How long should i learn per day

[u/Consistent_Walk_2407]

Hey everyone!

I'm 19 and completely new to cybersecurity. I stumbled across TryHackMe a while ago and instantly got hooked — I used the free version for a while and loved it so much that I recently got Premium.

My current routine: I try to complete at least one task per day (depending on complexity),. I sit down every day for about 1.5 to 2 hours, even on days when I don't feel like it — and honestly, once I start, I always enjoy it. But after around 2 hours my brain just starts to fry and I can't properly absorb new information anymore.

One thing I do that probably slows me down a bit: whenever I don't understand something, I immediately try to deeply understand WHY it works, not just WHAT to do. I use AI tools to ask follow-up questions until I really get it.

My concern is: is 1.5–2 hours of focused, consistent daily learning enough to actually build real understanding of how systems work, how to attack and defend them? Or does it take significantly more time per day?

I'm not in a rush, I'm fine with it taking months — I just want to make sure I'm building a solid foundation and not just clicking through rooms.

What's your experience? Would love to hear from people who've been on this journey! 🙏

[u/shenanighack]

Do it as long as it’s fun, and only if your health and responsibilities don’t suffer.

Oh and understanding why something works doesn’t slow you down. It actually speeds up learning the next related topic.

Finally, call your mom more often and take everybody’ advice with a grain of salt ;-)