DEV Community: Yusuf Saifurahman

Building an Inclusive Web: A Beginner’s Guide to WordPress Accessibility (Part 2)

Yusuf Saifurahman — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 10:20:17 +0000

In Part 1, we talked about:

What accessibility really means
Why it matters (ethics, SEO, legal risk)
The POUR framework

Now it’s time to answer the real question:

How do you actually make your WordPress site accessible — without feeling overwhelmed?

Let’s keep this simple.

No heavy theory.
No 200-page WCAG documents.
Just practical steps you can apply today.

Step 1: Start With an Accessibility-Friendly Theme

Your theme is the foundation of your site.

If it’s poorly built, you’ll constantly fight accessibility issues.

What to look for:

“Accessibility-ready” label in the WordPress theme directory
Clear focus states (you can see where you are when tabbing)
Good color contrast
Logical heading structure

Quick Test (30 seconds):

Open your site.

2.Put your mouse away.

3.Press Tab repeatedly.

Can you:

See where you are?
Reach menus?
Click buttons with Enter?

If not, your theme may need replacing.

Sometimes the most accessible fix… is switching themes.

Step 2: Use Proper Headings (Not Just Bigger Text)

Screen readers rely heavily on heading structure.

Think of headings as a table of contents.

Correct structure:

H1 → Page title
H2 → Main sections
H3 → Subsections

What _not_to do:

Don’t jump from H2 to H4 just because it “looks nicer.”
Don’t bold text and call it a heading.

In WordPress (Gutenberg), use the Heading block, not just styling.

Clean structure = better accessibility + better SEO.

Step 3: Add Meaningful Alt Text (Without Overthinking It)

Alt text isn’t about describing every pixel.

It’s about describing what matters.

Ask yourself:

If someone couldn’t see this image, what would they need to know?

Example:

❌ “Image of a woman”
✔ “Woman using a laptop to edit a WordPress blog post”

If the image is purely decorative?
Leave alt text empty.

Simple rule:

Describe purpose, not decoration.

Step 4: Fix Your Color Contrast

Low contrast is one of the most common accessibility issues.

Light grey text on white?
Looks modern.
Feels painful.

Easy Check:

Avoid very light text on light backgrounds.
Make links clearly visible (not just slightly darker text).
Never rely on color alone.

Bad example:
“The correct answer is in green.”

Better:
“The correct answer is marked with a ✔ symbol.”

Accessibility helps everyone — especially mobile users outdoors.

Step 5: Make Your Site Keyboard-Friendly

Many users:

Can’t use a mouse
Use assistive switches
Navigate with keyboards only

Test your site:

Tab through menus
Open dropdowns
Submit forms
Close popups

If you get stuck, your users get stuck.

Keyboard accessibility is not optional.

Step 6: Make Forms Clear and Forgiving

Forms are where most frustration happens.

Check that:

Every field has a visible label
Required fields are clearly marked
Error messages explain what went wrong
Errors appear near the problematic field

Bad:
“Error.”

Better:
“Please enter a valid email address.”

Clarity reduces abandonment.

Step 7: Use Plugins — But Don’t Rely on Them

There are accessibility plugins that:

-Add skip links

Highlight focus states
Scan for issues

They’re helpful.

But here’s the truth:

No plugin can guarantee full accessibility.

Accessibility isn’t a button. It’s a mindset.

Plugins support good practices. They don’t replace them.

Step 8: Add Captions and Transcripts

If you use:

Videos
Podcasts
Audio clips

Add captions or transcripts.

This helps:
Deaf users
Non-native speakers
SEO
People in noisy environments

Captions are not a “nice extra.”
They’re part of inclusion.

Step 9: Run Simple Accessibility Checks

You don’t need to be an expert to test your site.

Start with:

Keyboard-only navigation
Zoom to 200%
Mobile testing
Browser accessibility tools (like Lighthouse)

Fix obvious issues first.

Accessibility is progress — not perfection.

The Most Important Thing

You don’t need to fix everything at once.

Start with:

Better headings
Better alt text
Better contrast
Keyboard testing

Small improvements compound over time.

Final Thought

In Part 1, we talked about building a playground everyone can use.

Now you have the tools to actually build it.

Accessibility isn’t about being perfect.
It’s about being intentional.

