How To Be Better At Something: 13 Essential Steps

If you want to know how to be better at something, you’ll love this article.

There is no better time than the present to improve at something. The first step toward self-improvement is to learn a skill through intensive, focused study. Then, by improving your skills, you can set and achieve long-term goals.

You can improve at almost anything if you put in the work and time. 

How To Be Better At Something:

1. Ensure that the environment in which you are learning has as few distractions as possible.

Distractions can make it difficult to concentrate and learn new skills. Learn or study a skill in a quiet atmosphere with few distractions such as loud noises, electronic gadgets, or anything else that interferes with concentration.

When learning a new skill, try not to multitask (1). The more time and mental energy you can devote to an activity, the more focus you can give it.

If you want to learn while listening to music, choose instrumental music. Music with lyrics is much more likely to cause you to lose focus on your work.

2. Break your work down into manageable chunks.

If you give your brain too much information at once, you may feel overwhelmed and have difficulty remembering it. Instead, break down a new skill into manageable chunks—a chapter or a single step at a time.

For example, if you want to improve your martial arts skills, focus on one specific technique each day to gradually learn everything you need to know for sparring. 

If you’re studying for an exam, don’t put too much knowledge in your head. Spreading out your learning over time will help you understand a topic better.

3. Apply what you’ve learned to something you already know.

Try to compare what you are learning with something you have already done or practiced. As a result, the brain will be able to translate the skills learned in the first subject to the second.

4. Focus on the aspects of the new talent that thrill you.

If you have trouble concentrating while learning a new skill, find something that intrigues you about it. Use the passages that pique your interest as an incentive to take the time to master the skill.

If you are learning to play the guitar better, use the notes of songs you love to practice.

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5. After learning about a topic, ask yourself questions.

After mastering a skill, make a list of 5–10 questions that highlight key aspects of the new activity or concept. To cement the topics in your mind, try answering the question without outside help.

For example, write down some questions about key art ideas, common drawing mistakes, and ways to improve your sketching skills while learning to sketch.

If you are learning from a textbook, check to see if there are practice questions at the end of each chapter. These questions are designed to teach you important aspects of an idea.

6. Set a goal for your practice session.

Before you start exercising, think about what things you need to improve. In order to give your practice session a clear goal, you should choose an outcome that you want to achieve after the session.

For example, when learning how to write an essay, you can set a goal of sketching out at least three opening paragraphs by the end of the session.

7. When practicing, emulate the pros. 

Modeling yourself after others who are already proficient in a particular subject can help you learn how to do it right. Look for 2-3 people who excel at the skill you want to master, and after analyzing their work, try to duplicate it. By learning from professionals, over time, you will be able to create your own style.

For example, if you want to learn to sing, listen to the songs of a few singers you respect and practice the songs they perform.

8. Get immediate feedback during practice.

Don’t wait to evaluate whether you did a task well or poorly until the practice session is over. Instead, evaluate your work after each task to determine what you are doing well and what you can improve.

Instead of practicing wrong approaches, this will help you quickly correct any shortcomings.

For example, if you are learning to sprint, measure your time after each lap or mile. If you’re not happy with your time, set a goal to run the next lap or mile faster.

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9. When you are ready, practice in front of someone else.

Once you’ve practiced on your own and are confident in your abilities, perform in front of a friend or family member.This person can evaluate what you have learned so far and give you a fresh perspective on where you should focus your efforts next.

If you are practicing public speaking, gather a few of your closest friends and give them a speech. At the end of the speech, ask for comments and suggestions for improvement.

You can develop a list of the most important facts about a topic and teach them to another person for a skill you care about.

10. If you’re stuck, change your habits.

If you’re stuck or unable to develop a certain talent (2), changing your exercise method can help you see your shortcomings in a new light. Focus your practice sessions on a specific shortcoming and try different exercises to improve your skills.

If you are learning to create poetry, instead of free writing, you can practice creating footnotes for poems for a few sessions.

11. Attend group or practice classes.

Meeting other people who are learning a new task can help you come up with fresh ideas and improve your skills. Look for a theme group at your school or community center, or ask other people if they know of any such groups.

If you have trouble learning to dunk, you can sign up for a neighborhood basketball team.

If there are no such clubs in your area, you can always start your own.

12. Use a new measure to evaluate your progress.

Changing the way you evaluate your skills can sometimes help you discover flaws and increase your strengths. Instead of speed or dexterity, you might focus on precision or strength.

Instead of evaluating your painting ability based on the number of pieces you complete each day, you can focus on how you develop your shading methods.

13. If you have problems with a talent, don’t give up.

If you have trouble improving, practice and learn new things about it every day. To increase your motivation, focus on what you do well and appreciate your strengths as you improve.

You may be able to learn a talent and develop it over time, even if it doesn’t come naturally to you.

Don’t be too hard on yourself if you make a mistake. Making mistakes can help you improve your technique and prevent problems in the future.

When learning new skills, make sure you get enough sleep each night. If you are well rested, you will have more energy to study and concentrate on the subject at hand.

Keep a positive attitude while learning and developing new talents. An open mind and belief in yourself can help you overcome even the toughest challenges.

Don’t give up if you’re not particularly talented in a certain area. To become better at something, you need to practice and be very attentive while studying.

If you must take notes while studying, do it by hand. Although taking notes electronically is faster, handwritten notes are more likely to be remembered.

Thank you for reading this article about how to be better at something and I really hope that you take action my advice.

I wish you good luck and I hope its contents have been a good help to you.

Przemkas Mosky
Przemkas Mosky started Perfect 24 Hours in 2017. He is a Personal Productivity Specialist, blogger and entrepreneur. He also works as a coach assisting people to increase their motivation, social skills or leadership abilities. Read more here