Habits: The key to a sustainable system of deliberate practice

Abstract

Deliberate practice (DP) is challenging. Most people stop once they have achieved proficiency at a given task. Continuous improvement over the course of one's career requires a sustainable DP plan. Current evidence suggests willpower, motivation, and good intentions are unlikely to be sufficient. To be successful, DP must become a habit. Evidence regarding habit formation is reviewed and distilled into key principles and associated exercises for maintaining engagement in DP over time. This chapter briefly summarizes the empirical literature on long-term habit formation, identifies evidence-based principles for making DP a default part of one's daily routine, and provides exercises to support the development of and overcome any barriers to a "DP habit". A defining characteristic of a habit is that it occurs with little conscious effort or thought. The exercises are aligned with the principles and aim to help make DP a permanent and evolving part of professional development. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: create)