I’ve found that if I’m not struggling I’m not learning. If stuff is coming fast and easy that’s a sign that what I’m doing is not stretching existing skills enough.
It’s true of most things. Running, dieting, weightlifting being uncomfortable is a sign of progress.
This is also why apps like Duolingo don't work for most users. They want to turn language learning into a fun, effortless game but effortless is fundamentally incompatible with learning.
Learning is uncomfortable. Reading a difficult (for you) text in a language you don't understand is exhausting and confusing. But that is where improvement happens.
Its even worse since Duolingo added a life system (not sure if they still use it), where you were only allowed to make 3 mistakes before having to recharge your energy. If you get everything right, you are not learning, you SHOULD be making mistakes constantly. That shows you're actually being challenged.
> If you get everything right, you are not learning.
One of the teachers on the college I went to had a note on his door with "If you understand everything you're doing - you're not learning anything.