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Hi, it’s Ray.
When we want to learn something new, our instinct is to "Block" it. If we’re learning Spanish, we spend two hours on verbs. If we’re learning tennis, we hit 100 forehands.
It feels productive because we get better quickly during the session. But here is the "Fluency Illusion": that rapid improvement is temporary. In our learning framework, Interleaving (the practice of mixing different subjects or skills in one session) is the "Hard Mode" that leads to permanent mastery. Today, we’re looking at why "scrambling" your lore is the best way to make it stick.
1. The "Reloading" Hypothesis (Neural Friction)
When you practice the same thing over and over (Block Practice), your brain gets lazy. It keeps the "solution" in your short-term working memory. You aren't "solving" the problem; you’re just repeating the last answer.
The Science: Interleaving forces your brain to "reload" the information every time you switch. If you jump from a Math problem to a History date and then back to a Math problem, your brain has to physically re-retrieve the math "Lore" from long-term storage. This constant Active Recall strengthens the neural pathway far more than simple repetition.
2. Discriminative Contrast (Learning the "Why")
The biggest failure in learning isn't knowing how to do something; it’s knowing when to do it. Blocked practice teaches you the "Execution." Interleaving teaches you the Discrimination.
By mixing different types of problems, your brain is forced to look for the "Contrast." It asks: "Why do I use Formula A here, but Formula B there?" According to a study in the Journal of Educational Psychology, students who interleaved different types of math problems performed 76% better on a surprise test than those who used blocked practice. They didn't just know the formulas; they knew the Context.
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3. Avoiding the "Fluency Illusion"
Blocked practice feels "Smooth," which tricks your brain into thinking it has achieved Understanding. This is a trap. Interleaving feels "Clunky" and frustrating.
The Psychology: This frustration is actually Desirable Difficulty. The higher the "Cognitive Load" during the session, the deeper the Encoding. If it feels easy, you probably aren't learning; you're just exercising your short-term memory.
How to Build an "Interleaved" Session
To turn your study block into a "Variety Pack" of mastery, use this protocol:
The "Rule of Three": Pick three unrelated or semi-related subjects. Spend 20 minutes on Subject A, 20 on Subject B, and 20 on Subject C. Then repeat.
The "Jumble" Test: If you are using flashcards for Retention, never keep them in order. Shuffle the deck. Mix your "Biology" cards with your "Economics" cards. This forces your brain to "Switch Gears" instantly.
The "Problem-Type" Mix: If you are learning a skill (like coding), don't do 10 "For-Loops" in a row. Do one "For-Loop," one "If-Statement," and one "Variable Assignment."
The "Contrast" Question: Every time you switch subjects, ask: "How is this different from what I was just doing?" This triggers the Anterior Cingulate Cortex to look for structural patterns.
When I’m researching these topics, I don't read one book at a time. I have three books open on my desk: one on neurobiology, one on ancient history, and one on modern productivity. I jump between them every 30 minutes. It feels chaotic at first, but by the end of the day, I start seeing the "Lateral Connections" between them. The variety is what creates the "Aha!" moments.
Final Thought
Consistency is the key to showing up, but Variety is the key to staying sharp. Stop trying to "Master" one thing at a time. Mix the lore, scramble the deck, and embrace the clunkiness. Your brain is a "Difference Engine"… give it something to compare.
I’m off to go interleave some Italian vocabulary with some Python scripts. My brain is going to be "reloading" all afternoon, and I love it.
Stay scrambled and mix the lore.
Ray
