Hi, this is Ray,

You ever sit down to learn something and hit a wall so hard it feels like you just ran into Bowser’s castle without a fire flower?

Yeah, me too.

There’s nothing more frustrating than getting stuck while learning. You start with energy, excitement, maybe even a brand-new notebook (color-coded, obviously). Then suddenly you’re staring at the same page, rewatching the same video, or repeating the same exercise… and it’s like your brain has declared a strike.

Here’s the good news: getting stuck isn’t failure. It’s actually part of the learning process. The trick is knowing how to get unstuck… without throwing your laptop out the window or deciding that “maybe this just isn’t for me.”

Let’s talk about why we get stuck, what science says about it, and the strategies that can help you break free.

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Why We Get Stuck

First, let’s be clear: if you never get stuck, you’re not really learning. You’re just coasting.

Psychologists talk about the concept of desirable difficulty. When learning challenges you just enough to feel uncomfortable, that’s when your brain is building new connections. Stuckness is your brain saying: “Whoa, new territory here… give me a minute.”

The problem isn’t being stuck. The problem is staying stuck.

Strategy 1: Change the Mode

Sometimes your brain gets jammed like an old printer. The fix? Switch modes.

If you’ve been reading, try writing. If you’ve been listening, try drawing a diagram. If you’ve been watching a tutorial, pause and do the thing.

This works because of dual coding theory… combining verbal and visual information helps strengthen memory and understanding. By shifting the way you engage, you unlock a different pathway into the material.

Strategy 2: Take a Strategic Break

When you’re stuck, your first instinct is to push harder. But sometimes stepping away is the smarter move.

Research shows that incubation periods… short breaks where your brain unconsciously processes problems… often lead to breakthroughs . That’s why shower thoughts are a thing. Or why suddenly, mid-walk, you realize the answer you were missing.

So next time you’re jammed, give yourself permission to pause. Not to doom-scroll, but to let your mind wander.

Strategy 3: Use the “Rubber Duck” Method

This one comes from programming. Developers keep a rubber duck on their desk. When stuck, they explain the problem out loud to the duck.

Why? Because explaining forces clarity. Psychologists call this the protégé effect: teaching or explaining material helps you understand it better . Even if your student is a squeaky bath toy.

(If you don’t have a duck, a pet, plant, or very patient spouse works too.)

Strategy 4: Break It Down Smaller

Big goals are inspiring… until they’re paralyzing. “Learn Mandarin” is not a helpful daily plan.

When stuck, zoom in. Don’t aim to master all Chinese tones. Aim to nail two sounds today. Don’t try to solve the entire math proof. Solve the first step.

Chunking, as cognitive psychology calls it, reduces overwhelm and makes progress visible . And visible progress is rocket fuel for momentum.

Strategy 5: Get Feedback Early

Sometimes you’re stuck not because you’re dumb, but because you’re isolated.

Other people see blind spots you don’t. That’s why musicians hire coaches, writers have editors, and Luke Skywalker had Yoda.

Even minimal feedback accelerates progress. Research on deliberate practice shows that feedback is essential for improvement… otherwise you risk repeating the same mistakes forever.

So ask for help. A study buddy, a mentor, even an online forum can be enough to get you moving again.

Strategy 6: Reframe Failure

Being stuck often feels like proof you’re “not good enough.” But reframing it as part of the process changes everything.

Carol Dweck’s work on growth mindset shows that seeing challenges as opportunities for growth increases persistence and achievement.

Instead of thinking, “I’m bad at this,” try: “I haven’t mastered this yet.” That tiny word “yet” turns stuckness into a checkpoint, not a dead end.

Geek Analogy: Respawn, Don’t Rage Quit

Learning is like playing Dark Souls. You will die. A lot. The question is whether you rage quit or respawn.

Getting stuck is the in-game “You Died” screen. But every time you respawn, you come back with a little more knowledge. Where the enemies are. When to dodge. When to strike. Eventually, what felt impossible becomes muscle memory.

So when you’re stuck, remember: respawning is the point.

Wrapping It Up

Getting stuck doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means you’re in the zone where learning happens.

To get unstuck:

• Switch modes to rewire your brain.

• Step away and let incubation work.

• Explain it (to a duck, dog, or human).

• Break goals into smaller chunks.

• Ask for feedback.

• Reframe failure as growth.

Because in the end, learning isn’t about avoiding obstacles. It’s about becoming the kind of person who knows how to move through them.

And if all else fails, buy a rubber duck. Seriously. Cheapest learning coach you’ll ever get.

References

1. Bjork, R. A., & Bjork, E. L. (2011). Making things hard on yourself, but in a good way: Creating desirable difficulties to enhance learning. Psychology and the Real World, 2, 56–64. Link

2. Mayer, R. E. (2009). Multimedia learning (2nd ed.). Cambridge University Press. Link

3. Sio, U. N., & Ormerod, T. C. (2009). Does incubation enhance problem solving? A meta-analytic review. Psychological Bulletin, 135(1), 94–120. Link

4. Fiorella, L., & Mayer, R. E. (2013). The relative benefits of learning by teaching and teaching expectancy. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 38(4), 281–288. Link

5. Ericsson, K. A. (2006). The influence of experience and deliberate practice on the development of superior expert performance. Cambridge University Press. Link

6. Dweck, C. S. (2006). Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. Random House. Link