The Best Ways to Learn by Practicing

Hi, this is Ray,

Once upon a time, I tried to “learn” guitar by watching YouTube tutorials… and never actually picking up a guitar. I knew theoretically how to play “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” but in practice… well, let’s just say Slash never returned my calls.

The point is, you can read, watch, and highlight all you want, but real learning happens when you do the thing. And not just once, but repeatedly, with feedback, and in ways that challenge your brain to actually work.

Practicing isn’t just about repetition… it’s about the right kind of repetition. Let’s look at what science says about how to practice so you actually remember, improve, and maybe even get good enough to impress Slash.

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Why Practice Works

When you practice, you’re strengthening neural pathways. Think of your brain like a trail in the woods. The more you walk it, the clearer and easier it becomes to follow.

But here’s the kicker… mindless repetition doesn’t work nearly as well as deliberate practice… a concept popularized by psychologist K. Anders Ericsson. Deliberate practice is:

• Focused on improving specific aspects of performance

• Involves immediate feedback

• Pushes you slightly beyond your comfort zone

• Is repeated consistently over time

This is how elite musicians, athletes, and even chess grandmasters build mastery.

Step 1: Break It Down into Manageable Chunks

Your brain loves smaller, well-defined tasks. Instead of “practice piano,” try “practice left-hand arpeggio pattern for 15 minutes.”

In learning science, this is called chunking… breaking down complex skills into smaller, trainable parts. This reduces cognitive load and lets you master each piece before putting it together.

Example: If you’re learning coding, focus on one specific function or syntax rule, not the entire program at once.

Step 2: Use the “Spacing Effect” Instead of Cramming

Doing one long practice session might feel productive, but it’s not the best for long-term retention. The spacing effect… proven in dozens of studies… shows that spreading practice over time works better.

It’s like watering a plant… giving it a little water regularly keeps it alive and growing. Dumping a bucket on it once a month? Not so much.

Ray’s tip: Practice in shorter, more frequent sessions. Thirty minutes a day beats four hours once a week.

Step 3: Mix It Up with Interleaving

If you’re learning multiple skills or topics, don’t block them all together (“I’ll do 10 problems of the same type, then move on”). Instead, use interleaving… alternating between different but related problems or skills in one session.

Why? It forces your brain to constantly retrieve and adjust, which strengthens learning. For example, if you’re studying math, mix algebra, geometry, and word problems instead of doing all of one type at once.

Step 4: Practice at the Edge of Your Ability

Too easy? You get bored. Too hard? You get frustrated. The magic happens in the “challenge zone”… where tasks are just beyond your current level, forcing you to stretch without snapping.

In gaming terms, it’s like facing a boss fight that’s winnable… but only if you use everything you’ve learned so far.

Step 5: Get Feedback… Fast

Practicing without feedback is like trying to throw darts in the dark. You could be reinforcing bad habits without even realizing it.

Feedback can be:

• Self-checking against correct answers or examples

• Peer review or critique

• Instructor guidance

• Video/audio recordings of yourself to review later

The faster the feedback comes, the faster you can correct mistakes.

Step 6: Use Retrieval Practice

Instead of just re-reading or re-watching material, actively try to recall it. This is called retrieval practice, and it’s one of the most powerful tools for strengthening memory.

Example: After a practice session, close your notes and write down everything you remember… or try to explain it to someone else. If you can’t recall it, that’s a signal to review that specific piece.

Step 7: Simulate Real Conditions

If you’re learning for an exam, practice under timed conditions. If you’re learning a language, practice with a native speaker. If you’re learning public speaking, actually stand in front of people… even if it’s just your cat.

Simulation bridges the gap between theory and reality, preparing your brain for the context where you’ll actually use the skill.

Step 8: Keep a Practice Log

Document what you practiced, for how long, and what you need to work on next time. This helps track progress and prevents “random wandering” practice sessions.

A practice log also triggers the progress principle… the psychological boost you get from seeing how far you’ve come.

Step 9: Embrace Mistakes (They’re Data)

Mistakes aren’t failures… they’re feedback from your brain saying, “Hey, this part needs more work.”

The fear of messing up often stops people from practicing at full effort. But research shows that error-making, followed by correction, actually improves retention.

Step 10: End with a Win

The peak-end rule in psychology says we remember experiences based on how they end. Ending practice with a small success leaves you motivated to come back.

Even if the session was messy, spend the last few minutes reviewing something you know well. This creates a positive memory loop.

My Personal Practice Disaster Story

When I tried to learn juggling, I spent weeks just tossing one ball in the air. I figured I’d “master” each stage before moving on. The problem was… it got boring, so I quit.

When I restarted, I mixed in slightly harder drills right away. Dropped a lot of balls (and almost hit my dog), but I improved faster and actually enjoyed it.

Lesson: practice needs to be challenging enough to be engaging.

Example Practice Plans

For Language Learning:

• 10 min review of flashcards (retrieval)

• 10 min speaking practice with prompts (simulation)

• 10 min reading aloud from short text (chunking)

For Music:

• 5 min warm-up scales (chunking)

• 15 min focus on problem section (edge of ability)

• 10 min play full piece with recording (simulation)

For Coding:

• 15 min writing small code snippets without notes (retrieval)

• 15 min debugging existing code (feedback)

• 10 min mixing problem types (interleaving)

Common Practice Pitfalls

1. Mindless repetition: Doing the same thing over and over without thinking doesn’t improve much.

2. No feedback loop: You might be practicing errors into your muscle memory.

3. Overlong sessions: Leads to fatigue and poor retention.

4. Avoiding challenges: Staying in your comfort zone feels nice… but you won’t improve.

Final Takeaway: Practice Like a Scientist

Don’t just “put in hours”… design your practice with intention. Use spacing, interleaving, feedback, and simulation to turn your time into actual progress. Treat each session like an experiment… what worked, what didn’t, and what you’ll tweak next time.

Because learning isn’t about knowing the theory… it’s about being able to do the thing when it counts.

See you in the middle of a slightly awkward but totally productive practice session,

Ray

📚 References

1. Ericsson, K.A., Krampe, R.T., & Tesch-Römer, C. (1993). The role of deliberate practice in the acquisition of expert performance. Psychological Review. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-295X.100.3.363

2. Cepeda, N.J., et al. (2006). Distributed practice in verbal recall tasks: A review and quantitative synthesis. Psychological Bulletin. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.132.3.354

3. Rohrer, D., & Taylor, K. (2007). The shuffling of mathematics problems improves learning. Instructional Science. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11251-006-9019-8