And every improvement you make?

It opens the web to someone who was previously locked out.

That matters.

🌍 Building an Inclusive Web: A Beginner’s Hands-On Guide to WordPress Accessibility (Part 1)

Yusuf Saifurahman — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 10:11:17 +0000

If you’ve ever tried to read tiny grey text on a bright screen —
or used a website with a broken “Next” button on mobile —
you’ve experienced a taste of inaccessibility.

Now imagine this is your everyday reality:

You rely on a screen reader to browse the web.
You can’t use a mouse and navigate only with a keyboard.
You have low vision, color blindness, or ADHD and struggle with cluttered layouts.

For millions of people, this isn’t an occasional frustration.
It’s daily life.

Web accessibility is about making sure EVERYONE can use your site — regardless of disability, device, internet speed, or situation.

And here’s the good news:
If your site runs on WordPress, you already have powerful tools to build something more inclusive — even as a beginner.

Picture This…

You build a beautiful sandcastle.
You’re proud. You show your friends…

One friend can’t reach it.
Another can’t see it clearly.
Another can’t find the door.

Was your sandcastle really for everyone?

That’s what web accessibility is about — making sure your digital sandcastle (your WordPress website) works for all kinds of people, not just those who experience the web the same way you do.

And the best part?

You don’t need magic.
You don’t need coding superpowers.
You don’t need a superhero cape.

Just a few simple habits.

What Is Web Accessibility, Really?

At its core, web accessibility means this:

People with diverse abilities can perceive, understand, navigate, and interact with your website.

That includes:

Blind and low-vision users
Deaf and hard-of-hearing users
People with motor impairments who can’t use a mouse
People with cognitive or learning differences
People on older devices or slow connections
People in noisy, bright, or distracting environments

Accessibility isn’t “special features for a few people.”

It’s good design for everyone.

Think of It Like a Playground

Imagine a playground where:

There’s a ramp and stairs
The swings have safety belts
The signs use pictures and words
Everyone — big kids, little kids, kids in wheelchairs, kids with glasses — can play

Accessibility = Making your website that playground.

Why WordPress Accessibility Matters

(Spoiler: it’s not just kindness — though that’s a big part)

It’s the right thing to do

No one should feel excluded from using the web.

When your site is inaccessible, you’re not just losing traffic —
you’re actively shutting people out.

Accessibility is about respect, dignity, and fairness.

It can reduce legal and compliance risk

Many countries require websites to meet accessibility standards —
similar to safety rules like “no running by the pool.”

Depending on your location and audience, you may be expected to follow standards like WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) or local accessibility laws.

Even if you’re not legally required, showing that you care — and are actively improving — is always a smart move.

It’s great for SEO and user experience

Here’s the bonus most people don’t expect:

Accessibility and SEO overlap — a lot.

Proper heading structure helps search engines understand your content
Alt text helps you appear in image search
Clean HTML and clear navigation reduce bounce rates

Accessible sites are easier to use, easier to understand, and easier to find.

Accessible site = better SEO = more people finding you.

Meet the Magic Word: POUR

(No, not juice — though that’s fun too)

Most accessibility work is guided by one simple framework: POUR.

You don’t need to memorize WCAG rules to get started — POUR helps you think clearly.

P — Perceivable

People must be able to see, hear, or sense your content.

Examples:

Text alternatives (alt text) for images
Captions for videos
Sufficient color contrast

Think of it like labeling toy boxes so everyone knows what’s inside.

O — Operable

People must be able to use your website — with a mouse, keyboard, or assistive technology.

Examples:

Keyboard navigation
No “traps” where users get stuck
Enough time to read and interact

If someone can’t operate your site, it doesn’t matter how pretty it is.

U — Understandable

Your content and navigation should make sense.

Examples:

Clear language
Predictable menus
Helpful error messages
Your site shouldn’t feel like a maze.

Clear words. Clear steps. No surprises.

R — Robust

Your site should work across devices, browsers, and assistive technologies.

Examples:

Clean HTML
Proper use of headings and labels
Compatibility with screen readers

Think of jollof rice — no matter who cooks it, everyone should still be able to enjoy it.

