As an adult, I've always enjoyed learning new things and picking up hobbies. But, at some point, I would get frustrated and give up. This happened even with coding.
My current coding journey isn't my first try - I found an email from 2022 about an online computer science class I applied for but never started. I was learning Python back then but stopped.
This time, I wanted to make sure I didn't quit again. I thought about what makes me give up and how I could keep going. I was lucky to find some advice from others who'd been through the same struggles. Here are three big obstacles learners often face and how I handle them:
1. Getting Started
Anything worth doing takes effort and lots of trial and error. Deep down, we know it'll be hard, so we put it off. We wait for the "perfect" time or the "best" course to start. But here's the truth: there's no perfect time.
The only solution? Start before you're ready. You'll always feel unprepared, too busy, or too tired. The key is to begin now, even if it's just watching a quick video or spending five minutes on a course. Starting is usually the hardest part.
2. Finding the Right Resources
Today, there's so much info online that it's easy to get overwhelmed. My approach? Spend a little time looking on Google, YouTube, or asking for tips on places like Reddit or Twitter.
_Once you pick a resource, stick with it until you finish. _
For programming, it's best to choose one language, one main course, and go through it. Of course, if it's really not working, find something better. But don't expect to be an expert when you're done; aim to build a solid base. After that, you'll know what to focus on next.
3. Knowing When to Move On
This one's like the first point but a bit different. In something like web development, there's so much to learn - HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and more. It's easy to get stuck trying to perfect each part. You might keep learning HTML for months (like I did), memorizing everything, waiting to feel "ready." But here's the truth: you'll never feel fully ready.
This is where I found the "70/30 rule." Once you feel about 70% confident, move on. For example, if you can score 70% on a topic's test, go to the next one. In programming, you learn best by doing, so as you move forward, you'll keep building on those earlier skills.
Here's something I heard from one of my teachers that stuck with me:_ Get comfortable with feeling like you're not good enough. This feeling means you're still open to learning and growing._
Happy coding!
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