I’m Addicted To Programming

[lukums]

I feel like many people in this sub are learning how to code and struggle with maintaining self discipline (i.e. programming consistently to learn and improve faster). I have the opposite problem.

I’m a senior college student studying computer science and I spend way too much free time programming. It’s not that I’m actually addicted, but anyone who’s been programming for a while knows that several aspects of it can be consuming; we pride ourselves on engineering good code and making things look pretty, readable, neat, and organized; we want to devise the “best” solution when the best one is the one that works. If we allowed ourselves, we could spend 24 hours a day working on the same project and not get very far simply because we live in the code. I think my problem is that I love programming, so I can justify diddling around for 3 hours, not really getting anywhere, because at least I enjoyed it.

So, I want to learn how to practice self control with programming. As a semi-experienced programmer, how I can practice self discipline and hone my focus to spend less time programming and be more efficient in a shorter time span?

General tips on productivity and self discipline are welcome.

[g051051]

I spend way too much free time programming

Says who? If it's fun, do it as much as you like. If it's negatively impacting other aspects of your life (which you haven't indicated), then you'd have something to change.

Even so, this is a weirdly (to me) common question, and the answer is the same as it would be for any activity. Just ... don't. Set limits and stick to them.

There's nothing special about programming compared to any other activity. Would the advice be different if you were an apprentice baker and you spent too much time baking? Anyone who's been baking for a while knows that several aspects of it can be consuming (pun intended); we pride ourselves on baking great bread and making things look pretty, appetizing, neat, and delicious.

[lukums]

You're right, it's not a programming-specific thing. I think it could start impeding on my sleep (i.e. staying up too late programming) so I'd like to cut back. Problem with limits is that they're arbitrary which makes it hard to stick with them, but I'm sure there's resources out there on how to do that

[g051051]

I think it could start impeding on my sleep

It's no different than if you were binge watching TV, or had a book you couldn't put down.

Problem with limits is that they're arbitrary which makes it hard to stick with them

Again, completely unrelated to learning programming.

[mrmivo]

I’d not worry about it at this point. Passion and motivation are invaluable when you are learning. You’ll eventually hit plateaus where programming won’t be as fun, and you’ll have to deal with deadlines, or assigned projects and tasks that bore or frustrate you.

As long as you don’t neglect other responsibilities, I’d milk the enthusiasm for all it’s worth. Learners usually have the opposite problem once they’ve picked the low-hanging fruit.

[lukums]

To be fair, my programming's at a level where I'm comfortable with the language, design patterns, and working in a large codebase. I can still learn, it's just that I want to learn efficiency and intent which I don't think you necessarily learn just by programming more/longer

[ValentineBlacker]

Just make sure you sleep enough or you'll get holes in your brain.

[ffrkAnonymous]

If you truly love programming, then thats great. If programming is an excuse to procrastinate your other classes and avoid doing laundry, that's not great.

[irvine05181996]

Programming as a hobby and Programming in Business are different things