When we’re stuck, we’re probably overwhelmed with many problems and these problems tend to be huge. It’s possible to solve these problems head-on if we’re in the right headspace, but it’s likely our mind is in such a mess, the immensity of the challenge in front of us can be paralyzing. This is why it’s a common advice to break our problems down into smaller and manageable pieces.
We don’t need any special technique to do this. Just:
- Pick a problem
- Break it down. Think “What is the smallest piece of the problem I can possibly handle right now?”
- Solve it
- Repeat
It seems simple and straightforward but the process can be challenging especially if we’re used to letting problems fester. Being stuck for too long can cause our ability to solve problems atrophy. Expect difficulty, but remember that we do not need to solve everything; only one thing. With time, it should get easier as our problem-solving skills improve.