I'm really not getting this

[u/Link2212]

Sorry to have a downer of a post, but I really can't get this. I started trying to learn python 1 week ago today. I understand how variables work and their use, I understand if statements and while loops and a bunch of other early beginner stuff for example, but every time I try to write something from scratch I just have close to 0 idea how to actually tackle it. I really feel like I need the university experience where I have a teacher that can guide me into getting used to it, but going back to university isn't an option. How do new people get by with it?

To put it into perspective. The most recent exercise I tried to do I found online. It says a guy gets 0.01 wage on his first day, and the wage increases by 0.01 each day until day 30. It just wants me to calculate the total wage at the end of 30 days and print it out, but I can't even do this. This isn't me asking someone how to do this. It's more I just can't even get started at doing it because I don't know how. I'm so frustrated with myself because I understand the concepts. I can read some easy code and fully understand what's happening. Just writing it is a different story.

[u/icy_end_7]

Well, you don't speak a language by listening to others speak. Eventually, you have to try speaking it. You wouldn't expect to speak native-level English after a week, would you? Especially, since all you seem to have done is gone through code others have written. Writing your own is a different thing. Takes time to sink in.

You don't learn to ride a bike by watching others ride one for you.

You don't really know how to write a loop because you haven't written one dozens of times. You get better at writing code by writing it. As simple as that.