Personal growth is an essential prerequisite for becoming a better engineer. It involves reflecting on habits, methods, and routines that enable the human brain to function at its best.
Additionally, it helps prevent the brain from falling into issues such as low attention span, lack of focus and motivation.
Relevance to Software Engineering?
To become a better software engineer, one must consistently acquire and process new knowledge. Good software engineers have the ability to work with intense focus for extended periods on a single problem without feeling drained. They do not get tired and start missing out details. They are comfortable in taking up uncomfortable challenging tasks. Additionally they are not overly exhausted after office hours (or classroom hours for undergraduates). They are able to create clear separation between work and personal life.
For all the skills and qualities required to excel as a software engineer, there is clear evidence that a highly motivated and resilient brain is essential.
Does this apply to me?
How can we identify whether our daily routines are negatively impacting our personal growth?
One way is to review a list of the side effects caused by poor habits. If you recognise any of these signs in yourself, it may be time to explore solutions to address them:
Difficulty in understanding complicated engineering paradigms.
Difficulty concentrating during meetings, classes or working for extended periods, often resorting to distractions like checking your phone.
Feeling overly comfortable with repetitive tasks while avoiding or disliking tasks that require learning or exploring something new.
Struggling to work on stressful or demanding tasks for extended periods, such as solving a difficult LeetCode problem.
Unable to solve difficult LeetCode problems even when you take extra time.
Experiencing brain fog even when trying to focus.
Making frequent silly errors or mistakes in your work.
Lacking time and energy to learn something new.
Failing to identify contradictory statements during conversations.
Feeling unmotivated or lacking the energy to take any initiative.
Experiencing inconsistent levels of productivity throughout the week.
Unable to exchange comfort errands like games, movies and phone with high effort/high value tasks like working for promotion, switching jobs, completing final year project or experimenting with a pet project.
By recognising these patterns, you can take the first step toward improving habits and fostering personal growth.
Overview of the situation
If we notice the above mentioned side effects they can be grouped into the following categories.
Increase the total time we can stay focussed on a task without exhausting.
Increase the brain’s resilience to handle stress better.
Make it easier to convince the brain to start difficult tasks. (Increase will power).
Train the brain to solve problems faster.
A diagram for better visualisation.
Solutions anyone?
The good news is that these are all solvable problems. In this series, we will explore the habits and methods that help address these issues. While a solution may not work for everyone, it will at least guide them in the right direction.