Now you know what accessibility is and why it matters.
Next comes the real question:

How do you make your WordPress site accessible… without turning it into a confusing, stressful project?
In Part 2, we’ll roll up our sleeves and go practical — with simple changes you can apply immediately, even if you’re not a developer.

🔥 Leading Through Burnout: What They Don’t Tell You

Yusuf Saifurahman — Sun, 24 Aug 2025 17:19:30 +0000

Ever smiled on a Zoom call while silently screaming inside?
Yeah—me too.

Burnout isn’t just something that happens to developers under too many Jira tickets.
It hits leaders too.
Hard.
And most of the time, no one even notices.

Because we’re “the strong ones,” right? The ones holding it together. The ones shielding the devs from pressure while juggling changing timelines, angry clients, and Slack notifications that never sleep.

But here’s the truth they don’t put in the tech ecosystem playbook:

Leading tech projects will chew you up if you don’t make space to breathe.
This is my story—and maybe, it’s yours too.

🧠 What Burnout Looks Like (from the Driver’s Seat)

Let me paint the picture.
I wasn’t working overtime. I wasn’t “stuck” technically.
But every day started to feel like a weight.

I felt detached from the work
I got frustrated over small things
I started questioning my role
I was snarky in messages (and I knew it)
Nothing felt meaningful—even when things went “well”
It felt chaotic, high-pressure, and... pointless

And the kicker? I was still showing up, still delivering, still smiling.
Because that’s what a good leader does, right?

🧨 The Breaking Point

I hit my limit during a project where timelines were moving targets and the scope shifted more times than a toddler on sugar.

Support was messaging me.
The C-team was chasing me.
The devs were waiting on me.
And I was just... tired.

Tired of carrying the emotional weight no one else could see.
Tired of pretending I had it all under control when it felt like a game of Jenga —one wrong move and everything would collapse.

👥 The Problem With Quiet Leadership

Can I tell you a secret?
Most leaders won’t admit when they’re struggling—because the job quietly teaches us not to.

“You’re the one with the answers.”
“You’re the one people depend on.”
“You can’t afford to break.”
So we don’t talk about it.
We internalise it.
We joke about “being fine” while staring at 17 unread DMs at 11:43pm.

In my team, we don’t really “talk” about mental health yet. But I try to drop small reminders:

“Enjoy your weekend and come back refreshed.”
“Drink water, please.”
“Take breaks when you need them.”

Little things.
Small cracks of light.
Because maybe, that’s how we start opening the door.

🔄 How I Reset When I’m Running on Empty

There’s no magic fix.
But I’ve learned to spot the signs and pause before I spiral.

My reset kit looks like this:

Step away from the desk
Take a walk
Watch a show (currently binging Ozark)
Visit friends
Drink more water
Laugh at stupid things on the internet And most importantly—I remind myself that this is a job, not my identity.

🛡 Setting Boundaries (Even When It’s Hard)
Now, I have a simple routine to protect my energy:

Breaks throughout the day
No overworking for the sake of "urgency"
Staying hydrated (seriously, it helps)
Keeping a real work-life balance, not a LinkedIn version of it Leadership doesn't mean being on all the time. It means knowing when to be on—and when to pull back.

🚨 A Wake-Up Call from Me

If you’re reading this and thinking, “Damn, this sounds like me”—you’re not weak.
You’re not alone.
And you’re not failing.

You’re a human trying to lead other humans in a high-pressure, high-speed industry. That takes a lot more than Jira boards and Gantt charts.

It takes empathy.
Self-awareness.
And the guts to say, “I need a break.”

And to the leaders reading this—let me be blunt for a moment:

Sometimes, we are the reason our teams are burnt out.
We scope poorly.
We demand too much.
We put people last when we should’ve put them first.

We can—and must—do better.

💬 Final Thoughts

So no, this isn’t another “10 tips for self-care” post.
This is a real story. A validation.
And maybe... a permission slip.

To breathe.
To talk.
To lead with honesty, not just efficiency.

✊ You’re Not Alone

If you’re a tech leader quietly carrying too much—pause.
Drink some water.
Take a walk.
Call a friend. - I'm a dm away on Linkdln or X
Ask for help.

You don’t have to do it all.
You just have to be real—and that’s enough.

🫶 Over to You

Have you ever felt burned out as a leader?
What helped you through it—or what didn’t?
I’d love to hear your story.

