Whether you’re learning to ski, speak Spanish, or master a new programming language, the same truth applies. If you push yourself too hard, you’re likely to get frustrated (or injured) and quit. If you don’t push yourself hard enough, you won’t progress as fast as you could. You’re looking for the Goldilocks point of effort that stretches you uncomfortably but doesn’t burn you out quickly. Where does it lie exactly?
That sounds like a personal question. I am a renowned klutz so the speed at which I could pick up surfing or skiing is going to be a lot slower than if a pro athlete took up these sports. But while our aptitude for a particular skill may vary wildly, science says there is one rule that can tell anyone how hard to push themselves when learning just about anything.
The 85 percent rule can help anyone learn faster.
This rule is called the 85 percent rule, and before I get into specifics, it’s probably worth covering a few basics about the psychology of learning. Research shows that, if you’re looking to maximize learning, comfort is your enemy. One recent Yale study demonstrated that when we push ourselves outside our comfort zone, we light up the brain’s learning centers.
