All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. A common saying amongst the working class and especially students, still holds true today. The amount of time and practice needed to perfect or master something is a lot, some say is 10,000 hours, some say even more. But as a student, who really has 10,000 hours to spare if they’re out just trying to live their best life?
Being a student isn’t easy, and striking a balance between having fun and getting work done seems close to impossible. There’s a general consensus that programming courses are super tedious and boring, even programmers get turned off from it altogether. Dealing with repetitive tasks and super detailed bug-fixing and tons of reading can make anyone go insane. So how do programming students make it out alive?
Prioritize!
Student’s don’t really grasp the idea of prioritizing until they are faced with difficult decisions. Those decisions usually come down to staying in on a Friday evening to get some work done, or meeting with your friends at a local bar. Or sometimes it comes down to your Programming Project or studying for a math test – these kinds of decisions weigh on students and they’ll be forced to make a decision. How can you sort through this mess?
Make a list. Organize it by deadlines, or importance to your grade, or even how you feel about it. Having it written down helps you visualize all your tasks and you can check one off the list every time you complete one. And then you’re free to move on to the next one. You’ll thank yourself later!
Keep your mental health in check
An often overlooked factor of college and education, mental health is arguably the most important part of living life, let alone life as a programmer. Depression is a real thing in plenty of students, so we emphasize the importance of keeping yourself happy. Here’s a list of things programmers have done to keep sane during school.
○ Love yourself
Self-loathing and self-criticism is one of the main sources of depression among programming students. Feeling apathetic and lethargic can really affect your learning and your life. Instead, find things you excel at or a goal you want to reach at some point in time. Take your mistakes as learning points and be thankful that you have this opportunity to learn and grow. Do things that make you happy, even if it’s just for a little bit. Lots of programmers have other hobbies like hiking or sports or even reading that help them enjoy their time away from work.
○ Take Breaks
Studying and working can be hard and sometimes it’s best to take a break for a bit before returning back to work. Not only do you have sometime to decompress, but you’ll also clear your mind, which is essential for working more efficiently. One big mistake students have is working throughout the night, and learning and remembering marginally less than if they had taken a break. Take your time, learning isn’t a race to the finish, rather a journey that you need to take breaks for.
○ Ask for help
The worst thing you can do while studying programming is to try and do it all on your own. With all the information at your disposal, it can be overwhelming trying to learn new techniques and technologies. That’s why there are experienced experts to ask. You can start with your professors, then branch out to your classmates who may understand what is going on and can help you. If those don’t pan out as well, you can always browse the next to find a tutor. At Assignment Expert, you can find the best tutors for your programming assignments, who can help you step-by-step.
How can I keep up with my programming work?
Everyone knows that programming can be tedious and boring and hard to keep up with. But its not impossible, in fact, if you make the right moves it can even be easy and fun. But you’ll need to put in a little effort to stretch your productivity.
○ Stay motivated
There’s a reason why you’re studying programming. You might know someone who you look up to, or maybe you’re in it for the job security and the money. Either way, you made this decision and for good reason. Find that passion or that drive so that you can continue working hard. Passion is the best thing you can have when it comes to studying.
○ Keep up with the latest
Programming has the benefit of evolving technology that keeps young people attracted to it. To be at the top and the best of the best is to stay relevant while you’re studying. Knowing what’s in and what’s out can really help you learn at a fast rate. Watching videos and attending conferences and seminars are a great way to stay ahead of the curve while studying.
○ Go with the flow
A really good piece of advice for almost everything, is to go with the flow. You can plan and schedule and expect many things, but not everything will be 100%, so its best to take what life gives you, especially when it comes to programming. Mistakes happen, bugs happen, but it shouldn’t be something that should block your work. Take the mistake, isolate it, and learn from it. Not only will you make strides at learning, but your mind can solve problems that are unexpected.
○ Network Network Network
Having a friend who’s well connected can lead to great opportunities, so it in your benefit to do as much networking as possible. Talk to your classmates and attend meetings and events related to programming and foster some friendships. You never know where it may lead you.
Studying programming isn’t easy, but nothing good in life comes easy. Balancing studies and life requires dedication and determination, so once you follow these steps, you’ll be on your way to a good, healthy life. But keep in mind that everyone’s a bit different, and you’ll just have to see what works for you or not.
