talent than to recognize our own inadequacies or inferior work ethic.
Whatever the reason may be, this story is a myth. Renowned and world-class ability of any kind is nurtured and modeled, not inherited. All peak performers recognize skill is at the mercy of learning. If we create a superior learning process, we open the possibilities on who we aspire to become.
Motivation initiated our journey toward finding flow, and now learning is how we keep playing. Learning is a change in knowledge or skills resulting from practice. Without it, we stagnate, but with it, we open the doors to peak performance.
The human brain possesses the remarkable ability to rewire neurons. This is called neuroplasticity, and luckily, we maintain this ability throughout life. When we learn, the brain releases neuromodulators, or hormones. For example, norepinephrine creates focus and attention while also assisting with memory consolidation. The more neuromodulators which are present, the more likely the learning, experience, or memory will be encoded. To maximize hormonal release, we must engage in a specific form of practice.
We call this “deliberate practice.” It is characterized by heightened focus, clarified goals, repetitive feedback, quality over quantity, and incremental improvement. Research provided by Anders Ericsson has shown that expertise is achieved when we intensely engage with this practice repetitively and over prolonged periods. It has since become known as the ‘10,000 hours rule.’ With time and an elevated learning process, expertise becomes real.
To engage in deliberate practice, above all else, we must have concentration. Focus is the number one strategy. Flow is a difficult state to reach, and one unlikely to occur if our attention is not narrowed. To maximize concentration, let’s engage with focus training like meditation. Also, distraction management is the low hanging fruit we should pick. Turn on “do not disturb” or leave the phone in another room to achieve the deep focus required to achieve accelerated learning.
We may also leverage biology to enhance our skill acquisition. Similar to the circadian rhythm, we also follow a focus rhythm known as an ultradian cycle. This cycle oscillates approximately every 90 minutes, flowing in and out of high and low concentration. Humans appear to be most alert 30 minutes, 3 hours, and 11 hours after waking. For ideal learning, let’s try to leverage naturally heightened states of focus to get the most out of learning sessions.
Luckily for us, the easiest protocol is the most important tool: rest. Without rest, our memories vanish in the wind. Sleep, naps, or NSDR’s consolidate learning bouts and solidify memories. Prioritize rest, and we maximize the learning process.
Then, we repeat. Expertise is not a genetic endowment but the result of a continuous and repetitive learning process. A process of prolonged deliberate practice. One which brings focus, rest, and consistent repetition. Focus, rest, and repeat.
