Staying motivated while learning to code

Taking on any education can be an arduous task. After all, you’re learning something new, and as is the way of education, there are bound to be some learning curves. Here’s where motivation comes in – especially when you’re learning to code.

Motivation – key to success

When you partake in a new learning journey, staying motivated could be the difference between completing a course and not. When it comes to learning software development, you will experience plenty of ups and downs. 

You’ll have moments when you’re slapping yourself on the back for a job well done when you understand something straight off the bat, like HTML, for example. Then, there will also be times when you feel like throwing your keyboard out the window because you can’t get to grips with JavaScript. 

Both of the scenarios above compare to many learning journeys. So, how do you tackle those keyboard-throwing moments? Well, knowing why you’re learning in the first place. Remembering what motivated you to take the learning leap in the first place. 

Write it down

Before you sign up for a course, it’s really good practice to write down the reasons that you are signing up to learn something new in the first place. By doing this, you will have created a go-to place to look when you are losing the will to complete learning something. It’s amazing how effective this can be. So many people realise the benefits of what they’re doing when they sit down and read what their initial reasons were for learning. Now, we’ll look at some of the more common reasons that we’ve heard.

Examples of motivation

Motivation can be different for everybody. It’s a very personal thing, and how strong our motivation is can be the difference between fight or flight. Following are some typical motivations that Code Institute students have mentioned over the last few years. 

• Dislike current profession

At least 90% of Code Institute students are career changers. Many of them have chosen to study software development simply because they hate their current career, and they can see the amazing benefits and opportunities that come with a career in technology. Imagine working in a career that you hate and knowing that if you continue, one-third of your life will be spent doing something you don’t enjoy. If this is your motivation, write it down!

• Earn more money

While many people won’t publicly admit this, wanting to earn more money is pretty natural. Here’s the good news, if you’re learning to code to take up a career as a software developer, then the great news is, it’s a job that pays really well. Why’s that? Well, because there are simply not enough software developers out there. If money’s your motivator, then put it in your notebook.

• Better quality of life

If you’re learning to code to change your career, then it’s possible that one of your motivators is to have a better quality of life. Even before the pandemic, work-from-home opportunities were far better for software developers than in other industries. Couple that with a better salary, perks, bonuses and more, then I reckon a better quality of life is a great motivator. Beware, though, while all of this is true of a career in software development, like with any other job, there will be days that annoy you. If the quality of life is your key motivator for learning, then you’ve guessed it, write it down. 

• Want to be more creative

It’s incredible just how creative software developers are allowed to be. Think about it. They are here to solve problems through websites, apps, technologies, etc. The beauty is that when you’re working on a project, no matter how dull you feel it may be while working on it, it brings immense satisfaction when you’ve completed it. Being creative is a very common motivator. 

Use your key motivators

To get through any extended learning journey, it’s vitally important to remember why you are doing what you’re doing. If you’ve written down what motivates you, then use that knowledge to get through the hard times of learning something that’s tough. 

Learn to code – for free

Want to test your motivation? Try our free 5 Day Coding Challenge, but before you do, write down why you’re doing it. If you have any problems getting through this free short course, then reflect on what you’ve written. Register now through the form below.