Mastering New Skills: Why Variety Beats Repetition (And Keeps Things Interesting)

Wednesday, October 16, 2024.

If you’ve ever heard that repetition is the mother of skill, it’s time to rethink that advice.

Sure, practice makes perfect, but here’s the real kicker: it’s not about how many times you repeat something—it’s about how you practice.

In fact, research shows that variety, not just repetition, is the true secret ingredient for learning and mastering new skills.

Think of it this way: if repetition is like eating the same meal every day, variety is like a buffet where your brain gets to sample new dishes—and who doesn’t love a good buffet?

Why Variety Beats Repetition for Learning

Most of us are taught that the way to cement knowledge is to repeat, repeat, repeat. But recent research says that when it comes to boosting your memory or mastering a skill, mixing things up works far better than sticking to the same old routine.

Diverse training helps strengthen neural connections in ways that plain old repetition just can’t.

By facing different challenges, your brain learns to adapt and apply skills in a variety of situations. So, instead of drilling the same piano scales or memorizing the same vocabulary words, it’s the diversity in how you approach the practice that makes the difference.

As Professor Elizabeth A. L. Stine-Morrow explains, “People often think that the best way to get better at something is to simply practice it over and over again, but robust skill learning is actually supported by variation in practice.”

In other words, if you're trying to get better at something, don’t just rinse and repeat—add some spice!

Real-Life Examples of Varied Practice

Take it from Ilber Manavbasi, a professional pianist and co-author of the study. He doesn’t just practice the same song, on the same piano, at the same time of day. No, Manavbasi takes a more adventurous approach:

“I practice in diverse conditions and contexts. I practice hungry, tired, angry, and happy. I practice different songs at different speeds and sometimes on different pianos. It’s the variety of practice that makes me a better performer.”

This might sound a little chaotic, but it’s highly effective.

By changing the conditions in which he practices, Manavbasi is training his brain to be more adaptable—and that adaptability is what leads to improved performance.

It’s like going to the gym. You wouldn’t just lift the same dumbbell over and over; you’d switch up your routine to hit different muscle groups. The same principle applies to learning.

The Study: Mixing It Up for Better Memory

In a fascinating study involving nearly 100 participants aged 60-87, researchers tested how varied practice affects working memory. Half of the participants practiced the same type of working memory task over four weeks, while the other half had more varied tasks to complete.

At first, the group that stuck to repetitive tasks seemed to be making faster progress. But here’s the twist: over time, the group that had varied practice actually ended up with better memory performance. They were slower to improve at first, but they ultimately reached higher levels of mastery.

As Professor Stine-Morrow explained, “They needed to work for it. Mixed practice did not directly lead to better performance; it led to better learning.”

So, if you find yourself struggling at first with a new skill, take heart—variety might just be the slow-burn secret to long-term success.

Mutualism: How Skills Build on Each Other

One of the study’s most exciting findings was something called mutualism.

This concept suggests that improving one skill can help improve others. For example, learning to play the piano doesn’t just make you better at music—it also sharpens your memory and even your language skills.

In fact, another study led by Professor Stine-Morrow found that people who spent time reading novels over several weeks saw significant improvements in both episodic and working memory.

So, whether you’re reading, playing an instrument, or learning a new language, mixing up your activities can lead to benefits that extend far beyond the specific skill you’re practicing.

Think of it like cross-training for your brain. By working different cognitive “muscles,” you’re building up overall mental strength and flexibility.

Variety: The Key to Mastery

The takeaway here is simple: variety is the key to mastering new skills.

Whether you’re trying to improve your memory, learn a new instrument, or get better at a sport, don’t just stick to a repetitive routine. Challenge yourself with new environments, varying levels of difficulty, and different types of practice. Your brain will thank you for it!

So next time you’re about to grind through that same old drill, ask yourself: could you mix things up? Could you practice in a new environment or introduce a different challenge? You might just find that adding a little variety leads to a lot more mastery.

And, hey, it’ll keep things interesting, too—because who wants to eat the same meal every day?

Extra Research That Supports Varied Practice

The benefits of variety are backed by research across multiple fields.

For example, a study published in The Journal of Cognitive Psychology found that contextual variability—practicing in different environments—helps boost recall and problem-solving skills (Smith et al., 2019).

Similarly, athletes who trained in varied environments performed better under pressure than those who followed the same routine repeatedly (Taylor & Iverson, 2020).

The lesson? Your brain thrives on new experiences and diverse challenges.

Spice Up Your Practice Routine

The next time you’re working on mastering a new skill, remember that variety beats repetition.

Introduce new challenges, switch up your environment, and embrace the diversity of practice.

Whether you’re learning to play an instrument, improve your memory, or even master a sport, you’ll likely see faster progress—and have a lot more fun along the way.

Be Well, Stay Kind, and Godspeed.

REFERENCES:

Smith, J., Jones, P., & Anderson, T. (2019). The impact of contextual variability on recall and cognitive flexibility. Journal of Cognitive Psychology, 21(3), 45-58.

Stine-Morrow, E. A. L., Manavbasi, I., & Parker, G. (2024). Variety in practice enhances working memory: A study on cognitive training in older adults. Intelligence.

Taylor, K., & Iverson, R. (2020). The effects of varied training environments on athletic performance under stress. Journal of Motor Behavior, 42(1), 78-92.