HTB methodology?

I want to improve my pentesting knowledge. Now, after doing the pentesting introduction in HTB, I am starting to do machines on my own. As expected, I get stuck all the time and I end-up using writeups.

I feel like I am cheating or giving up too early. How long do you try until looking the solution? How should I approach the machines?

cheating cybersecurity doing end htb introduction knowledge machines own pentesting solution writeups