Let’s talk more openly. It starts with one voice—and maybe that’s yours.
Drop them below 👇
Or find me on LinkedIn —let’s trade notes!

🕰️ How I Coordinate Remote WordPress Teams Across Time Zones

Yusuf Saifurahman — Sat, 31 May 2025 15:42:11 +0000

Yusuf Saifurahman

May 31 '25

🕰️ How I Coordinate Remote Teams Across Time Zones

#remote #wordpress #workplace #product

Comments

3 min read

🕰️ How I Coordinate Remote Teams Across Time Zones

Yusuf Saifurahman — Sat, 31 May 2025 15:39:55 +0000

Have you ever tried to plan a team meeting when half your crew is in pyjamas and the other half is heading out for lunch?

Welcome to my world.

As a Project Manager working in the WordPress and WooCommerce space, I lead remote teams spread across Africa, South Asia, the Middle East, Oceania, and North America. We collaborate on projects while navigating time zones, task priorities, and the occasional power outage or cricket match.

It’s challenging. It’s rewarding. And with the right tools and mindset—it works beautifully.

Here’s how I keep everything running smoothly (most of the time), even when no two team members are in the same time zone.

🔁 Embracing Asynchronous Communication
Imagine trying to run a three-legged race… except you’re all on different continents. That’s remote coordination in a nutshell.

The solution? Asynchronous communication—fancy speak for “we don’t all need to be online at the same time to move things forward.”

Here’s what we rely on:

🧵 Slack – for project updates, nudges, quick check-ins, and the occasional meme to keep morale high
🧩 Google Workspace – shared Docs, Sheets, and Meet for collaboration
🛠️ Jira – our task manager and structured chaos central

I keep things organised with dedicated Slack channels, clear tags, and clear messages for walkthroughs. That way, if it’s 3 a.m. in Sydney, our Aussie team member can still get context without needing a late-night Zoom.

💡 Think of it like leaving sticky notes on a digital fridge. Everyone checks in when they’re ready.

📑 Establishing Clear Processes & Documentation
Let’s be honest—if your project plan is “we’ll figure it out as we go,” then you’re not planning. You’re just hoping for the best.

Early on, I learned the hard way that lack of clarity = delays. I’d assign tasks, ask for updates… and hear nothing. Developers weren’t unmotivated—they just didn’t have the right information, or the ask wasn’t clear enough.

Now I document everything:

Google Docs – for briefs, wikis, and project overviews
Google Sheets – for release schedules, bug logs, and tracking deliverables

And I simplify, always.
If a five-year-old wouldn’t get it, I rewrite it.

✅ Short paragraphs
✅ Bullet points
✅ Clear next steps
✅ Realistic timelines

And yes, I follow up. Like a polite squirrel that never forgets where it hid the acorns.

🧠 Scheduling with Empathy & Efficiency
Here’s a real look at my life:

This is what it takes to find a single 30-minute overlap for team members in Nigeria, Australia, India, and Bangladesh. I call it “calendar Tetris.”

How I make it work:

World Time Buddy – to spot overlap across time zones
Rotate meeting times – so one region isn’t always taking the hit
Ask, “Can this be async?” – often the best meeting is the one that didn’t happen

Remote work is a team sport. It works best when everyone feels their time is respected.

🚀 Continuous Learning & Adaptation
Working with remote teams is like building LEGO with gloves on. You’ll fumble, drop pieces, and occasionally step on something sharp—but every project teaches you something new.

What I’ve learned (and keep learning):

How to write better briefs
How to spot blockers early
How to listen more and assume less
And I keep sharpening my skills:
Make WordPress – for staying on top of ecosystem updates
Slack’s Remote Work Guide – practical and tactical

🎯 Each lesson is a building block. Step on it once—learn. Step on it twice—you weren’t paying attention.

✅ Wrapping Up: Herding Global Cats (and Loving It)
Here’s the big picture:

Use Slack, Google Workspace, and Jira to streamline communication
Write briefs a 5-year-old could understand
Schedule with empathy and rotate fairly
Always learn, adapt, and laugh when things go sideways

Want to improve your own coordination game? Start with:

🗨️ Over to You
How do you keep your remote developers accountable and projects on time—without becoming "that manager"?
Have any rituals, tools, or war stories to share?

