Staying Motivated While Learning Software Engineering

It seems like everything wants your time.

Family, friends, pets, jobs, sleep, video games and just overall health and well being. With so many distractions, how do you stay motivated while learning code?

In this article I will be sharing 5 evidence proven actionable tips that you can apply today to stay motivated in software engineering.

Tip 1: Locus of Control

This first tip is about something called 'locus of control.' It's a fancy way of saying 'how much you think you control what happens in your life.' Sure, some things are out of our hands, like the weather. But often, we have more control than we think, especially in how we react to things.

So, how does this help with learning to code? Well, learning to code can be tough. Some parts are just hard, and you can't change that. But you can choose how you tackle these tough parts. It's like playing a video game. You can't change the game's rules, but you can decide how you play and how much you practice. That's your locus of control. Remember, you're in charge of how you react and how hard you try.

Having a 'growth mindset' is a big part of your locus of control. This means you believe that with practice and effort, you can get better at anything – even the tricky parts of software engineering. It's like believing you can level up in your favorite game if you just keep playing and learning.

Tip 2: Teach Others What You’ve Learned

When you learn something new, one of the best things you can do is to teach it to someone else. This isn’t just about sharing knowledge, it’s also a fantastic way to make sure you really understand what you’ve learned. Plus, teaching others can be super motivating!

Think about it this way - when you teach, you’re not just going over the material again in your head. You’re putting the material into your own words and maybe even finding new ways to think about it.

There are lots of creative ways you can teach others. You could start a study group with some friends where each of you takes turns teaching the others. Or, how about starting a blog where you write about what you’ve learned?

These days, with smartphones and simple video software, it’s easier than ever to create and share videos. And if all that sounds like a bit too much, just chatting with a friend about what you’ve learned can be really effective too.

Tip 3: Visualize Your Success

Visualization is a powerful technique used by athletes, entrepreneurs, and successful individuals in all different types of fields. Every day, take just a few minutes to close your eyes and picture this in your head. See yourself typing away at your computer, figuring out tough code, and finally, hitting that 'aha' moment when everything works perfectly.

Imagine how amazing you'll feel when you master software engineering in the future. Think about the cool apps or games you could create, or how you could help make someone's life easier with your skills.

By keeping your goals right in front of you (well, in your mind's eye), you remind yourself of what you're working towards. It's similar to having a personal cheerleader in your head, telling you, “You've got this!”

Tip 4: Keep a Progress Journal

A progress journal is an excellent tool for tracking your learning journey. This journal becomes super handy, especially on days when you feel like you're not making much progress. We all have those days when things seem to go slow or when learning feels hard. But when you look back at your journal, you’ll be surprised to see how much you’ve actually learned and improved.

Keeping a progress journal is a great way to celebrate your achievements. Sometimes, we forget all the small victories we've had. But when you read your journal, you’ll see all the hurdles you’ve overcome and the knowledge you’ve gained. It's a fantastic feeling to realize that you know more today than you did a month or a few months ago.

To start a personal progress journal, it doesn’t have to be fancy. A simple notebook or even a digital Excel sheet on your computer or tablet will work. The important thing is to make it a habit. Write a little bit every day, and soon you'll have a great story of your learning journey, written by you!

Tip 5: Remember Your ‘Why’

The last tip, but definitely not the least, is to always keep in mind the reason why you started learning software engineering. It’s your personal mission statement. Maybe you want to change your career path someday and become a software engineer.

Perhaps you have this awesome idea for an app or a game, and you want to make it real. Or maybe you just think technology is super cool and you love learning about how things work.

Your 'why' is your compass. It guides you and keeps you on track. Whenever things get tough – and sometimes they will – thinking about your ‘why’ is a secret weapon. It helps you remember that you’re not just learning for the sake of learning. You’re on a mission. You have a goal.

Good luck on your coding journey!

Cheers friend,

Eric