Even so, common traps await. Mindless repetition cements mediocrity; overtraining erodes precision; and vague goals invite drift. Sustainable intensity relies on planned recovery, varied drills, and a cadence that protects focus. Motivation matters, but grit alone is insufficient without a deliberate practice plan (Duckworth, Grit, 2016). Useful safeguards include time-boxed deep-work blocks, pre-session checklists that define success cues, and post-session debriefs that convert mistakes into next steps. By aligning effort with evidence and rest, performers dodge plateaus and keep climbing the gradient of improvement. [...]