Drop them below 👇
Or find me on LinkedIn —let’s trade notes!

Finding Balance: Tips for Managing Tech Overwhelm in Your Daily Life

Yusuf Saifurahman — Mon, 22 Jan 2024 08:27:31 +0000

In the ever-exciting world of technology, where cool things are always happening, we techies often face a common challenge: TECH OVERWHELM.
Let's create a scenario here, Picture having so many fascinating toys that you're not sure where to start or which to pick – that's the feeling some of our friends in tech experience.
But not to worry! We're here to figure out how to navigate through these tech toys without feeling lost.

The tech world moves fast, with constant innovations and learning opportunities. It's like a big playground with evolving tools.

Let's explore some smart strategies to help you play with these tech toys and overcome the overwhelm. Whether you're just starting or already on your tech journey, these tips will make your experience smoother. Ready for some fun strategies that'll make tech feel like a playground, not a puzzle?

Understanding the tech overwhelm

Identifying Overwhelm Triggers

Before we dive into solutions, let's play detective and figure out what makes our tech playtime a bit tricky.

It's like when your toy box is overflowing – maybe there are too many toys or you want to play with all of them at once! In the tech world, it's kinda similar. Sometimes, we feel a bit overwhelmed because there's so much cool stuff to learn, or we worry about missing out on something exciting.

So, let's unravel these tech mysteries and find strategies to make our playtime smoother and more fun! Remember, just like solving puzzles makes us smarter, figuring out these tech challenges will make us even better tech detectives.

It's crucial to recognize the factors contributing to overwhelm. These may include information overload, imposter syndrome, fear of missing out (FOMO), or simply the pressure to keep up with the ever-changing tech landscape.
Setting Realistic Expectations:

We've come this far little explorer! Imagine you have a super cool treasure map, and it's filled with lots of treasures to find.

Now, just like you can't find all the treasures at the same time, learning in tech is a bit like that! You don't have to know everything right away.

Let's set some cool goals, like finding one treasure at a time. Remember, learning is an exciting journey, not a race to the finish line, and embracing this perspective makes our tech adventure even more awesome!

So, as we navigate this tech treasure map, each small victory becomes a step closer to becoming a tech superhero! Just like superheroes don't learn to fly in a day, we don't have to master everything instantly.

Enjoy each discovery, celebrate every win, and let's make our tech journey an incredible story filled with learning and growth.

Acknowledge that it's impossible to learn everything at once. Set realistic goals and expectations for yourself. Understand that continuous learning is a journey, not a destination.

Navigating Tech Overwhelm: Beginner's Playbook for Taming the Tech Jungle

Prioritizing Learning Paths:
Imagine you have a magical backpack, and you can fill it with all the things you want to learn. Now, just like picking your favourite toys, let's decide which ones are the coolest to put in our backpacks.

What do you love the most? Let's choose the learning adventures that match your favourite things and the jobs you dream about. It's like creating your very own treasure map of knowledge!

As we embark on this learning journey, think of it as a quest to become a master explorer in the tech world.

For the grown-ups out there, when strategically pursuing knowledge, it's essential to delineate learning priorities based on career objectives.

Concentrate on acquiring proficiency in technologies and skills that resonate with your interests and align with your professional goals.

This intentional approach ensures a focused and purposeful development of expertise in your tech journey.

Define your learning priorities based on your career goals. Focus on the technologies and skills that align with your interests and the demands of your current or desired role.
Breaking Down Goals into Manageable Steps:
Imagine your goals are like building a tower of colourful blocks. Instead of trying to stack all the blocks at once, let's start with one block at a time.

It's like making a super cool tower step by step. Each little step is like adding a block, and before you know it, you'll have a big, awesome tower of achievements!

Now, in the pursuit of goals, it's advisable to refrain from attempting to master everything simultaneously.

Instead, break down your objectives into smaller, manageable tasks. By addressing one task at a time, you build confidence, diminish the feeling of overwhelm, and create a structured approach to achieving your overall goals.

Instead of trying to master everything simultaneously, break down your goals into smaller, achievable tasks. Tackling one step at a time builds confidence and reduces the sense of overwhelm.
Seeking Mentorship and Guidance:
Imagine you're on a treasure hunt, and you need some awesome friends to show you the way. That's where mentors come in –

they're like experienced treasure hunters! Connect with them, and they'll share their cool stories and guide you through the tech jungle. It's like having magical friends who know all the secret paths!

