What do you do if you're struggling to solve problems?

1 Break it down

One of the most common reasons why people struggle with problems is that they try to solve them as a whole, without breaking them down into smaller and more manageable parts. This can lead to feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or lost. To avoid this, try to identify the main components of the problem, the relationships between them, the assumptions you're making, and the goals you're trying to achieve. Then, focus on one part at a time, and use the appropriate tools, methods, or resources to address it. For example, if you're working on a coding problem, you can use pseudocode, flowcharts, or debugging tools to break it down and test your logic.

2 Ask for help

Another reason why people struggle with problems is that they try to solve them alone, without seeking any help or feedback from others. This can lead to feeling isolated, frustrated, or discouraged. To avoid this, try to reach out to your instructor, peers, mentors, or online communities, and ask for their input, advice, or guidance. You don't have to reveal the whole problem or solution, but you can ask specific questions, clarify doubts, or request examples or resources. For example, if you're taking a course on graphic design, you can ask your instructor for feedback on your layout, your peers for suggestions on your color scheme, or an online forum for recommendations on fonts or tools.

3 Change your perspective

A third reason why people struggle with problems is that they try to solve them from the same perspective, without exploring different angles or possibilities. This can lead to feeling bored, stuck, or biased. To avoid this, try to change your perspective and look at the problem from a different point of view, such as your target audience, your competitor, your future self, or a different domain or discipline. This can help you generate new ideas, discover new insights, or challenge your assumptions. For example, if you're developing an e-learning content on history, you can change your perspective and look at the topic from the lens of politics, culture, art, or science.

4 Learn from others

A fourth reason why people struggle with problems is that they try to solve them from scratch, without learning from others who have solved similar or related problems before. This can lead to feeling reinventing the wheel, wasting time, or missing opportunities. To avoid this, try to learn from others and find out how they approached, analyzed, or solved the problem, what strategies, techniques, or tools they used, what challenges, mistakes, or lessons they encountered, and what results, outcomes, or impacts they achieved. You don't have to copy their solutions, but you can adapt, modify, or improve them to suit your own context and goals. For example, if you're working on a problem-solving project, you can learn from others by reviewing their reports, watching their presentations, or reading their reviews.

5 Reflect and improve

A fifth reason why people struggle with problems is that they try to solve them once and for all, without reflecting on their process, performance, or results. This can lead to feeling complacent, satisfied, or unaware. To avoid this, try to reflect and improve on your problem-solving skills and outcomes, and identify what worked well, what didn't work, and what can be done better next time. You can use various tools, such as self-assessment, peer review, feedback, or portfolio, to collect and analyze data, evidence, or feedback on your problem-solving journey. Then, you can use this information to set new goals, plan new actions, or seek new opportunities to enhance your problem-solving skills. For example, if you've completed an e-learning course on problem solving, you can reflect and improve by taking a quiz, writing a reflection, or applying your skills to a new problem.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?