Hi Codeforces family,

I’ve been doing competitive programming seriously since April 2024 and have solved over 280 problems so far. I practice daily, participate in contests, and upsolve after every round. Still, I struggle to solve the second question in Div. 2 contests. Even after spending a lot of time thinking, the correct approach often doesn’t click. This has started affecting my confidence, and I often wonder — is this something everyone goes through, or am I missing a key piece?

I’m genuinely passionate about getting better and would really appreciate:

Advice or mindset shifts that helped you push past this stage Topic suggestions I should focus on to reach newbie->Pupil → Specialist A realistic roadmap or step-by-step path toward improvement Suggestions on how many hours per day I should ideally invest I’m fully committed and willing to put in the work — just looking for a little direction from those who’ve been here before. Any guidance would mean a lot!

Thanks in advance!