Hello CF.
Some time ago i've started trying to actively improve my performance at cf constests. Being highly impressed by galen_colin's youtube content (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpvS3EykHW--l0ogUhMEjEw?ysclid=lgxfqoopf6507903104), i've developed a routine, which i consistently followed for 2 months.
Routine itself looks like this:
Take a problem, for me, i usually take C-D in Div. 2 or D-E-F... in Div. 3
Take time each day to try and come up with the solution. For me, it's exactly 35 mins in the morning, and 30-40 minutes across the day on work days and around 2 hours each day on the weekends.
Repeat
It usually takes me 1-2 days to solve a task. I do not look up a solution, until i am bored with the task.
The problem is i feel noticable improvments in my "brain power", and the progression confirms the improvment, e.g started with not solving C's in Div.2 to occasionaly solving D's. But somehow my actual performance in rounds even decreases:(
Maybe the rounds became harder? Or maybe i have to participate more often in rounds? Or maybe it's absolutely OK, like when you perform worse in sport competiotion, than in training?
P.S I'd really appreciate, if this post and it's comments would help at least someone to improve. :3
I believe, I read somewhere that if you tend to solve problems of a particular difficulty, or those of a particular type/tag, you get accustomed to said difficulty/tag (basically, you end up trying to fit solutions to problems, rather than finding solutions for problems), and that isn't really desirable in contests, where problems vary in both ideas and difficulty.
While targeted practice is good on the side, I'd suggest that you complement it with practicing in the contest environment, maybe through virtual contests. For Div.2/Div.3 participants, I believe that Atcoder's Beginner Contests are a great learning experience. Do check them out.
Thanks for the comment!
As for specific skill practice, in our case, performing in rounds. I absolutely agree that you should practice more often than i do.(Probably not too often, smth like once a week??, otherwise you are losing time on easy problems).
But the fist part of your comment is up to speculation. Let's look at the process of problem solving itself. Usually you come up with an idea/insight, and then you try to check if that idea works. Isn't that fitting the solution to the problem? I do understand, you didn't mean it that way, it's more for the future readers.
I absolutely agree that if you do not make any progression(solve only A's for speed :)) no way you are getting better at problem solving. It's seems like there is no other way around, than to solve increasingly hard problems with appropriate volume(hours spent), and time to time practicing actual contests.