Learning how to code is like learning a new language. It demands commitment and consistency for you to acquire the skill and benefit from it.
Learning to code is a challenging task. You may come across a series of obstacles. But you have to push through to reach your goal.
However, not many can find the motivation to keep going when they find themselves stuck at a particular phase of their journey.
The feeling of accomplishment you experience when your code runs successfully is amazing. But you also feel immeasurable frustration when it doesn't. This not only happens to professionals, but it also happens when you're in the learning phase.
Stumbling upon errors and grappling to understand complex concepts may cause you to succumb to self-doubt. And you may find it difficult to continue your journey.
Here are seven useful tips that will help you stay motivated while you're learning how to code:
1. One Thing at a Time
A common mistake beginners make when learning how to code is focusing on multiple things at once.
Whether you want to create a website or develop web applications, choose a programming language that piques your interest and get started with that.
It's great that you want to learn multiple programming languages, but it's unwise to dive into them all simultaneously.
Coding is an intricate process. So, give yourself enough time to master one thing and then move on to the next.
When you learn to code, you don't just explore the learning material. You also need to practice what you're learning. So, learning multiple languages at once may make it a lot more challenging than it already is.
2. Recall Your Progress
Looking back at what you have accomplished thus far may help you stay motivated when learning how to code.
Whether you're stuck at understanding a complex concept or struggling with your practice, remind yourself where you started from and where you are at the moment.
When you're learning something new, it's easy to fixate on something that's not going how you expected it to and lose sight of your overall progress.
The entire journey may seem meaningless and you may feel like giving up. When this happens, remind yourself how far you've come. It will give you the strength to push through and achieve your goals.
3. Enjoy the Experience
Sometimes, we just want to be done with what we're learning and forget about making the journey a fun experience for ourselves.
You're only able to focus better when you enjoy what you're doing. And stressing over something definitely won't help. When you're calm, it will be easier for you to understand the concepts and practically implement them.
You won't be forgetful about the things you've learned and will overcome all obstacles you come across along the way.
So, you shouldn't obsess over finishing what you started quicker, but rather enjoy the experience and look forward to learning new things each day.
4. Schedule Things Smartly
When you're learning something new, it's easier to get carried away and lose track of time. The same may happen when you learn to code.
Consistency is the key to being efficient at this skill. However, that doesn't mean that you should sacrifice everything else in the process. So, the smart thing to do is come up with an organized to-do list or schedule things you want to do on a day-to-day basis.
The goal here is to maintain the right balance. So, it's best to come up with a schedule that's easy to keep up with and enables you to focus on learning without having to compromise other things in life.
You don't have to spend hours on a daily basis. An hour a day is more than enough to learn coding if you do it consistently.
5. Join Relevant Communities
You can make learning a fun experience and stay motivated by joining relevant online communities and forums.
By doing so, you'll connect with like-minded people and get to hear about their experiences. You're not the only one who faced challenges when learning how to code. There may be many others like you.
So, interact with them and ask how they kept themselves motivated when things didn't go as expected.
Coding communities are generally very friendly. So, you may get useful tips from there that may facilitate your learning process. Leveraging social media may also help, as it will allow you to connect with over 4.74 billion users worldwide.
6. Take a Break
Sometimes, it's best to take a breather when you're stuck at something rather than just stress over it. So when you are unable to concentrate while coding, take a step back and try doing something else.
Watch your favorite movie, play a game for a bit, read a book, or go out with friends. Do something that interests you and helps you take your mind off coding momentarily.
This will help you replenish your energy. With a fresh mind, you're more likely to find solutions to your problems and continue your progress effortlessly.
7. Find a Study Partner
Finding a study partner when learning how to code also helps you stay motivated and overcome all obstacles.
You can join a study group online or find someone in your social circle who is interested in learning how to code.
Finding a study partner may be a bit easier if you're enrolled in an online course or leveraging a learning management system. But if you're learning independently, joining online communities or social media groups may do the trick.
Having a study partner fosters accountability. Plus, it's more fun to learn things with someone compared to doing it by yourself. Your study partner can encourage you, keep you motivated throughout your journey, and offer feasible solutions to the problems encountered.
Wrap Up
There you have it: the seven tips to stay motivated when learning how to code. If you've been finding it difficult to keep up with complex concepts and issues during practice sessions, the recommendations in this article may come in handy.
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