•  
A+ A A-

Master Any Skill Fast With Daily Habits

Master Any Skill Fast With Daily Habits

I’ve been learning to play chess lately, and studying hard.

It’s been teaching me a lot about how to learn a new skill, because it’s not enough to read or watch videos about chess — you have to turn your knowledge into skill.

In this article, I’m going to share some of what I’ve been learning about learning skills, and turning knowledge into skill.

This should apply to a lot of skill learning: languages, martial arts, sports, video games, woodworking, housebuilding, learning physics or mathematics, studying medicine or law, and more.

  1. Consistency is king. Often people want to learn really quickly — learn a language in 2 months, etc. So they try to learn everything at once. But this isn’t how learning happens — you can do it in a burst, but much more important is how you are learning long term. So it’s most important that you do some almost every day. You don’t have to be perfect. But try for long-term consistency. This will uplevel your results dramatically over time. For my chess study, I’ve been doing 1–2 hours a day, broken into 20–30 minute segments, and I’ve seen really great progress.

  2. Immerse yourself to learn the patterns. My big insight when I started learning chess is that good players have been immersed in the “language” of chess for decades. They’re native speakers of the language, while I’m struggling to understand the most basic patterns. So I decided to immerse myself as much as possible in the basic patterns of the game, repeatedly and daily, and it has helped a lot. I’m still at a very basic level, but my fluency is increasing a lot.

  3. Analyze mistakes to find your thinking errors. When we start out, we have bad habits that need to be unlearned. And we have thinking mistakes that we don’t realize are even mistakes. So the best way to improve dramatically is to analyze your mistakes to understand where you’re thinking about it in the wrong way. You might not be able to do that on your own, so it’s best to study with a more experienced student, a coach, a teacher, or have some materials that can help you spot your mistakes.

  4. Focus on the process, not the outcome. In chess, there are different levels that people are trying to reach, just like in martial arts and video games. But while it’s nice to shoot for a goal like that, we don’t control our rate of progress. Focusing on a rating or achieving a certain level will lead to frustration and discouragement. Instead, focus on what you can control: get stronger by doing drills, studying, practicing, playing, etc. If you do those kind of things, you’ll improve at the rate you’re able to improve.

  5. Don’t do everything — do a few key things. When there’s so much to learn, we tend to want to do everything at once. In my chess study, that means I want to learn every topic at the same time, and I buy a thousand books I can’t possibly read in a year. Instead, I’ve been learning to focus myself: there are exactly two things that I’m trying to improve (tactical pattern recognition, and the skill of calculation). I do a few things to work on those, but not many.

  6. Turn knowledge into skill with tiered practice. Reading about something doesn’t mean you can do it. Watching a YouTube video about how to shoot a 3-point shot in basketball doesn’t mean you’re good at it. We have to turn it into skill through repeated practice. So that’s what I’ve been doing — if I know I shouldn’t be putting my pieces in squares they can just be captured, how will I develop that skill? The answer for me comes in tiered practice: I practice slowly without pressure (using puzzles), then faster with a little pressure (against the computer), then a bit faster with more pressure (against opponents in blitz games). Each step, I’m trying to practice as best as I possibly can, and when that gets easier, I go up to the next tier of practice.

  7. Don’t forget to have fun. Study can be hard and rewarding, but too much hard study will burn you out and the joy will fade. Instead, make sure you’re loving it! If you don’t, you won’t stick with it for very long. For me, the love has only been growing.

OK, that’s what I’ve got for now, I’m still learning so I’ll have more to share as I deepen into my study. I hope you’ve found this helpful, and here’s to your joyful learning endeavors!

Credit

Btw, if you want to train with me, ​check out my Fearless Living Academy​.
Zen Habits is about finding simplicity and mindfulness in the daily chaos of our lives. It’s about clearing the clutter so we can focus on what’s important, create something amazing, find happiness. My name is Leo Babauta. I live in Davis, California with my wife and six kids, where I eat vegan food, write, run, and read. 
Source

© 2025 CrystalWind.ca & Author | All Rights Reserved | No reproduction without permission | Awakening Souls Since 2008.
#CrystalWind #SpiritualJourney


Pin It

Liked this article? Dive deeper into personal growth and wellness! Check out CrystalWind.ca for spiritual wisdom or explore AromaWorx.ca for natural well-being tips. Spread the positivity—share this with friends on their happiness journey!

Let’s Chat! Drop Your Thoughts Below! Scroll down to comment

Keep CrystalWind.ca free—your gift matters now!
Help us spread light today. Thank you, supporters!

Follow this blog

Featured Writers

Thank You for Visiting CrystalWind!

We’re honored to be part of your journey.

Share your thoughts at .

Let’s grow together!

Imagine a world of inspiration and healing, free for all—made possible by YOU!
Donate Now—Ignite the Magic at CrystalWind.ca!

Support CrystalWind.ca Today!

Unlock Your Light: Join Lightworkers Worldwide on CrystalWind.ca!

Call For Writers

Call For Writers!

Follow Us!

Featured This Month

Page:

Sun in Cancer

Sun in Cancer

Cancer Sun Sign Characteristics Overview The name "Cancer" comes from Latin, ... Read more

Egyptian Zodiac/Astrology

Egyptian Zodiac/Astrology

Egyptian astrology was one of the earliest forms of astrology. The Egyptians w... Read more

Lugh - Celtic God Of The Sun

Lugh - Celtic God Of The Sun

The god Lugh was worshiped in Ireland as a deity of the sun. This connection... Read more

Abalone Shell

Abalone Shell

Echos Of The Ancestors Abalone strengthens the structure of the body and th... Read more

Moonstone

Moonstone

Moonstone is one of the best stones for bringing emotional calm and stability,... Read more

Lammas

Lammas

Lammas Ritual Celebrated August 1st. Lammas is also known as Lughnasadh, La... Read more

Strong Sun Moon

Strong Sun Moon

Flicker – Carnelian Agate – Wild Rose – Pink June 21 – July 22 Read more

Lammas by The Hedgewitch

Lammas by The Hedgewitch

Although in the heat of a Mid-western summer it might be difficult to discer... Read more

Cancer

Cancer

CANCER Jun 21 - Jul 22 Read more

Wild Rose

Wild Rose

Wild Rose Fills your life with soft romance. Gender: Feminine Planet: Venus... Read more

Chalcedony

Chalcedony

The Stone Of Orators Chalcedony was very popular as a decorative stone in ant... Read more

The Oak Tree - June 10th - July 7th

The Oak Tree - June 10th - July 7th

Summer Solstice ( Alban Hefin ) Read more

Calcite

Calcite

The Cleansing Stone Calcite is a powerful amplifier and cleanser of energy.... Read more

Cancer Mythology

Cancer Mythology

The Mythology of Cancer: A Celestial Tale of Loyalty and Sacrifice Among th... Read more

Birth Totem - Woodpecker

Birth Totem - Woodpecker

Birth Totem Woodpecker Birth dates: June 21 - July 21 Read more

X

Right Click

No right click