How To Practice Effectively

Practicing means working on an action repeatedly or regularly to improve it. Annie Bosler and Don Greene in their video “How to practice efficiently for just about anything” on Ted-Ed, describes how to practice and how your brain plays a major role in practicing and vice versa. According to a research study in the video, practicing both physically and with your mind has the same benefits and it also takes lesser time for you to master it. Practicing a skill for a longer period alone doesn’t help in mastering a skill but by practicing effectively and consistently without distractions.

The brain basically controls the fundamental body functions. It tells your muscles what to do. Brain consists of a tissue called the white matter which transmits the message or information from the grey matter through a nervous fiber called axon. Myelin, the insulating layer on the axon helps in transmitting the information quickly and effectively. It is believed that the repetition of a physical movement will help in building the myelin which will in turn assist in gradually increasing the speed in mastering a skill. To be good at anything, it needs practice and to master it, it needs time. Efficient practice is not just practicing for hours. Starting off slowly, breaking it down and practicing from A-Z is beneficial in the development of complex skills. Starting off with practicing consistently, step-by-step and building coordination without variation. One of the tips mentioned in the video for efficient practice was to avoid distractions. Isolating yourself by turning your phone on silent, using the internet sparingly and choosing the right setting to practice is a good way to start.

One of the analysis from the video states that out of 260students studying, those students were only able to stay focused for 6 minutes at a time because of distractions such as the internet. Practice needs not only physical activity but also brainwork or intellectual ability. Regard practicing in your brain without really practicing it. This kind of practice basically helps in everything starting from music to sports to arts. It also helps in becoming proficient in a skill faster. Practicing the parts which you are not good at or which you hate the most and working on the problems defines effective practice. Ignoring the part which you are not good at doesn’t help. To be able to understand a skill and to master it, working the parts which you don’t know helps. Practicing efficiently also means making a routine, keeping it consistent, focusing in the skill and doing everything with limit. It is believed that excessive practicing is just as bad as practicing too little. You need to have a commitment or a resolution to master a skill. It means having a time or goal with an end on mind.