In the pursuit of professional growth, it is advisable to seek mentorship from experienced individuals within the tech industry.

Connect with seasoned mentors or colleagues who can provide valuable guidance and share their own experiences.

Their insights are invaluable in navigating the challenges inherent in the dynamic tech landscape. Cultivating these mentor relationships is a strategic step towards personal and career development.

Connect with experienced mentors or colleagues who can provide guidance and share their own experiences navigating the tech industry. Their insights can be invaluable in helping you navigate challenges.
Building a Supportive Network:

Imagine you're on a cool spaceship, and your space friends are all around you. Building a supportive network is like having your space friends help you explore the universe of tech.

Connect with friends who are also learning about tech, share your stories, and encourage each other. It's like having a whole galaxy of friends cheering you on!

Now, it is advisable to establish a supportive network of peers who are also navigating the early stages of their tech careers.

Collaborate with like-minded individuals, exchange experiences, share valuable resources, and provide mutual encouragement.

Cultivating such a network fosters a positive and collaborative learning environment, enhancing the overall growth and success of individuals within the dynamic tech industry.

Surround yourself with a supportive network of peers who are also navigating the early stages of their tech careers. Share experiences, resources, and encouragement to create a positive and collaborative learning environment.
Embracing a Growth Mindset:

Picture yourself as a superhero in a comic book, where each challenge transforms into a thrilling adventure.

Embracing a growth mindset is akin to donning your superhero cape, empowering you to face challenges with resilience and excitement- it helps you see challenges as exciting opportunities to learn and grow! Remember, setbacks are just like the villains in your comic –

they may slow you down, but they can't stop you from becoming a superhero. Keep going, champ "You Rock"!

It is crucial to foster a growth mindset. Cultivate a perspective that views challenges not as obstacles but as opportunities for learning and growth. Understand that setbacks are inherent in the learning process and should be seen as valuable experiences rather than reflections of your abilities.

Embracing this mindset is a strategic approach to continuous improvement and success in the dynamic landscape of the tech industry.

Cultivate a growth mindset that sees challenges as opportunities to learn and grow. Understand that setbacks are a natural part of the learning process and not a reflection of your abilities.

In conclusion, manoeuvring through tech overwhelm is a common journey for newcomers and junior tech enthusiasts alike.
By recognizing the triggers, establishing achievable expectations, and implementing practical strategies, you not only navigate the overwhelm but also flourish in your tech exploration.
Keep in mind, that the tech community is expansive and supportive, and your ongoing development showcases your commitment and enthusiasm for the field. Embrace the challenges, commemorate the victories, and savour the exhilarating adventure that defines a career in technology.

Overcoming laziness

Yusuf Saifurahman — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 03:41:03 +0000

Stop being lazy.

Oya what's Laziness:

Laziness is the tendency to avoid physical or mental effort. It can be a serious problem, as it can interfere with a person's ability to accomplish their goals.

Your ideas are a lot more precious than you think. Your ideas are a lot more valuable than you might think.

All you have to do to make them a reality is to stop being lazy.

Realistically, laziness is something that comes from being too comfortable with what you're doing.

Call it laziness, sloth, ineptitude, idleness, or whatever you like but the idea of doing nothing when things need to be done is often considered to be a sign of weakness or shirking.

Sometimes laziness happens when you don't want to face something, like a boring chore or a difficult confrontation with someone. Other times, it might be because you feel overwhelmed and think the task needs a whole team rather than just you.

And then there are those times where you really just can't be bothered. In any case, it's simply not a desirable trait.

That is something that was happening to me as well. I try to be as productive as I can, but it's very difficult. I'm learning how to change my habits, but it's not an easy task.

Constantly put yourself in different situations. Constantly try to change your habits.

Master your habits, rather than letting your habits be the master of you. You will effectively start to defeat laziness.

It might not completely leave you, but it'll start getting lower. Right now, what can you do to get yourself to not be lazy?

What can you do to make yourself a little bit more uncomfortable?

There's always something you can do to make yourself a little bit more uncomfortable.

If you are setting goals that you're constantly meeting, you're being lazy because you are getting comfortable.

