Jan 18, 2022
What to do when Coding gets tough
Navigating coding difficulties
Have you ever been in a position where it seems you are not getting it right with coding? It just doesn’t work. It’s frustrating when you go over your work and can’t find the problem. You are probably close to breaking something or passing aggression on someone. Take a breather. Coding gets tough and you’re not the only one in this situation. Experts also get to a point where it seems coding is not working.
What do you do when coding gets tough? Here are some helpful real-life tips from other developers:
- Take a Break: The brain needs rest. Yes. Take a break. Do something else other than coding. A break is necessary so you don’t burn out. It could be walking, taking naps, a shower or seeing a movie. Exercise also works well. It just might be the thing you need to clear your mind.
- Community: when coding gets tough, one other way to solve it is to reach out to your coding community. This is because you can be guided on how to resolve the problem. The essence of a coding community is to provide opportunities, learn and suggest solutions for tasking issues as regards coding. You’ll be surprised someone has an answer to your question or a solution to the problem.
- Music: Music has been saving lives since 800BC, just ask David. Music reduces frustration. It uplifts the mood and just has a way of giving you the right vibe. This ultimately opens you up, free your mind and gives you another perspective concerning your work.
- Watch tutorials: some times, when coding gets tough, watching tutorials for that specific task also help. You’d be surprised by the number of people who had the same issue and found a solution via research. This works effectively, especially when there’s a deadline to meet.
- Keep track of progress: When coding gets tough, you’ll need to revisit this. Keeping track of your progress and accomplishments along the way can be quite beneficial through difficult times. Reflecting on how much you’ve learned can be encouraging, making the idea of more learning less intimidating.
- Meditate: Meditating allows your mind to roam and take an explorative approach to the problem. Quiet time helps with a calm mind and the ability to see a new perspective.
Understand that everyone gets to the point where coding seems tough, it shouldn’t be the moment you panic. Instead, take a breather, engage in activities other than looking at your computer. What you probably need is doing the above listed or face-time with a friend. Your friend can be a non-techie individual, you’d be surprised at the fresh perspective you get when you discuss your coding problems.
More importantly, take as much time as you want for your break but not too long that you procrastinate and don’t go back to coding. That’s a dangerous bend. The longer you put off the project, the more difficult it will be to complete it.
Remember, when coding gets tough, take a breather. Trust the process.
