Change Mindset
Think about whether you have the right mindset to learn math. Do not think that math is hard or that you are not good at it. Focus on your goals and what you want to achieve. It seems like math is a part of your life that you want to improve to reach those goals. Stop right there; don’t overthink it. Just start.
Just Start
First thing first, just start. Don’t wait for the perfect moment or the perfect resources. The best time to start learning math is now. If you have problems getting into the habit, connect with people who are also into math. Join a community, find a study buddy, or follow math enthusiasts on social media. Good example is MathAcademy chat on Discord or MathAcademy community on X. Avoid negativity and toxic people. They want you to be like them. Do not let them. Surround yourself with positive and supportive people.
Be supportive to others too. If you see someone struggling, offer help or encouragement. We are all in this together, and we can learn from each other. Do not feel like you are less of a mathematician because you are just starting out. We all started somewhere. You are starting now.
Learning in Public
Hold yourself accountable by sharing your progress. This can be done through social media, blogs, or even just telling your mom. Just DM me if you want to share your progress with me. I will be happy to cheer you on. Tell me: “Hey, I am X and I am learning math. Look what i did today!“. I’ll say “Hell yeah, keep going!“.
Resource on a Budget
I have divided the approach into a different budget tiers. There is no upper budget part, but I would get a tutor if I was that rich, but I am not. I would also follow all of the steps below.
Very Little or No Budget
Take a piece of paper and a pen. Subscribe to MathAcademy and start working from Math Fundamentals 1. They have a 30-day money-back guarantee policy. If you don’t have $50 to start, reach out to me or other people in math community. There is a lot of good people and they are happy to help. If you’re really in financial trouble, we might work something out together. If it’s your first time using learning platforms, try out Khan Academy first.
Use free resources, a good examples is Math for Machine Learning Book.
Medium-Sized Budget
Buy yourself a tablet with a stylus. I find it much easier to write for a prolonged period on a tablet. Budgets vary here. Affordable options include Lenovo tablets; prices go up from there depending on your available budget. I work with a Lenovo tablet, which cost about 600 PLN, or roughly $130–$140 USD at the time. I have to reopen note taking app because my calculations take too much space. I don’t care, just reopen it and work through your problems on a new note sheet.
Keep Going
Keep going, keep learning, and keep sharing your progress. Find the best routine for yourself. For me the best routine is to wake up early, make a cup of coffee, and start working on math problems. I usually work for 1-2 hours in the morning, then take a break, and continue later in the day. Find what works for you and stick to it. Getting into a habbit needs some work and time too. If you like to spend more time after a midnight, do it. If you like to work in the morning, do it. If you like to work in the evening, do it. There is probably some meta-learning about the correct time, posture, and so on, but I don’t care. I just do it. The main thing is to learn, retain and then apply the knowledge.
Conclusion
Don’t forget to take breaks and rest. During your breaks, I would recommend to assess your progress. What have you learned? What do I want to learn next? Answer all of those questions in context of your goals.