Same here....
Just do a lot of research on topics you enjoy?
I realise that I usually end up looking for walkthroughs and guides for games I love playing. Don't just read one walkthrough, read a couple to know what works best for you and to get a better view of the different ways of playing that game. And then doing some hardcore metagaming. You know, nitty-gritty details like damage formula calculations to find the most optimal route for powerleveling, etc... For action games, look up youtube video tutorials on tips and tricks on how to complete a certain section or defeating an enemy. That worked really well for me with Monster Hunter.
The amount of time I spend amassing information regarding the topic of interest is usually ends up being the same or more than the amount of time I spend doing it...
Basically, gathering a huge internal library before you embark on something?
(Well, I don't even know what I posted helps improve Si or uses Si. lol)