What to do when you can't code anymore
A summary of things I've learnt in 50 days of coding.
I've been putting off writing this blog post for a week now, but I guess I can put it off a little longer to introduce myself.
Hello everyone, my name is Namrata Karmakar. I am a code newbie and I'm sharing my coding journey on Twitter using the hashtag #100DaysOfCode.
I'm actually on Day 42 of 100 Days of Code on Twitter but I have been coding every day since the 1st of March, 2021. This is just a summary of things I've learnt in the past 50 days or so.
Skills Developed (& still developing)
- Javascript & Typescript
- ES6
- Express
- Schema express validators & sanitizers
- Routers, Middlewares
- Databases and queries in mongoDB
- Callbacks, promises and async-await
- Debugging using Chrome Dev tools (fun!)
- How to code in Node.js
- Test Driven Development (super important)
- E2e testing using Jest
- REST APIs & CRUD
- HTML & CSS
- Single Page Applications
- Version control with git
- Clean Code concepts
Okay wow! That is a lot! I might be missing a few things too. But you get the gist. Oh, and everything I'm learning is hands-on, obviously. You can't learn to code by just reading theory.
So, I've been learning a lot as is evident by the above list. But perhaps the most important lesson I've learnt is how to work more efficiently as a programmer.
Inspiration behind this post
I have been in such a good place since starting to code, mentally. Just checking off tasks everyday, on the to-do list made at the beginning of each day. I've been working towards my goal daily, holding myself accountable and really going at it. Everything felt great. But one Sunday, something strange happened. The day after my 30th day of 100 Days Of Code on Twitter, when I was working on a project, my brain just gave up. It would not help me out at all, no matter how much I tried to concentrate. I still tried to power through but nothing worked. In the end, I had to take a break which got me thinking and led me to write this.
What to do when you can't code anymore
1. Take it easy
Seriously. It's that simple. Just take it easy for a day or two when you start to feel overwhelmed. As a beginner, we learn so many new things in such a short span of time that it's very easy to get overwhelmed. Take a break, your brain will thank you for the rest.
2. Declutter your space
A cluttered space can really put you off your game. I have always found that getting rid of the clutter around me makes me think more clearly. Which is exactly what I did when I found myself in the slump. I got rid of all the clutter on my desk, wiped the little bit of dust that was starting to accumulate and organised my books. Just looking at the the clean and minimalistic desk made my mind so much clearer, instantly.
3. Exercise
As developers, we tend to spend most of our days sitting for prolonged periods of time. But believe me when I say, making the time to move atleast 15 minutes a day is a complete game changer. I, personally, love to go for walks. Almost always, the days I've taken a walk early in the morning, are my most productive days. I feel happier when I've taken some time to be with nature.
Results
When I got back to my project on Tuesday, my mind was working so much more faster. It was almost as though I had upgraded the RAM on this thing.
Conclusion
Our minds get overworked and tired when we push too hard. They need TLC too. So, remember to
- Take a break.
- Keep your mind clear by keeping your desk clean.
- Exercise your body along with your mind.
That's it for today. I'm active over on Twitter @knamrata23. Come say hi. Thanks for reading. Until next time.
