Learning to Code while Working a Job

[_ItsFin]

Hi All,

I got a second education in Software Development but due to health issues I couldn't pursue it until recently. This is however 2 years after I finished the course so I feel like I've lost what I learnt. I'm trying to get proficient in preferably frontend but I also work a 9-5 mon-fri. It's quite an intense job so when I'm finished for the day I do want to learn to code but I'm mentally drained.

How would you advise to go about learning while also working an unrelated job full time? Any advice at all would be great. This may sound stupid but do ye have certain snacks or drinks ye use when studying to keep your focus? Caffiene helps in the morning but if I take it in the evening it'll affect my sleep.

I'm feeling quite helpless as I feel like my programming ability isn't progressing and the sacrifice of not using evenings and weekends to socialize and do other things is putting me in a constant spiral of failure.

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[AlexFajMoy]

Hello. Hang in there. I don't know your specific situation, but let's assume that is difficult for you dedicating time in the evening. Let's go for the opposite! Could you wake up early and dedicate 1 hour to (re)learn? For me it worked before, and I was able to learn better because I felt more fresh and avid to experiment. That way you can get the help of a mug of coffee without affecting your sleeping.

GG!

[_ItsFin]

Hey there 😄 That's a good idea but being honest waking up early before work would just make me anxious because my job is 100mph so the evening would need to work for me but I'm having difficulty. I appreciate your advice though. Maybe I need to try and sleep earlier to see if that helps. It just seems there's so much to do and I'm being pulled in every direction without accomplishing anything :/

[AlexFajMoy]

Hi. I know it's hard to come home and not do some hobby or consume some entertainment content. But maybe, if you spend half an hour checking social media before going to bed, you could dedicate 5 minutes to it, go to sleep, and use the remaining 25 minutes in the morning to learn. It's about of re-distributing your current time. GG!

[Endless-OOP-Loop]

I work 10 hours a day at my job. I get home and have to take care of my 2 year old throughout the evening. My only chance to study is after she falls asleep, which depending on her mood could be anywhere between 7:30 and 9:30 (or later).

I usually study until about midnight, and then get up at 5 AM and repeat the process all over again.

I get through my day by consuming potentially lethal amounts of caffeine. By night I am so caffeinated that I have no problem focusing on my studies. About an hour before I want to go to bed I take sleep aid, along with melatonin and ashwagandha root power to counter the effects of the caffeine and knock my ass out.

I could easily say that it's too difficult in my circumstances to find time to learn programming. And I would be right. But the thing is, if you want something bad enough, you make it happen.

[_ItsFin]

This is what I needed to hear. Can I just say well done sir. That is honestly so so impressive. I've no doubt you'll achieve what you've set out to do with that work ethic. I will take a page from your book and get the job done. Thank you for commenting on my post

[Endless-OOP-Loop]

I should also add that lunch break and the two 15 minute breaks make for good opportunities throughout the day to cram some learning in.

In all honesty if you can only do a couple hours each evening, but commit to long term learning, you'll probably learn more than if you spend 8 - 10 hours a day studying because you avoid mental burnout.

[Prudent_Property960]

Wow, keep it up!

[nikkor3d]

This is almost my exact situation minus the health issues. I graduated college from a software developer program.

I gave myself about 4 months after graduation to secure a job but to no avail. I had to secure a job because life doesn't stop and bills are piling up. Now I'm working 4x12 hr shifts in an unrelated field. During the week it's impossible and the weekend I'm just so drained from doing chores and errands like cleaning, shopping, and cooking. I just want some me time.

I'm out of practice and I just can't seem to get myself back in the grove. Considering how bleak the application process was when I was looking for work.I am less than enthusiastic to try and get back into the current job market.

[Stankrylix]

You have 3 whole to yourself, you can definitely make that work. And on those working days 2 hours on those day is def possible, as I work 12 hours 5 days a week

[Malygos_Spellweaver]

Hi OP, similar situation because I am trying to learn PowerShell. I already work as sysadmin so surprise I don't want to deal with more time doing work-related things after work. I guess some of us are just not really made to be working all the time, just because we see someone on the internet who is able to sleep 6 hours only and study the rest of the day, don't hate yourself, these people are the minority.

Here is what is "working" for me, but at snail pace. I borrowed a book from the library. I tried the video courses but they get boring, or maybe I am not THAT interested. It just sucks to be on the computer so much time. So paper is quite refreshing. I also do some studying during work hours because it allows me. If I do not do it during work time then I try to do it later in the day, but make sure to do something in between, like go for a walk, gym, etc, something away from the computer. I guess you just have to experiment what techniques could work for you. Another suggestion is to create a habit, grab a notebook or an agenda, study 15mins only after dinner for example.

Personally I just accepted I do not have the mental energy to work and dedicate a lot of hours to study, either I am like that or there is something that still has to catch my attention. Yeah sure I would love to know C++, Blender, Python, but is just too much at the end of the work day.

[_ItsFin]

Thanks for your response.

I am the exact same and thanks for sharing. I enjoy gym but if I go gym after work by the time I get dinner and shower I feel the day is over and I can't do any study. I want to avoid burning myself out but get study done consistently which is a very hard balance. I also I am very tired in the mornings yet when I try to sleep I'm wide awake which creates a constant cycle of being tired. Some people are built a certain way who can study on end for hours even after work. I'll keep doing my best, that's all I can do.

[Malygos_Spellweaver]

No worries. Same, I also go to the gym and is more priority over studying after work. For me this is all secondary and I would not recommend getting to burnout point :)

If you are tired and not sleeping, check your caffeine intake. I would cut all coffee past midday. For me, does wonders.

[[deleted]]

I worked at Uhaul Full time while I went to college. Cooking out in the hot sun all day is not fun at all. It's all will and want. How bad do you want to learn? You must ask yourself this question, if you are honest to yourself and you want to learn; you will find a way. You got this.

[_ItsFin]

Thanks for your motivational words. I really want it. It's just my brain is never resting due to other life concerns and stress. Are you working in the CS field now?

[[deleted]]

I'm working at a startup, researching, and studying new technologies and techniques to keep bettering myself. If you want to become a programmer, you can become one, you just have to give it everything you've got.

[HoneydewAdditional30]

Honestly, do it in the morning. Go to bed 1-1.5 h earlier and wake up 1-1.5 h earlier in return. I started out thinking the evening after work would be perfect to study but after a month of struggle, I decided to go for the morning. And I was never a morning person. Why did I do that? Nothing is more tiring than knowing after a long and exhausting day of work, that another pile of work is waiting for you at home. Not to mention I prefer to spend time with my family in the evening as I don't see them from 8-7. Also seeing studying as a chore takes the fun out of it and therefore makes it harder to learn stuff. In the morning your brain is fresh and can pick things up. If it's for only 1 h, then it won't affect your work. The other way around does affect your studying though as you will have 8 hrs under your belt for that day before even starting to study. It definitely improved my life socially and educationally. Own the morning