Introduction
You open your textbook, look at the page, and it might as well be written in alien hieroglyphics. You read the same sentence three times, and your brain just refuses to absorb it. Instead of learning, you feel a pit in your stomach. You start thinking, "I’m just not a math person" or "My brain doesn't work for history."
This panic is normal, but it is not the truth. You are likely not "bad" at the subject; you are just missing the foundational blocks that make the current topic make sense. It is like trying to run a marathon when you haven't learned to tie your shoes yet.
The good news is that you don't need to be a genius to catch up. You just need a different strategy. In this guide, we will ignore the complicated study advice and give you a simple, step-by-step plan to tackle the class you hate the most.
Here is what we will cover:
Breaking big scary topics into tiny, easy pieces.
Tricking your brain into remembering facts without stress.
Using simple tools (including AI) to explain things like you are five years old.
Building a schedule that doesn't burn you out.
You should try "Chunking"
When you are behind in a class, your first instinct is usually to try and read the entire chapter at once. This is a mistake. Your brain gets overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information, and it shuts down. This leads to what psychologists call "cognitive overload."
Instead, you need to use a method called Chunking.
Think of it like eating a steak. You wouldn't shove the whole steak in your mouth at once; you cut it into bite-sized pieces. You need to do the same with your study material.
How to do it:
Take your scary chapter or assignment.
Break it down into the smallest possible pieces.
Focus on one piece at a time.
For example, if you are studying biology, don't study "The Cell." Study just the "Nucleus" for 10 minutes. Once you understand that one tiny part, move to the next. This lowers your anxiety because you are winning small victories over and over again. If you struggle with even starting this process because the task feels too big, you might be falling into the "Task Paralysis" trap, which we discuss in our guide on why you keep putting off homework.
The "Feynman Technique" Simplified
Richard Feynman was a Nobel Prize-winning physicist, but his greatest skill was explaining complicated things simply. He believed that if you couldn't explain something simply, you didn't understand it.
You can use his method to learn anything, even if you think you are "bad" at it.
The 3-Step Process:
Read the concept you are trying to learn.
Pretend you are teaching it to a 6th grader (or your dog).
Identify where you get stuck.
If you are explaining a history event and you say, "And then... uh... something happened with a treaty," that is your gap. You don't need to re-read the whole chapter. You just need to look up that one specific part about the treaty.
This saves you hours of time because you stop studying what you already know and focus only on what you don't know. You can read more about the origins of this method from Todoist's guide on the Feynman Technique.
Get a "Tutor" Who Never Gets Tired
One of the hardest parts of studying a difficult subject is that you often need someone to explain things to you multiple times, in different ways, until it "clicks." Asking your teacher to explain the same thing five times can feel embarrassing.
This is where Artificial Intelligence (AI) changes the game. But you have to use it correctly. Don't just ask AI for the answer. If you do that, you learn nothing. Instead, ask the AI to be your tutor.
Try this prompt: "Explain [Concept] to me like I am 12 years old. Use an analogy from real life, like sports or video games, to help me understand."
If you want a more structured experience, we recommend using the Generalist Teacher prompt from our library. Unlike basic ChatGPT, which just spits out answers, the Generalist Teacher is programmed to act like a real supportive tutor. It explains concepts step-by-step, asks you questions to check if you understand, and helps you fix your mistakes without making you feel dumb.
You can find the Generalist Teacher prompt here.
Use Active Recall
Most students study by reading their notes over and over again. This is actually the worst way to study. It feels like you are learning because the words look familiar, but your brain isn't actually retaining the information.
A much better method is Active Recall.
Active Recall means closing the book and trying to pull the information out of your brain. It is hard, and it feels uncomfortable, but that struggle is what builds memory.
Simple ways to use Active Recall:
The Blurting Method: Read a page, close the book, and write down everything you remember on a blank sheet of paper. Then open the book and see what you missed.
Flashcards: But don't flip them over instantly. Force yourself to say the answer out loud before checking.
Practice Tests: If your textbook has questions at the end of the chapter, do them.
According to research from the University of Arizona, testing yourself is one of the most effective ways to move information from short-term memory to long-term memory.
Spaced Repetition: The Secret to Long-Term Memory
Have you ever crammed for a test, got a B, and then forgot everything two days later? That is because you crammed. To actually learn a subject you struggle with, you need Spaced Repetition.
This just means reviewing the material at specific intervals.
Review 1: Immediately after learning it.
Review 2: One day later.
Review 3: Three days later.
Review 4: One week later.
By the time you review it a week later, you will realize you still remember it. This builds massive confidence. If you struggle to organize this schedule yourself, you can learn how to use AI to prepare for tests, which includes tips on generating your own review schedules.
Find the Right Resource (Sometimes It's the Material, Not You)
Sometimes, the textbook is just bad. Sometimes, the teacher's explanation style doesn't match your brain. If you are staring at a page and don't get it, stop forcing it. Go find a different explanation.
Where to look:
YouTube: Search for your topic followed by "Crash Course" or "explained simply."
Khan Academy: They are excellent for math and science basics.
Visual Guides: Search Google Images for diagrams.
If you are a visual learner, reading a block of text about geometry will never work as well as seeing a video of it. For a list of digital tools that can help you find better resources or summarize difficult readings, check out our list of the best free AI tools students actually use.
Fix Your Environment
If you are studying a subject you hate, your brain is looking for any excuse to be distracted. A notification on your phone? Distraction. A messy desk? Distraction. A loud TV? Distraction.
You need to build a "bunker" for studying.
Phone in another room. (This is non-negotiable).
Clear your desk. Only have the materials you need for this one subject.
Use background noise. Some people like silence, but others focus better with "Pink Noise" or "Lo-fi beats."
By removing distractions, you lower the amount of willpower you need to stay focused. You can find more tips on creating a good study environment from Connections Academy.
Be Kind to Yourself
This is the most important step. When you tell yourself "I am stupid" or "I will never get this," your brain releases stress hormones that actually make it harder to think.
It is called a "Fixed Mindset." You want a "Growth Mindset."
Instead of saying "I can't do this," say "I can't do this yet." It sounds cheesy, but it works. Accept that it is going to be hard. Accept that you will make mistakes. Every mistake is just data telling you what to fix next.
For a deeper dive into how mindset affects learning, you can read this article on Growth Mindset by Harvard Business School Online.
Conclusion
Studying for a subject you are bad at is not about being smarter; it is about being strategic. You have to stop banging your head against the wall and start finding the doors.
Remember the plan:
Chunk it: Break big tasks into tiny ones.
Explain it: Teach it to an imaginary 6th grader.
Test yourself: Don't just read; use active recall.
Use tools: Leverage AI prompts like Generalist Teacher to guide you.
Space it out: Review over time, not all at once.
You are capable of learning this. Take a deep breath, pick the first tiny "chunk," and get started. You’ve got this.
