![Cover image for [On-Demand Talk] A Programmer's Guide to Mental Health](https://community.codenewbie.org/images/2dtWrFEXV5X1Q8cxK8GdHY05nek_bsm_Wfi19yj38NY/rs:fill:1000:420/g:sm/mb:500000/ar:1/aHR0cHM6Ly9jb21t/dW5pdHkuY29kZW5l/d2JpZS5vcmcvcmVt/b3RlaW1hZ2VzL3Vw/bG9hZHMvYXJ0aWNs/ZXMvcGc5NWxuZWN0/NjJwejBieGJpbjIu/cG5n)
About this talk
Starting your first software development job is very rewarding. You get to apply what you learned from school, bootcamp, or self-learning to a product used by actual customers.
Once you start, you will likely experience imposter syndrome. It's completely normal, and it's actually a sign of growth. At times, it may feel like you're not doing enough and want to continue proving yourself further. You might overwork yourself, leading to burnout and developing bad habits.
In my talk, I will talk about how I burnout, and the bad habits I developed. Finally, the strategies I use today to prevent burnout and embrace self-care.
Talk Recording
Slides
🌈 Comment below and ask me questions — I might just answer them during my live speaker discussion!
About me
Hello! I'm Raymond Chung. Although I'm often mistaken for an intern, I'm building a new generation of software developers through Shopify's Dev Degree program. As a Technical Educator, my passion for computer science and education allows me to create bite-sized content that engages interns throughout their day-to-day. When I'm not teaching, you'll find me searching my area the best bubble tea shop.
This on-demand talk is part of CodeLand 2022 — a virtual conference brought to you by CodeNewbie & DEV on June 16 & 17, 2022.
Top comments (29)
Asking this on behalf of a friend:
Excited and waiting for your talk.😍
Being part of #100Devs really taught me how to take care of myself in my learning journey and prevent burnout. It really helps keep myself consistent. Yes, there are lows too but I think I'm getting better at pushing through the lows and always coming back. The 3 specific things that are mentioned are:
-Managing frustration
-Consistency
-Taking care of myself
I have social anxiety that makes it differicult for me to apply for jobs but I love to learn new things. Do you have any advice for gaining confidence in myself so i can get out of tutorial hell and dive into the job search?
I do believe in the area o fMeditation/Mindfullness practice is a venture that has worked for me. Although, Stress,Family,Home and the daily issues that come from day to day are a hurdle that do not care for. My job is also stressful, being a Surgical Tech and being part of a team that is taking a persons life and performing surgery is not a walk in the park to least say. We must deal with our issues on an individual basis, break down the issues into small nice and neat boxes and then open them one at a time, one day at a time...
Consistency is key to continue learning, growing, and leveling up your skills. But, in order to stay consistent, you need to be healthy—mentally and physically. Thanks for talking about this super important topic, Raymond!
Thanks for your talk! Do you think burnout means different things to different people? Do you have advice for what to do if you do inadvertently burn out? How do you approach talking to a company you're employed at if you feel yourself reaching burnout?
Hey mariessad!
That's a great question! Yes, burnout can mean different things for different people! For myself, I burned out mentally. But for someone who works in construction for example, they can feel burned out physically.
My advice would be to take a well-rested break. At times you may not realized it, but stepping away for a bit, would help.
Every company is different. I would mention it during your 1:1s with your lead or your HR rep on how you are feeling. It's better to be transparent if you know you're reaching burnout, then being burned out.
This is kind of a random question, but I'm wondering if you have any tips for making your office a more productive space? I ask because I love your background. It looks very calming and easy to get work done in your space! I definitely need some help when it comes to building an optimized space to do software development.
Haha thanks!
I have the luxury of using one bedroom to be solely an office space. That definitely helps me draw the line and switch mindsets between working from home and being at home.
For my space, I actually researched on YouTube about home offices and went from there. They provided some great tips on creating a productive space.
In addition, I would display some of your favourite things around you. For example, I love Pokemon, so I knew I had to show off some Pikachu boxes!
Thanks Raymond! You're talk is so inspiring and uplifting. I like the ideas of having social chats open with supportive friends just to chat when needing to. I've watched a lot of mental health YT videos and some specifically on burnout sponsored by Google. They relate burnout to being something similar to depression, if I recall correctly, in relation to the symptoms at least. Thank you for the positive affirmation that it's okay to not be okay. I'd like to add that it's okay to ask for help and keep inquiring until help is acquired. Thanks for your message!
I am sure that mental problems do not disappear by themselves. I try to keep an eye on my mental state, and the Australia Counselling Directory helped me find a real professional with whom I was able to figure out the main points of my psychological state. Our sessions allowed me to find solutions to certain issues that kept me from moving forward. I recommend not to be alone with your problems, but to look for ways to solve them. All health!
Thank you for sharing your suggestions for dealing with the impostor within.
I had no idea that posting positive affirmations around my desk and keeping a victory list would be beneficial until I watched your presentation.
Some comments may only be visible to logged-in visitors. Sign in to view all comments.