Problem Solving

Problem solving is a skill than can be improved over time. Since it is a part of programming, think of it this way: People who write or create some form of art take time figuring out how to proceed, and they face different "blocks" where they cannot solve the problem at hand. But they eventually continue. So you should be able to do just fine. My advice is just keep practicing.

Hey unstoppable, there is nothing wrong with your approach. Actually i think it has it merits. Each and everyone will come across problems that cannot be solved by glancing at them so they need to resort to similar strategies than yours. Since you obviously already made a habit out of taking a structured approach it probably will be easier for you dealing with harder puzzles. Maybe not today or tomorrow but someday.

Just keep practicing :)

I actually thought this very thing a couple of years ago when I started dabbling in programming. I wasn't amazingly good at figuring things out in my head, so I always wrote things on paper and broke them down to their smallest components. Well, a few years later, I realize that this was actually really good because now I'm working on bigger, more complex problems and knowing how to break things down is *exactly* what's needed.

And yes, you'll get better at problem solving, as long as you have the drive to learn. The only reason some don't get better at a particular thing is that they don't try. Hell, I'm an example of that; I studied Swedish in school for 9 years (why do Finnish students have to go through years of Swedish that they'll never use? No one knows), and would have a tough time forming proper sentences at this point. I just didn't care enough to commit things to my memory so that they wouldn't fall out the second I turned in the exam.

Just keep practising, and don't worry about it too much. The second you start stressing over something, you aren't having fun. That's no good.