3 Tips on How to Practice Effectively

It's hard to believe it's already the last week of January! I hope you are staying healthy and warm.

I started to think a lot about how to effectively get the most done in my practice session as I continue to do the 30-Day 10min Practice Challenge.

Here is the list of 3 tips you can start using today to practice effectively.

Tip 1: Focus on the task at hand

💫 Get rid of distractions — turn off TV, close computer, and put your phone on Airplane mode

💫 Make the goal of each practice session very clear

💫 Practice slowly and accurately with repetition

Tip 2: Schedule practice sessions ahead of time with enough breaks and stick to it

💫 Put your practice schedule in your calendar ahead of time (the day before, or the week before), not the day of. This way, all you have to do is follow your schedule.

💫 Short but focused practice sessions are more effective than long mindless sessions.

💫 You can divide the day into multiple practice sessions. For example, 1 hour in the morning, 2 hours in the afternoon, 1 hour in the evening is more effective than 4 hours all in the afternoon.

Tip 3: Practice in your brain in vivid details (mental practice)

💫 Once the physical motion has been established, it can be reinforced in your head just by imagining it. This is pretty cool!

💫 Research has shown that mental practice is nearly as effective as physical practice for improving motor skills.

💫 You can do mental practice anywhere — on the subway, before bed, during a break.

I hope these tips help you make the most of your practice time. Remember, it's not about how long you practice — it's about how well you practice!

"It's not about how many hours you practice, it's about how many hours your mind is present during practice." - Kobe Bryant