How do you deal with topics you don't understand well?

Question

IT education

I think in the process of mastering such a thing as programming, many have come across some topics or concepts that remain incomprehensible the first or even the second time. What do you do in such a case? Skip and then return to the topic when the brains "rest" a little?
For example, I continue to gouge the topic, try Google, watch explanations on YouTube, write test scripts on my hosted training site, and so on, finishing off the topic until I understand. But there is also a minus - sometimes I get stuck for a long time, finishing off the topic. Is it correct?

Answer 1

There is the Zeigarnik effect .
The bottom line: the meat processor and memory process and remember unclosed gestalts better. That is, what is not brought to the end.
Example: finish reading the chapter and fall asleep - the next morning you will remember less than if you do not read the chapter to the end.
The brain "falls asleep" if the incoming flow is uniform. It is necessary to create "discomfort", interference in the flow, so that it starts at the moment. Or stop this very perception. Any transition here is helpful.
That is why in educational institutions couples alternate for an hour, and not in such a way that we study pure philosophy for a week, then a week of pure vyshmat and another week we draw.
So if you hit a wall, don't hit it. Consciousness will open a wider and more stable "channel" and more reliably "impress" constructions into memory (and therefore simplify further processing and knowledge on the topic) if the flow is interrupted, preferably in the most interesting place.
And most importantly:

Answer 2

If the topic is just interesting for my own development, then I return from time to time with a gradual deeper immersion. Often the process is delayed for a long time, especially if there is a shortage of quality materials.
If the topic is needed here and now, then I gouge to the point where I can consciously apply the knowledge gained in a specific task. Usually 1-3 days is enough to dive into a not too complicated topic. But sometimes quite complex topics come across, so you spend weeks delving into the material. In such cases, you often study only what is needed for a given specific task, omitting some irrelevant accompanying things. Sometimes you have to come back to study what you missed.
In the course of studying something, the question of the quality of materials is acute. In the Internet, as a rule, the quality of the material leaves much to be desired. You have to shovel through a lot of rubbish to find what you need. The more immersed in the topic, the easier it is to distinguish rubbish from a diamond. Sometimes in the course of searching I come across some book of shaggy years of publication, but everything is well painted in it. Sometimes I even buy such rarities on second-hand book sites, so that it is in the collection.

Answer 3

wrong, 2-3 hours a day on the topic of the
day, yes - until you finish it

Answer 4

I create Pet-projects, on which I fix a new theme. Usually, up to this point, there are still 2-3 approaches to the theory.
If this is from the category of studying at the university, then the cycles "you analyze the topic for a couple of hours - you switch to something else."