I know that lots of us decide at the start of the year that we're going to try something new. 

Maybe a different exercise class (or your instructor completely changed the choreography in your regular Step class 🤣).  Perhaps you're learning a new language. Or it could be, you're adding an additional skill to your toolbox.

Whatever it is, it's difficult, right?! And it can feel difficult for a loooooooong time. 

You may remember, that a few months ago, I wrote how your brain loves doing new movements (you can see the link to that at the bottom).

But, that doesn't mean that it's gonna be easy.

Your brain is an energy saving device.

Your brain is the hungriest user of energy in your body, taking up about 20% of total energy, even though it only accounts for about 2% of body weight. So your "interroceptive system" is always keeping an eye on your overall energy budget taking into account all of the functions that need to keep running.

That's why if you're tired or stressed, you'll find it harder to learn new things - basically, your ability to learn has been de-prioritised, because you don't have enough energy.

So how does your brain help? It builds shortcuts by looking for similar patterns in things it's already done before.

What if you haven't done anything like this before?

If you've never done this before, your brain has to build a new pathway between your brain and the body. 

You can, if you like, think of it like an actual footpath. Imagine the effort it takes to dig out the route. Then flatten it all out and lay the sub-base foundations of the path. Then flatten it some more. Maybe put down a bit more sub-base. 

Flatten it again. And finally put down the tarmac. 

This takes time and effort and you go back over the same route again and again.

It's what it's like when you're trying to learn to any new thing or are doing something you don't do often. It can feel like your brain's having to work as hard as your body, and can make you feel uncoordinated and clumsy.

But then over time, as this movement becomes more familiar, it starts to feel more like the "informal" pathway in the picture above. You've created the short cuts. You can go more quickly to the action you want to do without thinking so much about it and it feels much less effort.

Is there any way round it being so difficult?

Unfortunately not. The best things you can do are:

- Make sure you have enough energy in your budget to allow the learning to happen; 

- Breathe calmly and evenly to down regulate your stress response; 

- Keep repeating the thing you're trying to learn to do; 

- Don't forget that your brain can't tell the difference between actually doing it, and visualising it, so mentally rehearse it too.

And finally, don't beat yourself up or tell yourself that you're rubbish for not being able to do this. Your body absolutely hears everything you say about it. So be kind!

Read more:

Why new movements are your body's fave

Use your head