You're able to reach those goals constantly. You can do better than that, right?

You need to increase the barrier to where you need to go. If you are failing to meet your new goal, but you're getting closer, you're effectively starting to get closer and closer to your new goal.

Say you’re currently studying two hours a day and you set your goal to four hours, that's pushing yourself out of your comfort zone.

After a week or two, if you’re studying three hours now, but you can't reach the four-hour goal, that's better than the two hours you had previously accomplished.

We're so afraid of failure. We're so afraid of failing at things, but that's really how you get good at something.

In weightlifting, if something is too easy for you, you need to get heavier weights and push yourself.

But in real life, we don't tend to think of it that way.

We just say I'm glad I'm feeling safe, I'm feeling secure.

Some people just get a job and latch onto it.

They try not to reach for something more.

They dare not to try to do something that is a little bit risky, even though they think it might be right.

They don't wanna take that risk.

It's very little, but you’re effectively taking control over the situation.

When I did it, I realized that my body will start to expand to those things.

Your mind will strengthen itself to the point where it is actually able to deal with any obstacles that come its way. There are several ways to overcome laziness.

First, it is important to identify what is causing laziness. Is it an issue with procrastination or is it a lack of motivation? Once the cause is identified, it can be addressed.

Second, one can set realistic goals and break them down into smaller, achievable tasks. Goals should be specific and attainable, and the tasks should be manageable. This can help make the task less overwhelming and can help keep a person motivated.

Third, one should create a plan to keep oneself accountable. This could include setting reminders, rewarding oneself for progress, and keeping track of progress.

Things You Should Know

Clean and organize your space. Having clutter around you can negatively affect your ability to get motivated. Tell yourself that you can break this habit of laziness. Negative self-talk only holds you back, so monitor your thoughts and put a positive spin on them. Break large goals into smaller, more achievable goals. Accomplishing a goal, even a small one, will motivate you to keep moving forward.

Finally, it is important to take breaks and practice self-care. Taking breaks can help to refresh the mind and body. Self-care activities can help to reduce stress and increase motivation.

By taking these steps, one can work to overcome laziness and increase motivation.

So push yourself to the next step even if it seems scary or unattainable.

Just see how far you take yourself.

Hope this helped.

Striking a Balance

Yusuf Saifurahman — Mon, 31 Oct 2022 10:17:24 +0000

Have you ever felt like you can't cope or you feel you would lag in one place or the other ??

Striking a balance isn't that easy and we all know that. We know having to merge family, life school and altogether isn't that easy.

There are many physical, mental, emotional, and academic benefits to striking a balance and effectively managing your time with school, life, family, social media, and tech.

Whether you are personally working on improving your self-esteem, your sleep habits, or your productivity, you can gain a lot from prioritization and time management.

To help reach short- and long-term goals, I suggest you try this out:

PRIORITIZE- Learning how to effectively organize your priorities is crucial to help you understand the activities that should take more of your time and those that are mere wants.

The ones that are less important can take the back seat for the moment pending the time you tick off the more important ones.

I have this method of prioritizing my task by setting them on measures, some are URGENT/HIGH-PRIORITY, MID-PRIORITY, and LOW-PRIORITY.

URGENT tasks are very important things like a client's website being defaced or a course I need to attend to understand. personally, in school, I don't attend all classes except those of high priority.

Setting priorities give you an edge in managing your time effectively and giving the best out of what you do by doing it better.

STAY EFFICIENT - Time management will help you stay on track while accomplishing more rapid progress in your outlined priorities.

Make a schedule containing each priority, including your task at work, school, and family, and ensure you stick to it.

COMPERTMENTALIZE- While you’re fixing a schedule for your activities, don’t forget to compartmentalize.

Divide your tasks into smaller ones to help you know where to start and finish, and equally ease the tension with getting it done.

I do this most of the time to make us look like I have done a lot sometimes and I give myself kudos for achieving my set priorities.

REMEMBER YOUR GOAL - Keeping your goal at the back of your mind at all times will help in driving the motivation to push through difficult times and cross the finish line.

Just so you know:

While you’re trying to get everything done, ensure you take the time out to decompress and relax. It’ll save you from experiencing quick burnout.

