Have you ever noticed how the biggest problems in our lives often feel like tangled headphones in our pockets?

The more we try to untangle them quickly, the worse they seem to get.

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But when you slow down and take them one loop at a time —suddenly, you get a straight path to the end.

So, last month, I was staring at my laptop screen at 1 PM, and my mind was racing through what felt like a thousand problems at once:

• my house is a mess
• prep the meals for work
• fitness goals are slipping
• need to do laundry for the week
• the article is due for the next week
• the work targets are still missing
• on and on

and my to-do list kept on piling up. It had started bleeding while I wasn’t looking.

So, I started scrolling through different articles and books in search of finding the solution to this problem.

The more I was reading, the more I realized that we all face the same core challenges, but just wearing different masks.

The Universal Language of Problems

In my journey of helping people optimize their lives and goals, I’ve noticed that most of our struggles fall into a few fundamental categories.

But the interesting part is the solutions often follow similar patterns too.

Let me explain to you how and allow me to share what I’ve learned.

Why Most Problem-Solving Advice Fails

Here’s the thing: most problem-solving advice tells you to “just break it down” or “take it one step at a time.”

Great. But how?

When your mind is racing, and everything feels urgent, these vague suggestions are about as helpful as a chocolate teapot.

I discovered this the hard way.

After trying every productivity hack and problem-solving framework out there, I realized something crucial:

We don’t need more solutions. We need a better way to think about our problems.

The Art of Problem—Pattern Recognition

1. When Everything Feels Overwhelming

Remember my 1 PM screen-staring session?

I discovered that overwhelming often means missing clarity in life.

Instead of trying to solve everything at once, I started with my space. Decluttering my living space, led to decluttering my mind, which led to decluttering my priorities.

the lesson—small steps, massive impact.

2. The Money-Meaning Paradox

When financial stress hits, our instinct is to focus on the numbers.

The stock market is down, crypto is bleeding, the economy is struggling, and so on.

But what I’ve found is that if you focus on value creation and investing, it changes everything.

Years ago, I helped a senior person with their computer by backing up their data to a storage device —not for money, but because I could.

Those connections led to opportunities I never expected.

I realized that sometimes, the best way to solve money problems is to forget about money temporarily.

3. Breaking the Monotony Trap

Here’s something I never see people talk about.

Monotony isn’t about lacking excitement—It’s about lacking growth.

Instead of just picking up a random hobby, I started learning things that scared me a little.

Currently, I’m learning to code again, and while my programs mostly create innovative new error messages, each small program execution without error feels like summit day on Everest.

The Problem-Solving Framework That Works

Through trial and error(mostly error), I’ve developed what I call the “SCAN” method.

Think of SCAN as your emergency response system for life’s challenges.

Here’s how it works:

S – Stop

• Pause everything for 2 minutes
• Name exactly what you’re feeling
• Write down the problem that’s keeping you up at night.

C – Categorize

• Is this a real problem or a fear?
• What type of problem is it really?
• What’s the core issue beneath the surface?

A – Action

• Choose ONE small, immediate step
• Make it so small that it seems ridiculous
• Do it right now

N – Next

• While still in motion, plan your following step
• Keep it equally small and specific
• Schedule exactly when you’ll do it

Implementation Story

Let me share how this played out in real life.

Starting this year, I struggled with a lack of discipline. But when I applied “SCAN,” I realized the real issue wasn’t the discipline. It was trying to change everything at once.

Instead of a complete life remake, I picked ONE habit: sleep at the same time every night.

I was planning to do this simple task for the next 30 days.

By day 15th, I was naturally adapting to it and continued adding more habits.

Why SCAN Works When Nothing Else Does

1. It’s Impossible to Mess Up: The steps are so simple that you can do them even when stressed or tired.
2. It Creates Instant Relief: Just naming and categorizing your problem reduces anxiety significantly.
3. It Prevents Overwhelming: By focusing on one tiny action, you avoid the paralysis of trying to solve everything at once.

Your Turn: Practical Next Steps

1. Today: Write down your biggest problem. Just one.
2. Tomorrow: Apply SCAN to it first thing in the morning.
3. This Week: Share your process with someone you trust or with yourself by writing it down.

A Final Thought

Remember: Problem-solving isn’t about having all the answers.

It’s about having the right questions and the courage to answer them honestly.