Have you ever found yourself completely unable to understand something that you need to learn? Perhaps something for work, or for a hobby, that you need to understand. It's something that we all go through from time to time. We want to learn something, we try our hardest to understand, but the knowledge eludes us. We can't get our heads around it, no matter how hard we try. Ultimately, this can become frustrating, especially if it's something that you need to learn to progress in your job or pass an exam. Here are some of the things that you could try, to get your brain to say yes.

Change your brains diet

What you eat has a massive effect on your brain's ability to work well. Eating brain foods like blueberries, broccoli, nuts, fatty fish and drinking lots of water could help.

Take a Break

When you just can't understand something, no matter how hard you try, it becomes frustrating. You might get angry or annoyed with yourself. You may even start to doubt your intelligence or your ability to learn. This kind of mood is never conducive to learning.

So take a break. Stop trying for a while. Even if you are short on time, and you need to understand this new knowledge quickly, taking a break is better than getting stuck in a frustrating cycle.

Go for a walk, read a book, watch some TV, or get some exercise. Exercise can be useful as it gives you a way to burn off negative energy and clear your mind. Then, when you come back to it, break the information down as much as you can. Take your time to learn small chunks, before moving on to the next.

Make it Fun

It's thought that we only remember about 10% of the things that we read long-term. So, it's fair to say that this goes for understanding too. If you are reading something, and it's just not going in, try something else. Use a bingo card maker to create a fun game that you could play with colleagues or your study group. Have debates with people. Spend time watching documentaries or listening to podcasts. Try using things that you find interesting, to help you understand.

Explore your creativity

Creative hobbies are a great way to stimulate our minds and open them up to new ideas. Exploring your creativity with hobbies such as painting, photography and other crafts can help you to learn and understand more effectively.

Teach Someone Else

Sometimes, the problem isn't that we don't understand. It's that we don't realize how much we have understood. If you are worried that you don't understand something new, try teaching someone else. You might find that you know more than you think you do.

Try different Learning Techniques

Some people learn well by reading and taking notes. But that isn't for all of us. Try different techniques such as watching videos and listening to lectures, or speaking to an expert. You might even want to visit places of interest or explore related knowledge.

Ask for Help

There's usually help available, whatever it is you are trying to learn. Look for sources online, speak to people that you know, or just ask a friend if they can ask you some questions.