In the early 1990’s, three psychologists called on the Universität der Künste in West Berlin, Germany to study violinists. The psychologists asked a music teacher which of the violinists were most likely to have professional careers. The scientists separated that group out as the elite players.

For comparison they also selected a group of students from the education department set on becoming teachers. These students had a passion for the violin, but did not have the skills that the elite group did. They were separated out as the average players.

The psychologists began with this question: Why are the elite players better than the average players?

The obvious answer would be the elite playes practice, practice, practice, and are therefore more dedicated to their craft.

WRONG.

The data displayed a different set of results. The time spent practicing and playing between the elite and average players was around the same – 50 hours.

The difference between the two groups was revealed in how that practice time was spent. The elite practiced deliberately, that painstaking refining existing skills, for more hours than the average players. The average players scheduled their practice throughout the day, whereas the elite players scheduled their work during two specific periods; in the morning and in the afternoon. The elite players distinctly separated work form leisure activities.

In subsequent studies, scientists determined that the pattern of tightly scheduled, deliberately concentrated practice lead markedly improved results, even in the “average” control groups.

What’s the take home thesis of the study?

Work hard and smart when you work.

Play hard and deliberately when you play.

The result? The elite players never fell behind on their practice. They never felt stressed during their recreation periods, because they dedicated themselves to achievement in the work periods.

Spacing tasks out into “manageable” portions is a recipe for mediocrity. You have been warned!

[Source: Study Hacks]