Studying Advice on self studying material

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Self-studying subjects like math, physics, and programming can be challenging, especially when encountering gaps in foundational knowledge. A common issue is the tendency to rush through material, leading to confusion and a cycle of revisiting earlier chapters, which can hinder progress and cause frustration. To address this, it's recommended to focus on specific projects that provide clear goals. For instance, instead of aiming to master a broad topic like multivariable calculus, pursuing a concrete project—such as developing a program to enhance photos—can create a more structured learning path. This approach encourages learning relevant concepts in context, helping to maintain interest and coherence in the study process while gradually building expertise.
Yashbhatt
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Hi. Looking for general advice on self studying math, physics, programming etc.

What happens often with me is either I go too fast and encounter for which my basics aren't clear enough and going back and forth between chapters/modules boggs me down. So, I erase my overall progress and just start with the basic chapters again but a lot of it starts to get repetitive and I lose interest. So, in a way I know the basics of many subjects but fail to gain expertise in any of them. Any advise on how to avoid the back and forth and learn in a coherent manner?
 
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One thought is to find a very specific project that you are determined to accomplish. Then study whatever is necessary to accomplish it. A project like "Write a computer program to enhance the photos of my grandparents" is less nebuluous than that an ambition like "Master multivariable calculus".
 
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Hey, I am Andreas from Germany. I am currently 35 years old and I want to relearn math and physics. This is not one of these regular questions when it comes to this matter. So... I am very realistic about it. I know that there are severe contraints when it comes to selfstudy compared to a regular school and/or university (structure, peers, teachers, learning groups, tests, access to papers and so on) . I will never get a job in this field and I will never be taken serious by "real"...
Yesterday, 9/5/2025, when I was surfing, I found an article The Schwarzschild solution contains three problems, which can be easily solved - Journal of King Saud University - Science ABUNDANCE ESTIMATION IN AN ARID ENVIRONMENT https://jksus.org/the-schwarzschild-solution-contains-three-problems-which-can-be-easily-solved/ that has the derivation of a line element as a corrected version of the Schwarzschild solution to Einstein’s field equation. This article's date received is 2022-11-15...

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