Why Is Learning So Hard for Me and How Can I Make It Easier?
Have you ever sat down with study materials and found it impossible to focus? Maybe you decided to change your career, bought all the necessary books, or signed up for a course, but every time you try to study, something distracts you—your child calls you, you suddenly feel hungry, or a message pops up that just can’t wait. You start checking your email, scrolling through social media, or thinking about the dishes that need washing. It starts to feel like learning is impossible, and the frustration just keeps growing. At moments like these, it’s crucial to understand that you are not alone. Many adults find learning challenging, and there are reasons for this.
Learning difficulties aren’t always about ADHD or another neurodivergence. Sometimes we’re just tired or overwhelmed with information. There are times when it feels like we’ve forgotten how to learn, and that’s completely normal. Harvard University research (all links are in the comment section of this post) confirms that stress and fatigue significantly affect cognitive abilities, making the learning process much harder. The modern world demands so much from us that sometimes there’s just no energy or time left for learning.
But why is it really harder for adults to learn than teenagers? In adolescence, our brains are more plastic, and learning happens naturally and easily. As we age, brain plasticity decreases, and it takes more effort to acquire new skills. Add in the responsibilities that come with adulthood—work, family, bills, everyday concerns—and it’s easy to see why learning becomes emotionally and physically draining, reducing our ability to concentrate. Stanford research shows that this decline in brain plasticity, combined with accumulated stress, makes it much more difficult for adults to learn compared to teenagers.
Another barrier to learning is procrastination and lack of motivation. Adults often struggle to see immediate results from their efforts; learning can seem distant and abstract, especially when results aren’t visible right away. This uncertainty breeds procrastination—we want to see the fruits of our labor here and now, but learning requires patience and time. An article in Psychology Today explains that procrastination often arises from fear of failure or uncertainty. We put off studying because we’re unsure if we can manage or fear the disappointment of failing.
Sometimes, learning difficulties really can be related to neurodivergence, like ADHD, but that’s not the only cause. Often, it’s simply fatigue, accumulated stress, or even fear of failure and perfectionism that keep us from fully immersing in the learning process. The American Psychological Association reports that stress and perfectionism can be significant barriers to learning. We fear making mistakes, so we don’t even start. We wait until we have enough energy to do everything perfectly, but that moment never comes.
And sometimes we just accept that we’ve had learning difficulties since childhood. We either resign ourselves to this fact or struggle through learning like it’s an obstacle—or even fight it like an enemy.
It’s important to realize that learning difficulties aren’t forever. They are temporary, and they can be overcome if we find the right strategies and give ourselves time. Sometimes you just need to rest, to restore your emotional resources so that you can find the strength to continue. Sometimes it’s necessary to study yourself—to understand what type of learner you are, through which external channels (visual, auditory, kinesthetic) you best absorb information.
Emotional support and understanding your own needs are keys to success. It’s essential to allow yourself to rest and not demand the impossible from yourself. As highlighted in an article on Verywell Mind, emotional health plays a key role in your ability to learn and absorb new information.
I want to share some examples of people (students who have taken my IT courses) who managed to overcome these difficulties. One of them—a man named Mikhail—decided to learn Quality Assurance (QA) after turning 40, to start earning more. At first, he struggled to concentrate, constantly getting distracted, and he kept putting off his studies. He even switched from one course to another because he couldn’t keep up with his classmates’ homework. He told me that he had almost given up—most of the group understood the lectures, while he had to watch them twice and still found them difficult. We analyzed his approach and found that he would plan to watch a lecture for two weeks but keep postponing it. Then he’d watch it (usually at night, when he was tired) and immediately try to do the homework. He understood nothing, couldn’t complete the tasks, and even watching it again didn’t help. I recommended a different approach: study for half an hour each day, without pressure or high expectations. If he got stuck on one topic, he should set it aside, study something else, and return to that topic later. The key was not to study once every two weeks in a frantic rush, but rather a little each day. Gradually, learning became part of his routine, and over time, he not only mastered new skills but also found a job in a new field.
Another story is my own. I was 38 years old, with four children, two jobs, and ADHD when I decided to change my career. It only worked on the third try. The first two attempts failed miserably—I simply quit because I lost focus in the first lessons, struggled with information, and my motivation quickly faded. It worked on the third attempt because I first read several books on how to learn properly, studied the methods that would work for me specifically at that point in my life. I adapted the course curriculum to suit my needs, added extra materials, and finally completed it, changed my career, and then quickly made a vertical move up in my new job (because learning difficulties never mean you’ll struggle with the job itself).
These stories help to understand that difficulties can be overcome, and that there is nothing wrong with moving forward at your own pace.
If learning is hard for you, know that you are not alone. Almost every adult faces these problems. Some people manage faster, some slower, but the important thing is that no one has to face this alone. There are many tools that can help you along the way, as well as people who have already walked this path and are ready to share their experiences. On our platform, you can find a free course that will help you learn effective learning strategies and teach you how to deal with difficulties related to concentration and motivation.
Learning is a process that requires patience and support. We all learn at our own pace, and that’s okay. The main thing is not to give up and to remember that with the right support, tools, and understanding of your own needs, this journey is possible and much easier. You don’t have to do everything perfectly—what’s important is to keep going. And with the right tools and support, you can learn and grow despite all the challenges.
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