Great strategy! I totally agree that acknowledging the overwhelm is a good first step and setting small, incremental goals is a fantastic idea.
I find creating a mental map helpful - visualizing the topic/concept and how different parts connect can be a great way to understand the bigger picture and not get lost in the details. Also, putting the learning into context with real-world examples or scenarios can make it more tangible and memorable.
Actively discussing the topic can also be a useful strategy. Teaching others or just explaining concepts out loud forces you to clarify your understanding and often leads to useful insights and new perspectives.
For especially complex topics, I find making physical notes/diagrams helpful - there's something about the act of writing it down that helps solidify my understanding and makes it easier to revisit and make sense of later. Plus, it's satisfying to physically see your progress!
I'm keen to hear other people's strategies too - it's an ongoing challenge but a fun learning journey!