Cherlock Code 🔎Tips for keeping things fresh and fun when learning to code.
You started on your coding journey with excitement.
Everything was new and you were improving every day 🌈 .
You ploughed through online courses, built personal projects, and saw your skills take off 🚀.
But lately, something changed.
You've pretty much hit a plateau.
Progress feels sluggish compared to those first euphoric weeks or months.
Frustrations are creeping in, and that spark that initially ignited your dreams of being awesome at coding has gone out.
But guess what?
You’re not alone.
This experience is more common than you may think.
The initial rush of rapid improvement will always slow down.
Skills that took weeks to master now can take months. You're still learning, but the pace will seem snail-like compared to before.
It's easy to get discouraged when progress stalls. But plateaus are a normal and expected part of the learning process.
In fact, they're a sign you’re tackling more advanced skills!
The good news is this sluggishness is temporary.
With the right approach, you can revive your original passion for coding.
Let’s take a look at some actionable tips to re-ignite the coding spark when you've hit a motivational plateau.
And hopefully, you'll be back to enjoying the coding journey before you know it!
Adjust Your Learning Methods
One effective way to re-ignite your passion for coding is to change up your learning methods and try new approaches.
Our brains adapt and get used to doing things the same way over time.
By learning in new ways, you can re-engage your mind and regain excitement.
I’ve written more in-depth articles about some of these methods below, but here’s a quick overview of what you can do:
Pair Programming 👫
Try pairing up with another coder to tackle projects together.
Two heads are better than one!
Collaboration can re-energise the process as you discuss solutions, get unstuck, and share small wins.
You’ll also pick up new techniques from your partner. Sites like meetup.com, and developer forums can help find pairing partners.
More Complex Projects 💻
Sometimes plateaus happen because we stay in our comfort zone too long.
Raise the difficulty level on your next project to get the juices flowing again.
Try something you haven’t done before like building an app that uses a database or APIs.
The challenge will get your learning instincts fired up as you figure out new programming skills.
New Languages and Frameworks 🎁
It’s easy to keep using the same language or framework we started with.
But exploring something totally new like Go, Rust, or Scala can breathe fresh life into coding.
The novelty restores interest since everything feels unfamiliar again.
Pick a tech that genuinely excites you to study next.
Books Over Online Courses 📖
You’ve probably already gone through numerous self-guided learning through online platforms like Codecademy or Udemy.
However, books are great ways to dive deeper.
Try switching up your learning by working through a book chapter-by-chapter to level up your skills.
The change from online docs and tutorials can reignite your spark.
The key is to keep exploring new learning mediums and challenges.
Push your abilities so coding feels interesting again.
Regaining momentum is all about shaking things up.
Relate Coding to Your Interests
One powerful way to renew your passion for coding is to connect it back to your personal interests and solve problems you care about.
When programming feels aligned with something meaningful to you, it becomes purposeful again.
For example, if you love music, you could build an app to help you discover new artists or share playlists with friends.
If you're into fitness, create an app to track your workouts and progress.
Or if you care about environmental issues, explore methods and ways to make your coding projects more sustainable.
Think about what gets you excited or where you see room for improvement in an industry you enjoy.
Finding the crossover between coding and your interests helps fuel motivation.
Some other examples:
- If you love travel ✈️, build trip-planning tools and apps
- If you're a foodie 🍔, make restaurant review sites or recipe organisers
- If you like sports ⚽️, create fan sites for teams and leagues
- If you care about education 📚, build study tools or flashcard apps
- If you're passionate about fashion 👗, try e-commerce sites for clothing
- If you like gaming 🎮, make mods, add-ons, or helper tools
When you work on projects that align with your pre-existing passions, coding doesn't feel like just a chore.
You have a personal stake in the solutions.
Coding becomes fun again when you see how it can improve things you care about.
So take some time to brainstorm where your interests align with tech.
Keep your skills sharp while also enriching a hobby or industry you're invested in.
You'll be amazed at how motivating coding becomes when you own the process.
Take Time Off
Burnout is a real risk in coding.
Learning new technical skills often requires intense focus and persistence. After a while, we can begin to feel drained, even if we loved coding at first.
When you hit a plateau, it's wise to schedule meaningful breaks from programming to come back renewed.
Don't be afraid to take a week or two off from coding completely to recharge.
Step away from the computer and do activities that bring you joy and relaxation.
During your time off:
- Spend time outdoors and get moving - go for hikes, walks, or runs. Physical activity boosts energy.
- Pursue hobbies unrelated to tech - read books, cook meals, play games, make art.
- Avoid thinking about code - give your mind a true break.
- Catch up on sleep and take care of your body through healthy eating.
- Connect more with friends and family about non-coding topics.
- Travel somewhere new if you can. A change of scenery is refreshing 🏖.
After even just a week of switching off, you'll be surprised at how rejuvenated you feel.
Your motivation will surge back once you sit down to code again.
It's perfectly fine to hit pause on coding skills for a bit when you hit a wall.
Short breaks prevent longer burnout. When you come back, you'll have fresh eyes, increased focus, and renewed purpose.
Be sure to make time off a regular habit between long coding stints.
Quick resets ensure you can sustainably enjoy programming for the long haul without losing steam.
Conclusion
Hitting plateaus and periods of slow progress is completely normal as you learn to code.
The initial rush when everything is new will inevitably fade. But with the right strategies, you can re-ignite your coding passion quickly.
It's all about experimenting with new learning techniques, connecting with others, and reminding yourself why coding excited you in the first place.
By replenishing your inspiration and imagination, you can get your progress back on track.
Break out of your routine, relate coding to your interests, take time off, and collaborate. With a few adjustments, you'll be amazed at how fast your motivation returns.
Plateaus don't have to spell the end of your coding journey.
In fact, they are a sign you are tackling more advanced skills!
Periodic challenges like this help you become a stronger developer in the long run.
So next time your progress stalls, don't get discouraged.
Try some of these methods to rekindle your fire for coding 🔥.
Stay focused on the bigger picture.
The spark that started your journey is still there - you just need to reignite it!
From your fellow ever-growing dev,
Cherlock Code
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