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Goal Setting in VisionBuilder
New VisionBuilder users often ask, “What number should I strive for to know I am
doing things as well as I can?” We live in an answer conscious society and
often we rate achievements based on numerical systems. Sometimes our own
self-image can be tied to how well we do on these types of things.
VisionBuilder itself is only a tool. It is a fantastic tool, but still only a
tool. You can use it to improve how you use your visual skills in real life
to do the things you want to accomplish. Since each person is an individual, it is impossible to give a set of guidelines with specific numbers for each of the sections. Imagine that this were a running program. The average person might be able to walk a 20-minute mile or jog a 13-minute mile. However, a high school soccer player might already be able to run a 6-minute mile, while the 50-year old couch potato cannot walk a mile continuously without a break. Goals for a running program would have to be set individually for each of these people for the program to be effective. Here are some common sense guidelines for how to determine what your goals are and how to determine when it is time to move on. Much of this discussion is based on the law of diminishing returns. In the beginning of any new endeavor, progress comes rather rapidly. However, as you improve, generally you need to invest progressively more time, effort, and energy for smaller and smaller improvements in performance. It is the same in vision improvement and much the same for your work with VisionBuilder. When you first begin working in a new section of the program, you should establish your starting point or baseline performance. Perform the test at least three times and average your scores. This should become your baseline. Write this down. You will use it as a control throughout the program.
Cortical Plasticity We can learn and retain information throughout our entire lives. There are systems in our neurology that will actually change the connections of the nerves in the neurons in our brain secondary to learning and developing new skills and abilities. However, for these brain changes to occur and to become a permanent part of us, we need to follow carefully worked out methods of practice. It is best to work on one thing for no longer than 8-10 minutes. Generally during this period, your performance is continually improving. After this time you may find that you start making mistakes and your scores decrease. To maximize performance, stick with 8-10 minute practice sessions for each section of VisionBuilder. You may work on three or four different sections at a single session, but do not work one section for 30 minutes. The second most important thing to remember is that if we want to solidify a newly learned skill, we need to practice that skill five to ten times with no more than two days between practice sessions. If you take three days off you need to start completely over again working to make the brain changes permanent. Being working with a section of VisionBuilder and set your baseline. Then work on that section in 8-10 minute sessions. Practice 5 to 10 times, leaving no more than 2 days between sessions. Now you will need to figure out if you are ready to leave that section or if you should continue to practice. Here is where the law of diminishing returns comes in. If your scores are continually improving keep working in those areas until you begin to plateau. If you feel you have reached a plateau after just three sessions, keep going for at least the full ten sessions. You may find that it takes more than three sessions for your performance to improve. Since VisionBuilder has so many sections, it will be best to work in two or three areas over an extended period of time until you begin to plateau. Then begin working in other parts of the program. After you have run the whole VisionBuilder cycle, return to sections you complete earlier. Often people find that they come back to a section weeks or months later actually better than when they left it, ready to jump up to a new higher level of performance. You must set your own goals. As long as you are making progress, be happy with your performance. Don’t feel the need to measure your performance against an arbitrary standard. Remember the runners we talked about earlier. The 50-year old couch potato might rejoice at running a 20-minute mile, while the soccer star refuses to settle for even a 6-minute mile Start where you are. Plot your improvement. Be happy with the benefits you derive! |