I first noticed this for myself wayy back when I was learning how to ride a bike. I remember falling and falling and then giving up, coming back a few weeks later and nailing it on the first try!
Then again I noticed this as a youth while playing video game campaigns. I remember not being able to defeat Bowser in Luigi's Mansion or something, giving up, then returning in a week to handily defeat him.
I think it's after noticing this in video games that I began to internalize it as a learning strategy.
From then on I never really crammed for tests (which also benefits you on test day as you're not sleep deprived or stressed) or stressed out over pushing past any walls I would hit like you mention. Instead I'd focus on gradual learning with LONG breaks to absorb (not actively, just put your attention to something else and let the information "download asynchronously/on background" so to speak).
More recently I've begun to speak up about this learning style and, as I've begun mentoring junior employees or teaching friends technical skills, I've realized this is a foreign concept to many. So fascinating :)