It worked for me.

Paet of the reason you slow in the progress you make is because the harder stuff is harder, so it takes more time to get it—there is definitely a learning curve.

Some other things you can do is to make sure you warm up by practicing basics. Don't just go in and practice sweep picking without warming up by playing simple arpeggios.

You also should vary what it is you practice. If you can't get something, practice something else and come back later. A lot of slowing can be simply mental—many people who can't do a particular thing will keep practising that thing until they do get it, which leads to frustration, causing more mistakes and further hindering progress. Mentality definitely is a huge factor. For example, with myself, I can play far better (faster and more accurately) live than I can playing by myself or when recording. No matter how many times I tell myself that it is ok if I screw up in recording because I can always go back and re-record it, I still get anxious.

At a certain point, it seemed like my skill level would plateau, but then after a while I was suddenly markedly better than before, like when you "level up" in a game and get to add ability points to different stats.

Another thing is that as a generality, we learn new things better than we do things we already know a good bit about, which is why the suggestions of switching style works for so many.

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How *much* do you practice? How often?

I'd agree with everything that's been said about doing something different. I've been playing guitar for just a little longer than you, and about half a year ago I felt like I had genuinely gotten to a point where, for the style I was playing (Alternative, grunge, riffy, rock), I was as good as I could possibly be for a while.

So I decided to learn to play Spanish classical music and funk. The new scales, licks, techniques and general theory behind each of those styles was totally new to me, so it was like re-learning guitar but without not having strong fingers etc.
Now that I've come back to my original style, I write songs much easier and am improving my technique as I'm fusing it with the other styles I learnt, so try that!

Honestly always trying something different is the best way to go. I usually play metal but for this summer I have only played the acoustic guitar... with no pick... sometimes playing with an accordion player a rapper or to drum loops... throughs me for a loop.

Also I play other instruments too. For instance when I play drums i try to recreate that feeling on guitar. Or if you play Piano try to recreate the same feel on the guitar.

never be Static about your style. It is better to be versatile then good in my opinion.

if you play -seriously- since three years, now you are able to do fine solos and rhythm parts. I suggest to just have fun and create something new and interesting.