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I recognized this is how I best learn a long time ago. It meant that I could never cram for tests. But, once I learn something I usually really learn it. You're

I recognized this is how I best learn a long time ago. It meant that I could never cram for tests. But, once I learn something I usually really learn it. You're right though that days or weeks is usually my timeline. For example, if I want to learn some new tech I will jump in and tinker until I get to some spot that is beyond what I understand. Take a few days or weeks, and when I come back the base has solidified making it almost trivial to move on. I also just noticed the same thing with training Jiu-Jitsu. I had to take a long break because of covid. While I was obviously rusty on my return, I had a bunch of skills solidify while I was gone leading me to see many more details than before I had to take a break. Learning is a lot like weight lifting. It's the breaks between sessions where the strength gains occur.

TheSpiceIsLife 5y ago
I made an adage some years ago: Practice doesn't necessarily make perfect, it can also make you habitually wrong. --- I've trained, I don't, 50 apprentices. They all learn faster of they can do a short stint on a new task, say 10 to 29 mins, then come back to it after at least one sleep. They almost always develop bad habits if you make then do the new task all day because they'll get either overly focused on some inconsequential aspect of it, it lose interest because they're not good at it, or sone such.
- kortex 5y ago
  I've heard this stated as "practice makes permanent ", especially in the context of physical arts, and also safety culture. Once you start getting sloppy, it's time to context switch.
  - tartoran 5y ago
    Very applicable to musical instruments and arts as well. At least to me
  - User23 5y ago
    This is also very true for marksmanship.
  - vldx 5y ago
    Yes, also similarly is "neurons that fire together wire together".
- dehrmann 5y ago
  > They all learn faster of they can do a short stint on a new task, say 10 to 29 mins, then come back to it after at least one sleep. I have this experience playing GTA. After failing a hard mission 6+ times, I take a break, and usually pass it on the first attempt after the break. I also had not problem following the train, but the RC copters were a nightmare.
jkcorrea 5y ago
Yes!! It's like SRS but I've noticed it works for much more than flashcards/learning language type learnings - even works for physical activities like you mentioned. I first noticed this for myself wayy back when I was learning how to ride a bike. I remember falling and falling and then giving up, coming back a few weeks later and nailing it on the first try! Then again I noticed this as a youth while playing video game campaigns. I remember not being able to defeat Bowser in Luigi's Mansion or something, giving up, then returning in a week to handily defeat him. I think it's after noticing this in video games that I began to internalize it as a learning strategy. From then on I never really crammed for tests (which also benefits you on test day as you're not sleep deprived or stressed) or stressed out over pushing past any walls I would hit like you mention. Instead I'd focus on gradual learning with LONG breaks to absorb (not actively, just put your attention to something else and let the information "download asynchronously/on background" so to speak). More recently I've begun to speak up about this learning style and, as I've begun mentoring junior employees or teaching friends technical skills, I've realized this is a foreign concept to many. So fascinating :)
- mateo- 5y ago
  I recently read the 80/20 book and it had a good section about giving your subconscious something to chew on. Our subconscious churns through a lot without us really realizing it. In the book, he suggests thinking/working on something and stepping away with intent when you get stuck to let your mind wander while your subconscious gets to work. I think this is a similar concept. You don't necessarily need to be stuck, but while you're away from something your mind puts all the "files and folders" away neatly.

TheSpiceIsLife 5y ago

I made an adage some years ago: Practice doesn't necessarily make perfect, it can also make you habitually wrong. --- I've trained, I don't, 50 apprentices. They all learn faster of they can do a short stint on a new task, say 10 to 29 mins, then come back to it after at least one sleep. They almost always develop bad habits if you make then do the new task all day because they'll get either overly focused on some inconsequential aspect of it, it lose interest because they're not good at it, or sone such.

kortex 5y ago
I've heard this stated as "practice makes permanent ", especially in the context of physical arts, and also safety culture. Once you start getting sloppy, it's time to context switch.
- tartoran 5y ago
  Very applicable to musical instruments and arts as well. At least to me
- User23 5y ago
  This is also very true for marksmanship.
- vldx 5y ago
  Yes, also similarly is "neurons that fire together wire together".
dehrmann 5y ago
> They all learn faster of they can do a short stint on a new task, say 10 to 29 mins, then come back to it after at least one sleep. I have this experience playing GTA. After failing a hard mission 6+ times, I take a break, and usually pass it on the first attempt after the break. I also had not problem following the train, but the RC copters were a nightmare.

jkcorrea 5y ago

Yes!! It's like SRS but I've noticed it works for much more than flashcards/learning language type learnings - even works for physical activities like you mentioned. I first noticed this for myself wayy back when I was learning how to ride a bike. I remember falling and falling and then giving up, coming back a few weeks later and nailing it on the first try! Then again I noticed this as a youth while playing video game campaigns. I remember not being able to defeat Bowser in Luigi's Mansion or something, giving up, then returning in a week to handily defeat him. I think it's after noticing this in video games that I began to internalize it as a learning strategy. From then on I never really crammed for tests (which also benefits you on test day as you're not sleep deprived or stressed) or stressed out over pushing past any walls I would hit like you mention. Instead I'd focus on gradual learning with LONG breaks to absorb (not actively, just put your attention to something else and let the information "download asynchronously/on background" so to speak). More recently I've begun to speak up about this learning style and, as I've begun mentoring junior employees or teaching friends technical skills, I've realized this is a foreign concept to many. So fascinating :)

mateo- 5y ago
I recently read the 80/20 book and it had a good section about giving your subconscious something to chew on. Our subconscious churns through a lot without us really realizing it. In the book, he suggests thinking/working on something and stepping away with intent when you get stuck to let your mind wander while your subconscious gets to work. I think this is a similar concept. You don't necessarily need to be stuck, but while you're away from something your mind puts all the "files and folders" away neatly.