If you're having trouble staying focused or sticking at it, you probably shouldn't be doing it. It should be enjoyable, interesting, and something you want to do. If you don't feel this way, why bother?
let Bio = {
username: 'hyggedev',
fullName: 'Chris Hansen',
bio: 'I create⚡️ fast modern, client-side websites with React and Javascript.',
passion: ['Blog', 'Tweet', 'Code']
};
Absolutely. A lot of us self taught developers have jobs or other side gigs going on while trying to learn web development. So I wouldn't say have difficulty focusing means a lack of motivation. Being able to focus and stay on track, is what will make you a better web developer 👌
That's an extremely narrow mindset. I'm currently self teaching. I love it but I get distracted. I like riding and working on my bike, I like watching interesting shows, I work 12+ hours a day and have kids and a million other hobbies. Yes I'm trying to build my career but I also keep making mistakes that sidetrack me and I lose interest because I'm not actually LEARNING anything.. just kinda watching or reading. So I take myself back to where I started and I find that almost boring because I already know it but I know it's not concrete yet.
I don't wanna miss anything and I'm not immature enough to believe I will remember it all but like this article says, I WILL master the basics, problem is sometimes the basics can become repetitive and feel boring while learning them. It's when I put them into practice is when I feel my passion burn again.
I'm not trying to jump down your throat, but to someone coming to this article looking for some sort of validation to pursue their career in development that sees this it could detour them away from wanting to do it because they saw an experienced developer say "if you don't love it all the time then it's not for you"...
Why bother? Because it pays my bills. I wouldn't be making websites just for fun, but it pays well so I want to be good at it.
I think our industry puts too much emphasis on 'passion'.
If I were to take your advice and said "why bother" any time I struggle to stay focused and stick to it, I would have never pushed my own comfort levels and pushed for better careers, or maintained any sort of job, or finished any school, or learned any new hobby, or wrote any blog post, or travelled, or met great people, or have done anything outside of wake up, have coffee, play a video game and go to sleep.
I would venture to say this is quite in line with the toxic mentality of the need to be obsessed with what you do. I struggle to focus in various areas of my life. I'm not self-diagnosing any particular reason why, and have not gone to a doctor to understand why yet, but even things I truly enjoy and love doing come with their distractions. Motivation and interest are fleeting for many. Most aren't at a place to live off doing what they want to do. Software development, for some, is just another tool to get a job done, and is a solid skill to keep in your belt. I'm happy for you never having had to face the struggle of staying focused or staying on track, but as in the developer world of "It works on my machine so IDK why prod is broken. Must be your machine" mental fallacy, "I enjoy it and have no trouble focusing, so it should be the same for you" doesn't fly. Congratulations on being an outlier that I truly wish I could be a part of.
This is a false fact. Even when you enjoy it, sometimes it can get frustrating. Some people have trouble focusing. And it has nothing to do with "what they enjoy". Sometimes when programming stresses you out, you should take a break.
let Bio = {
username: 'hyggedev',
fullName: 'Chris Hansen',
bio: 'I create⚡️ fast modern, client-side websites with React and Javascript.',
passion: ['Blog', 'Tweet', 'Code']
};
Agreed @iamprogramming
!! Sometimes taking a step back to recalibrate is healthy, and even efficient. You can absolutely still be motivated while doing so. Thanks for sharing 👍
let Bio = {
username: 'hyggedev',
fullName: 'Chris Hansen',
bio: 'I create⚡️ fast modern, client-side websites with React and Javascript.',
passion: ['Blog', 'Tweet', 'Code']
};
My aim is to help boost a beginners confidence, while also providing some insightful tips 👌
As much as I appreciate your thought on this, I can think of some worldly renown people, who at some point faced road blocks.
You can love what you do, and have a passion for it, but taking on a new career or hobby can have it's obstacles.
I'm sure passionate entrepreneurs, artists, athletes, software engineers, web developers, etc, have all faced similar problems, or at least eventually. How about an author suffering from writers block?
Learning web development, especially on the self teaching path, is daunting. There's no one to watch over your shoulder, grading your work, or gauging your progress. The tech moves fast, and sometimes it can feel like your chasing. I love it, I aim to learn every day, and to apply what I learn. However self doubt can sometimes hijack your headspace. If these tips can help even one beginner developer stop debating on what framework to learn, or escape tutorial hell, I'm stoked 🤘
I don't think it's daunting at all - and not having someone looking over your shoulder is a plus! You're free to make mistakes, learn the way you want to, and follow the paths that interest you instead of the ones you're told you should be following. The whole thing should be an adventure - a voyage of discovery driven by curiosity, interest and excitement.
I'm a 100% self taught programmer and have no formal qualifications. I started programming at the age of 7 back in 1983 and have always found it interesting and sought to teach myself in my own way and at my own pace. Any 'roadblocks' are never roadblocks at all if you have the right mindset - just more challenges that will help you improve
We can't all be neurotypical, Jon.
