How to Learn Any Skill Quickly (and Forever)

In this monologue, Dr. Justin Sung discusses "Theory Overload," a common mistake that hinders skill acquisition. He introduces the concept of experiential cycling as a key ingredient for learning and explains that the fastest way to learn is often to learn more slowly, balancing theory with practice to avoid cognitive overload. Using examples from his program, he illustrates how students who try to absorb too much theory at once can actually regress, while those who focus on mastering a few concepts at a time see greater improvement. He suggests a rule of thumb of five hours of practice for every hour of theory, emphasizing the importance of monitoring habit formation to determine the appropriate rate of new theory intake, and concludes that balancing theory and practice leads to smooth and rapid skill development.