Learning to code is hard. There is no shortcut to mastering the art of coding. As soon as you sit down in front of the computer and start coding, your world disappears. Then you question yourself, “Is what I’m doing now, getting me closer to where I want to be?”. Either you run your day, or the day runs you.

Secret #1: Do not fear failure

Your comfort zone is a beautiful place, but I tell you, no one ever grows there. Do not fear failure. When you feel anxious when you start to get out of your comfort zone, it’s helping you to focus and remember the information that you studied.

An interesting relationship between performance and anxiety was found when two psychologists Robert Yerkes and John Dodson experimented in 1908 with mice that were more motivated to complete a maze when given mild electrical shocks. However, the mice hid in fear once the shocks became too strong.

Don’t spend too much time thinking about learning to code, and just start to code. And when you start, start with small things.

Secret #2: Start small and grow

“ Get the fundamentals down, and the level of everything you do will rise” -Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan once said, “ Get the fundamentals, and the level of everything you do will rise”. Again, there is no shortcut. Study the basics -HTML, CSS, and Javascript. Learn the syntax of the coding language you want to learn then learn how to think like a programmer. First, solve the problem and then write the code.

And don’t forget to celebrate these little things as you stack these bits of information and concepts.

Secret #3: Get a mentor

Most learners try to isolate themselves too much while learning how to code. Don’t push yourself too hard.

Find a mentor. It’s an important part of the learning process. These people can guide you through enhancing your skills and will challenge you to know where you might be weak.

The effectiveness of mentors has been proven throughout history. Most world-renowned artists or creators in humanity were honed by someone else.

Mentors are well-experienced and will point you in the right direction when you hit roadblocks. More to this, most of these people have expanded networks of fellow programmers that they can hook you into., and who knows, may end up getting your first job because of this.

Secret #4: Balance

When in front of the computer, most of the time we forget that there is a world out there. It’s important to take a break once in a while. Spending so much time on one issue without any progress is frustrating.

Don’t make it burn you out. Call your friends. Go out and meet them up. Spend some time with your family even if it’s just for an hour. Your brain needs a rest too and it will thank you for it.

Hope that these secrets will help you keep motivated in learning how to code. Stay tuned for more of our blogs.