How Do You Stay Motivated When Facing Programming Problems?

#discuss #beginners #codenewbie

Programming can be tough, and when you hit a difficult problem, it can be hard to stay motivated. But don't worry! There are tons of seasoned coders on DEV who undoubtedly have tips to help you stay focused and motivated. Here are a few ideas:

Take a break: Sometimes, the best thing you can do is step away from the problem for a little while. 😌 When you come back to the problem, you may see it in a new light.
Break. It. Down. When a problem seems too big to tackle, try breaking it down into smaller pieces. This can make it feel more manageable and help you make progress. ✨
Get help: Don't be afraid to ask for help! ✋🏻 Reach out to a friend, classmate, or mentor for assistance. Or post your query here on DEV! 🌈 Sometimes, talking through the problem with someone else can help you see a solution.
Celebrate small wins: When you make progress, no matter how small, take a moment to celebrate! 🎉 Recognizing your accomplishments can help you stay motivated and keep going.
Remember why you started: When you're feeling discouraged, remind yourself of why you started programming in the first place. Keeping your goals in mind can help you stay focused and motivated.😎

What other tips can you share or elaborate on? Let’s keep each other motivated!

Top comments (10)

Jon Randy 🎖️ • Mar 20 • Edited

Challenges and problems are what keep me motivated. Nothing worse than boring, handle turning programming that always works. Solving problems is (or should be) what we do. The job would be boring otherwise.

Nik F P • Mar 20

Whenever I hit a particularly hard problem, I find it helpful to start working on things close to the problem and expanding my knowledge around the problem space. Usually it's a mix of several things that I need to understand to solve it, and if I can expand my context surrounding the issue I'm able to approach it from other directions.

Corners to wall • Mar 21

Oh dude, I think this term sounds as critical mass. You collect knowledge bit by bit until the cup of insight outweighs your problem

Nik F P • Mar 21

Yeah, I think that's a really good way to look at it.

Adam Crockett • Mar 20

Go to sleep and wake up the next day that usually does the trick

Mike Talbot ⭐ • Mar 20

I find momentum helps me - so when I have a set of challenges, I make sure I'm up to speed by doing some simpler things to get me flowing, then step in to or back to harder challenges.

MOOICT • Mar 20

Coffee, lots and lots of Coffee

Fahmi Akbar Wildana • Mar 20 • Edited

(sleep (rand 5min 1hr)
  (on chair)
  (on sofa)
  (on bed)
  ...)

(workout (rand 5s 1min)
  (lift dumbbell);(with arm)
  (lift dumbbell (with foot))
  ...)