It's great that you found a path and strategy that works for you. But you aren't a blueprint. Some people have anxiety, ADHD, etc. that makes it hard to start or stay focused. I don't really see how you're initial comment or this one is helpful to anyone. Remember, THINK before you speak :)
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If you're having trouble staying focused or sticking at it, you probably shouldn't be doing it. It should be enjoyable, interesting, and something you want to do. If you don't feel this way, why bother?
You still wanna make sure if you're unfocused by laziness or because you hate it
Laziness would imply that doing it is something you feel you have to do, and you would rather be doing something else
Absolutely. A lot of us self taught developers have jobs or other side gigs going on while trying to learn web development. So I wouldn't say have difficulty focusing means a lack of motivation. Being able to focus and stay on track, is what will make you a better web developer 👌
That's an extremely narrow mindset. I'm currently self teaching. I love it but I get distracted. I like riding and working on my bike, I like watching interesting shows, I work 12+ hours a day and have kids and a million other hobbies. Yes I'm trying to build my career but I also keep making mistakes that sidetrack me and I lose interest because I'm not actually LEARNING anything.. just kinda watching or reading. So I take myself back to where I started and I find that almost boring because I already know it but I know it's not concrete yet.
I don't wanna miss anything and I'm not immature enough to believe I will remember it all but like this article says, I WILL master the basics, problem is sometimes the basics can become repetitive and feel boring while learning them. It's when I put them into practice is when I feel my passion burn again.
I'm not trying to jump down your throat, but to someone coming to this article looking for some sort of validation to pursue their career in development that sees this it could detour them away from wanting to do it because they saw an experienced developer say "if you don't love it all the time then it's not for you"...
Why bother? Because it pays my bills. I wouldn't be making websites just for fun, but it pays well so I want to be good at it.
I think our industry puts too much emphasis on 'passion'.
If I were to take your advice and said "why bother" any time I struggle to stay focused and stick to it, I would have never pushed my own comfort levels and pushed for better careers, or maintained any sort of job, or finished any school, or learned any new hobby, or wrote any blog post, or travelled, or met great people, or have done anything outside of wake up, have coffee, play a video game and go to sleep.
I would venture to say this is quite in line with the toxic mentality of the need to be obsessed with what you do. I struggle to focus in various areas of my life. I'm not self-diagnosing any particular reason why, and have not gone to a doctor to understand why yet, but even things I truly enjoy and love doing come with their distractions. Motivation and interest are fleeting for many. Most aren't at a place to live off doing what they want to do. Software development, for some, is just another tool to get a job done, and is a solid skill to keep in your belt. I'm happy for you never having had to face the struggle of staying focused or staying on track, but as in the developer world of "It works on my machine so IDK why prod is broken. Must be your machine" mental fallacy, "I enjoy it and have no trouble focusing, so it should be the same for you" doesn't fly. Congratulations on being an outlier that I truly wish I could be a part of.
This is a false fact. Even when you enjoy it, sometimes it can get frustrating. Some people have trouble focusing. And it has nothing to do with "what they enjoy". Sometimes when programming stresses you out, you should take a break.
I agree. It is frustrating at first but If you gave up on everything that was frustrating; you'd probably accomplish very little in life.
Agreed @iamprogramming !! Sometimes taking a step back to recalibrate is healthy, and even efficient. You can absolutely still be motivated while doing so. Thanks for sharing 👍
My aim is to help boost a beginners confidence, while also providing some insightful tips 👌
As much as I appreciate your thought on this, I can think of some worldly renown people, who at some point faced road blocks.
You can love what you do, and have a passion for it, but taking on a new career or hobby can have it's obstacles.
I'm sure passionate entrepreneurs, artists, athletes, software engineers, web developers, etc, have all faced similar problems, or at least eventually. How about an author suffering from writers block?
Learning web development, especially on the self teaching path, is daunting. There's no one to watch over your shoulder, grading your work, or gauging your progress. The tech moves fast, and sometimes it can feel like your chasing. I love it, I aim to learn every day, and to apply what I learn. However self doubt can sometimes hijack your headspace. If these tips can help even one beginner developer stop debating on what framework to learn, or escape tutorial hell, I'm stoked 🤘
I don't think it's daunting at all - and not having someone looking over your shoulder is a plus! You're free to make mistakes, learn the way you want to, and follow the paths that interest you instead of the ones you're told you should be following. The whole thing should be an adventure - a voyage of discovery driven by curiosity, interest and excitement.
I'm a 100% self taught programmer and have no formal qualifications. I started programming at the age of 7 back in 1983 and have always found it interesting and sought to teach myself in my own way and at my own pace. Any 'roadblocks' are never roadblocks at all if you have the right mindset - just more challenges that will help you improve
We can't all be neurotypical, Jon.
It's great that you found a path and strategy that works for you. But you aren't a blueprint. Some people have anxiety, ADHD, etc. that makes it hard to start or stay focused. I don't really see how you're initial comment or this one is helpful to anyone. Remember, THINK before you speak :)