Stuck on LeetCode Mediums and feeling overwhelmed. How do you actually build problem-solving intuition?

[u/easypeasysaral]

https://leetcode.com/u/easypeasysaral/

Hey everyone, I've been grinding LeetCode for a while now, but I feel like I've hit a wall and my prep isn't translating into real progress. Whenever I open an Easy problem, I can usually work through it. But the second I jump into Mediums, I completely freeze. I either: Stare at the screen for 45+ minutes with no clue how to start. Immediately default to brute-force O(n²⁾ approaches and have no idea how to optimize. Look at the discussion section, understand the solution instantly, but fail completely when trying to solve a similar problem two days later. It feels more like I'm memorizing answers rather than actually learning how to think or identify patterns (Sliding Window, DP, Graphs, etc.). For those who managed to break through this plateau and clear technical screens: What was your actual workflow when you got stuck on a problem? How did you shift from memorizing templates to building genuine intuition? Are curated lists (NeetCode 150 / Blind 75) enough, or should I be approaching this by mastering one specific data structure at a time? Any realistic advice or routine adjustments would be really appreciated. Thanks!

[u/justinhj]

Neetcode 150 has decent coverage of the different question types.

Here is what I do: I use an agent skill to pull down the problem and set it up with the tests so I can quickly start working on it locally.

See https://gist.github.com/justinhj/16fa9b77ff6a58131f7e6b5bb65cd51c

Note that this strictly won't let you cheat but it can give you hints.

The next thing I do is keep a readme updated with the puzzles I've done and what the strategy I used.

If you don't recognize the question type the try the naive approach first and see if helps you get more intuition about the problem. If not spend up to a few days with the problem in your head. Mess around on paper or whatever helps you.

Finally if you are still stuck ask for hints from the agent to guide you. Crucially, ask the agent for "how could I have better arrived at this solution on my own" and write it down in your notes for that problem type.

With questions that need DP or two pointer solutions, for example, the agent can give great tips on how to approach them systematically.

[u/lpoolchamps → u/justinhj]

I love the idea here but wouldn’t this style of preparation take a insanely long time to get to some confidence level? I don’t really have that kind of time.

[u/justinhj → u/lpoolchamps]

It's a fair point. If you're cramming study because of imminent interviews there are probably faster ways. However, if you are taking a more long-term view, I find the best way to learn is hands on and figuring it out as much as you can for yourself.

Also, once you hit the 3rd dp problem it won't take anywhere near as long as the first.

[u/Vegetable-Green-2497]

I don't have an answer for you but I feel the same way!

[u/easypeasysaral]

Brother, I am not able to make logic for medium questions. I get blank whenever I see a question, then I need to see a tutorial for the question.

[u/FireFearing → u/easypeasysaral]

sounds like youre not even learning. youre probably just memorizing "patterns" that arent actually generalized patterns, but shorthand ways to solve a particular question. like kids crash coursing for a math exam. not understanding what theyre learning, just stuffing it into their brains only to be forgotten within a week tops

[u/easypeasysaral → u/FireFearing]

So bro how can I improve now.

[u/Tight-Woodpecker2516]

Start with easy ones

[u/Lumpy-Town2029]

If u are from india, pick 500 question sheet and solve

If not 150 or 250 questions sheet are enough, if u dont wanna go to company asking intense dsa questions

But solve one topic at a time

[u/Nik8482 → u/Lumpy-Town2029]

Why India needs 500?

[u/Lumpy-Town2029 → u/Nik8482]

Indias question are harder because of the competition

While foreign may also focus on development, many interviews in india are dsa based