A life hack to learn complex skills fast

After reading this post, we’ll see:

• Why learning complex skills feels so hard.

• The science-backed secret to mastering any complex skill.

• How to apply "rotating focus" to your own learning journey.

TL; DR;

To learn complex skills, focus on one part, move to another, and build each piece.

Ever struggled to learn a complex skill?

It is so hard because there are so many moving pieces.

At one point, giving up looks like the easier option isn't it?

What if I told you there is a straightforward and effective way to tackle this?

The secret

Just change what you pay attention to.

This isn't a random tip. It is backed by science.

A classic study on a video game “ space fortress” illustrates this idea perfectly.

The Space Fortress Experiment

Scientists made people learn the game for 6.5 hours.

Then they were split into four groups.

• Group 1 - Just played the game.

• Group 2 - Focus on ship controls for 6 sessions, then play normally.

• Group 3 - Focus on mine placement for 6 sessions, then play normally.

• Group 4 - Focus on ship control for 3 sessions, mine placement for 3 sessions. Then play normally.

The crucial insight.

All groups played for the same amount of time;

The only difference was what they paid attention to.

The Shocking results!

All groups started at the same skill level.

But after six sessions, the results were crazy!

In the beginning, all groups were similar. But after six sessions, differences emerged.

• Group 1 ~ 1000 points.

• Group 2 & 3 ~ 1500 points.

• Group 4 ~ 2000 points!

It did not stop there. Group 4 continued to dominate in the later sessions.

Different scenarios replicated the same finding.

Why this works

As shown, Focusing on 1 part of a complex skill helps a ton. Reasons:

Meaningful building blocks.

By paying attention to one aspect of the skill.

Reduced cognitive load.

By focusing only on one aspect of the skill.

Integration

Over time, you integrate the smaller pieces into the complex skill.

Applying this to your life

e.g. I want to start learning how to play guitar.

Phase 1: Chords.

Master the main chords. C, G, Am & F.

Phase 2: Strumming.

Learn one basic strumming pattern.

Phase 3: Combine. Refine.

Changing chords when strumming.

Phase 4: Rotate. Build.

Finger strength. Ear training. Scales.

I learnt this from Dr. Benjamin Keep. He is a cognitive scientist.

That’s it!!

I hope this concept helps you learn complex skills much faster . If you found this helpful, share with someone who will benefit.

P.S: Did you like this idea? Let me know. I personally respond to each mail.