"I've been doing this my whole life. If you're hung up on the big picture, trying to put together a plan for what to learn, you might try reading a variety of introductory stuff and specifically put together the overview you're looking for. Sometimes it's hard to find a good intro to a subject, so look around until you find one or have read enough of them to move on. Then you can break it down and focus on what you need to learn next. Always break down what you're learning into crucial concepts. It helps you build the foundation. First learn the building blocks, then learn how to put them together. As you're reading, simplify things and take notes in your own words until you have a clear picture of what you need to know. Take notes so as to be able to teach someone else with them, or at least your future self after you've forgotten. If your notes require a particular order then I'd question your notetaking method. I organize mine by category/topic with subheadings, and I use text..." - Tanath