Hi Codeforces!
I'm still a beginner here—just started recently. In this short journey, I made a few small mistakes. Sharing them here in case it helps someone else who’s new like me.
1. Solving problems by looking at tags
In the beginning, I didn't know how to approach problems, so I used tags. Now I realize it's better to think by myself and struggle a bit—that's how real learning happens.
2. Ignoring editorials
When I got WA, I used to get frustrated. Now I read editorials, try to understand the solution, and then solve again. It helps a lot.
3. Random practice
I used to solve problems without a plan. Now I try to practice by rating—like only solving 800–1000 rated problems for a few days.
4. Giving up too quickly
I used to feel like “I can't do this.” But now I know everyone learns step by step. Consistency matters.
Final Note:
I'm still learning. If you’ve made similar mistakes or have any tips, feel free to share in the comments.
— @Abdul_Alim
I am also struck in the newbie for quite some time and I can relate to this. I have recently added the extension to hide the tags and to be honest it helps a lot since it opens new ways to see the problem instead of getting carried away by the tags. Also on the editorial note earlier I used to see editorial but these days I am trying to work on the problem for quite some time, then see first 3-4 lines of editorial and reworking my approaches. I hope I improve my performance in the upcoming contests. Good luck to you!
Hey, thanks a lot for your comment! It really means a lot to know others are going through similar phases. I totally agree with you—hiding the tags forces us to think independently, and it’s such a game-changer!
And your strategy with the editorial is actually smart—reading just a bit to get unstuck but not giving up the whole process. I’ll try that too!
Let’s both keep pushing forward. One contest at a time, one improvement at a time. Best of luck to you too!