Ten ways to Practice Better (and stick to it)

It takes a lot of reps to become good at something. How you set yourself up to practice, determines how good you become at doing those reps.

1. Make a commitment. Then show up, every day.
2. Loop in something you’re genuinely interested in. When you combine practice with something you’re deeply passionate about, it becomes easier to stay motivated. (For example, Jack Butcher of Visualize Value, combines his love of philosophy with his design exercises. His goal is to become a better communicator.)
3. Add extreme constraints. Make most of your decisions up front (how long, how much, what medium). Spare yourself from the overwhelm of decision-fatigue later.
4. Be willing to change your rules (and expectations). Just because you’ve set up a system, doesn’t mean it will always serve your growth throughout the process. Adapt, adjust, and bend the rules to make your practice more effective for your progress.
5. Practice in public. Or any environment that allows for criticism and accountability. Practicing in private is too vulnerable to the excuses you can invent.
6. Reflect. Refine. Repeat. What did you learn? What can you do better? Then…
7. Fix it on the next one (or you’ll be stuck on the first one). Every step should be in a direction…