Stop changing five variables when you need to learn which one mattered.

Changing several things at once means that if it works, you do not know why, and if it does not, you have learned nothing. It feels efficient because you are covering more ground, and it costs you the only thing the attempt could have given you, which is understanding. One change at a time is slower and actually accumulates.

When you are trying to work something out, discipline yourself to alter one variable and observe. Write down what you changed and what happened. Within a few rounds you will know something reliable rather than having a vague impression.