Learning to be bad at something again

Somewhere in adulthood, most of us stop being beginners. We settle into things we are competent at and arrange our lives to avoid situations where we might look foolish. It is efficient. It is also a little sad.

The case for deliberately becoming bad at something again is stronger than it first sounds.

The comfort trap

Competence feels good, and we are rewarded for it. Over years, that creates an invisible pressure to stay within the zone of things we do well, because trying new things threatens our self-image.

Psychologists describe a related effect, in which people prefer to keep doing activities where they can shine rather than those that would teach them most.

What beginners gain

A person learning to swim, paint or play an instrument at forty is not just acquiring a skill. They are rehearsing a mindset.

• Patience with slow progress.
• Comfort with being corrected.
• Curiosity about how things work.
• Empathy for others who are struggling at their own work.

Making it easy to start

The biggest barrier is not time but embarrassment. A few tactics reduce it.

• Pick something with no connection to your career.
• Join a class where everyone is new.
• Set a tiny goal, such as twenty minutes twice a week.
• Track what you can do now that you could not last month.

The brain at any age

Adults often assume that learning gets harder with age. Research shows that while some kinds of learning slow, adults can acquire new skills well, helped by better strategies and more focus. What differs most is willingness to practise badly in public.

You are allowed to be mediocre at something you love.

Try it this month

Choose one thing you have always wanted to attempt and put the first session in your calendar. Expect to be clumsy. Notice, if you can, how rare and how pleasant it feels to improve at something for no reason except interest.