How to get better at stuff?

Perhaps your friends have been working harder or longer at this than you have. Practice is really the best method for improving at anything; you have a great mindset. Keep at it, and do not worry so much about comparing yourself to others. You should only compare yourself to yourself, to see how well you've improved over time. Also, you've probably heard some iteration of this before, but anything worthwhile is worth working for. Tricks usually won't get you very far, and they won't be satisfying the way that mastering something with dedication and perseverance is.