As of June 1, 2022, I withdrew from my software development bootcamp at Flatiron School. I wrote my reasons why I decided to drop out of the program in full detail in my personal code-learning blog here.
My original plan to keep my DEV blog going was to write posts that are a lot more practical to my coding journey. Instead, I'm going to write about a plan that would help me get back on my feet again and move on forward. I also hope that code learners like myself would also find some inspiration from this post one way or the other.
If you land in any of the factors mentioned in the below list:
- I work full-time with barely any free time except weekends...
- I work part-time but I have other commitments, like family and volunteer work...
- I don't want to drop everything (hobbies) because I want to concentrate on my code studies...
- I want to enroll in a bootcamp/cohort that fits my schedule and lifestyle, but I can't afford the tuition...
- I'm very sensitive to anything that may harm my mental health and want to study without any form of pressure...
... then, there is only one solution: build your own bootcamp!
Time planning and management
I will use my own schedule as an example:
- I work full-time, 40 hours a week. I work 10-hour shifts for four days, with Wednesdays and the weekends as my off days.
- There will be some weeks in which our management will call out a "mandatory overtime." This means that we have to work one day extra based on business need. In this case, I will have to work on Wednesday, making the week 50 hours of work.
- I babysit my toddler nephew on Wednesdays and Sundays. Sometimes on Saturdays too.
- We hold family gatherings on Sundays at least twice a month.
- I also take online art courses too, also self-paced.
- I have to take into account the times I have to do household chores. I live with my mom, so at least I'm not alone at home.
With the life schedule I have, it is clear that the bootcamp approach is not going to fit in well. I need something a lot more self-paced while still retaining everything I've learned.
Planning your time is always the first step in almost everything. Analyze and review your current life schedule right now. Next, determine the times you are free to do any form of extracurricular activities. Then, start deciding the days and hours you plan to dedicate to code learning.
Finally, start building your own schedule. You can use your calendar (on an actual wall calendar, phone, etc.) to set them aside. Even set your alarm as a reminder that it's time to get online and start learning. Make sure you set aside the time according to your current life schedule. We can go the "traditional classroom" time of about an hour or an hour and a half. Or we can go "thirty-forty minutes" lecture (watching videos) and "thirty-forty minutes" of coding. The decision is ours to make.
The best thing about building your own bootcamp is that you make your own due dates. If you miss a day or an hour of your planned study, you can always study later when you finally have the time.
Staying dedicated to code learning
The hardest part of building your own bootcamp and self-learning is dedication. If you are an adult completed your school year, this has always been a problem. Distractions can happen anytime. How can you stick to your code learning when unexpected life events happen?
I admit that I fell into this trap, which is why even till today that I'm still stuck at the beginner level. I learned how to build websites powered by WordPress, but still have yet to learn how to build my own themes from scratch and develop my own plugins. I even dabbled with Python and data visualization. I've done a lot but still had a hard time committing myself to learning.
After my short bootcamp period, I'm back to take the self-learning route again. Only this time, I now understand how it feels like in an intense deadline-heavy bootcamp. I want to emulate the same model with my self-learning and build my own bootcamp. But this time also, it will be under my terms and right under my control.
Staying dedicated to code learning takes time. At least when we do take time, we will find the motivation we need to keep going.
There is a really good podcast by Learn to Code With Me about some ways and tips on motivation to continuing your self-paced learning. When you do have a chance, please check it out!
Next part...
We will start researching for courses, paths, programs, and resources as part of our self-building bootcamp.
Till next time!
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