How to Improve in 5 Steps

This is like following a tutorial.

In many places of the internet, you will see articles, videos, tutorials, showing you exactly how to do something. If you're anything like me, you'll get all riled up about being able to, for example, draw that Neopet, or collect Pokemon, or anything you want to do.

In that case, you read the tutorial, and somehow, you're not any closer to doing what you got so riled up about. Why is that, and how can you fix it? Here are 5 steps that should help you improve at anything you want to do.

5. Practice
Practice is a loaded word. Sometimes, practicing can only get you further from your goal, like when playing an instrument with the wrong techniques. Therefore, it's important to know what you're doing when you practice, which is hard to do.

4. Don't Practice
It's amazing to see what taking a break can do for you. And I don't mean an hour; a day, a week, whatever. I took about a year's break from drawing, and came back to find my anatomy, coloring, and lineart techniques were better than ever, simply from observation. However, I would not recommend this for things that require skills such as clicking really fast.

3. Actually Consider What You're Doing
Have you ever been playing, say, Super Smash Bros, and bombing really bad, when you realize you're just button-mashing? When that happens, take a second, look at your hands, and actually consider what button you need to press to kill that guy that is about to get you. Trust me, it sounds silly, but nothing could be more important.

This goes for other subjects too. I'm sure you've been told that, when drawing something, instead of drawing what you know, draw what you see. It's a great lesson to learn, but very difficult. It's important to practice this

2. See What's Working and What's Not
If you can look at someone else's work (whatever the subject, drawing, gaming, anything) and can find flaws, you're halfway there. See what's not working in someone else's work, and try and compare that with yours. Finding flaws in your own work (but try not to imagine flaws!) is the most important thing in improving.

1. Redo
If something doesn't look right, redo it. No matter what. Even if it looks worse, don't settle for 'okay'. If you think it's only okay, that's what everyone else will think too. This will take time to recognize and master, but it's worth it in the end.

Have these steps helped you? How long did it take you to get from amateur to professional skill levels at something? Have any suggestions? Tell us in the comments, and as always, have a so super faboo day!