The law of readiness in psychology states that learning can only take place when a person is ready to learn:
Physical readiness
The learner should not be hungry, sick, or have other physical distractions or discomfort.
Mental readiness
The learner should be motivated and inclined to learn the new knowledge or skill. They should also have the right mindset and adequate foundation to efficiently uptake new material.
Baseline knowledge
The learner should have certain baseline knowledge and competencies before being ready to learn advanced concepts.
The law of readiness is also known as the "law of action tendency".