It's been a couple of weeks now as an apprentice software developer, and boy, has it been a rollercoaster. But honestly, I feel that is to be expected. There is a lot of the unknown, and with that comes many emotions like anxiety, excitement, or - if you're like me and drink a decent amount of coffee - the jitters. But that isn't uncommon.
If you have ever adopted a dog, you are probably familiar with the "3-3-3" rule. If not, here is the quick rundown: The first 3 days are for letting your new pet decompress, followed by 3 week period where they will start to settle into your new home and learn the routines, and then finally after 3 months be comfortable in their new environment and show their true selves.
I think this "rule" can also be applied when trying something new, especially a new job. For me, the first few days were very chaotic and overwhelming, but now I'm starting to feel a little bit more settled in. I'm still trying to figure out my new routine and overcome the discomfort of trying new things, but I also feel I have a better understanding of what is expected of me.
Of course, I would love to already be in the later stages of being fully settled into my new position. In previous roles, I may have tried to speed those phases along to become more established, but that always led to me feeling burned out. However, that isn't healthy; it just leads to unnecessary stress and long hours.
Thankfully, with the support of my mentors and instructors, this time around I hope to have a healthier work balance. I won't deny there is still some anxiety and discomfort of not measuring up, but whenever that happens I try to remind myself that it's part of the process. They encourage me to explore the quirks of my environment but also take the time to self-reflect and expand my boundaries. There is no need to rush. In time, I will gain a sense of security in my "fur-ever" home.
Top comments (1)
I feel I definitely relate to your article @neffcodes
Similar to yourself, I started in an apprenticeship program too and we just finished our bootcamp phase. I feel like we are like soulmates, though you are further ahead in your apprenticeship timeline than myself.
I resonate with wanting to speed things ahead, as I'm used to being able to help others in my prior roles and learning software has been very humbling.
\The progress doesn't always feel linear and some days it feels like I'm chipping at a rock with a plastic spoon. 😊 I also echo you completely on that anxiety- it always sits there in the back of our heads, and I feel that stems too from us caring about our team and work.
So true too about the 3-3-3 rule. Even in bootcamp, the first first week was quite chaotic and even the first month was tough, but after that first project was out of the way- I felt myself getting into the rhythm a bit more.
I am so happy how you are working on a healthier work-life balance. I haven't quite found it yet as I struggle to try to get it all and do it all, but your story is quite inspirational. Very refreshing topic too that you chose to write about! It shows the human perspective of tech through your personal lens. ❤️