i usually play like this....
i will open a gap, 1, 2, 3,4, 5, and maybe more depending on how much sp i think i will need to get the skills i want at a certain level.
then once i reach the level i can obtain my new skill that i am going for, i close the gap, use up all my sp, then start all over again workin towards another goal.
a bit of a rollercoaster with levelling... you will level slower and slower until you 0 gap again, then fast levelling, that gets slower and slower, etc etc, but i think it is a great way to farm/level at the same time without having to sit at the den for 3 months farming farming farming, then delevelling. hehe.