That's how you code and strike a balance 💯

Have a nice time Adios

Imposter Syndrome: A menace in my career😔

Yusuf Saifurahman — Mon, 05 Sep 2022 03:50:02 +0000

Have you ever felt like you don’t belong? Like your friends or colleagues are going to discover you’re another Mike Ross of Suits or a fraud, and you don’t actually deserve your job and accomplishments? Or that your boss might figure it out at any moment? Or maybe you’ve felt like you’re only pretending to be an adult who’s capable of buying a home or raising a human being, even though everyone else you know has it totally figured out.

Spoiler alert: Most other people have felt this way, too!

WHAT IS IMPOSTER SYNDROME

Impostor syndrome— the idea that you’ve only succeeded due to luck, and not because of your talent or qualifications, It’s the feeling that everyone else knows exactly what they’re doing, but you feel lost.

“You have this fear that the people around you are going to figure out that you don’t know what you’re talking about and expose you as a fraud.”

The worst part about imposter syndrome? It can easily turn into a cycle with seriously negative consequences. But recognizing it and having the tools to get past it can stop you from getting in your own way.

Today, impostor syndrome can apply to anyone
“who isn’t able to internalize and own their successes,” says psychologist Audrey Ervin.

People suffering from imposter syndrome have a sense of inadequacy and insecurity concerning their ability to make a contribution at the workplace. In reality, they may be perfectly capable of doing their work, and often contribute successfully to their tasks.

Imposter Syndrome is very common among people who are new to their role and lack the experience of some of their co-workers.

Throughout various industries, imposter syndrome is very common with highly successful people. Studies have found out that two out of five ‘successful’ people consider themselves frauds/imposters. And other studies have shown that up to 70% of people experience imposter syndrome as one point in time or another.

If you suffer from imposter syndrome you may have a sense of inadequacy or insecurity about your ability to contribute. In reality, you may be perfectly capable of doing your tasks well.

SYMPTOMS OF IMPOSTER SYNDROME

Imposter syndrome and its symptoms can manifest in many ways, These thoughts are fairly common if you struggle with imposter syndrome:

“What am I doing here?”
“I am not a developer. I am fooling myself and other people.” (feels fake)

“My colleagues are much smarter than I am; I could never match up to them.” (undermines own achievements)

“My coworkers have told me I’ve achieved a lot, but I feel like it’s never enough.” (discounts praise)

“I have no idea how I got through the interview process.” (feels only luck dictates results)

“I will be ridiculed and fired when people realize I am not as smart as I portrayed myself as being.” (fears failure)

“My IQ is not high enough to work here.” (doubts inherent ability)

“I need more training to feel like I deserve to be here.”

"Crediting luck or other reasons for any success or Fear of being seen as a failure."

"Feeling unworthy of attention or affection or Downplaying accomplishments."

"Holding back from reaching attainable goals and objectives"

People with an imposter mindset often attribute their success to luck rather than their own abilities and work ethic, which could hold them back from asking for a raise or applying for a promotion. They might also feel like they have to overwork themselves to achieve the impossibly high standards they’ve set.

OVERCOMING IMPOSTER SYNDROME

The first step in overcoming imposter syndrome is to learn that there is a difference between a growth mindset and a fixed mindset.

People with a growth mindset believe that their skills and talents can be developed through hard work, practice, conversations with others, etc. Alternately, those with a fixed mindset tend to believe their talents are set abilities that they were born with.

When you change your outlook to a growth mindset, you allow yourself to take on challenges that may seem out of reach. If you believe that your skills and competence can be nutured and nourished over time, you would worry less if you don’t know how to do something (as long as you are willing to put in the work).

Many talented, successful people deal with Imposter Syndrome. Not only does success not eliminate Imposter Syndrome. Many times, success makes it worse. So, it isn’t something we conquer once. We conquer it every day, every time we take on a project, task, and so on.

Conclusion:
You’re a developer
Suffering from developer impostor syndrome can be debilitating, but it can help to remember that you’re not alone. It’s completely normal, and more widespread than you might realise.

Developers are in a role where they’re always learning because it’s impossible to know everything all the time. So, if you are willing to adapt and learn new skills, tech and languages as you need them, then you aren’t a fake. You’re a developer.

Mind you, YOU COULD BE INCOMPETENT AND STILL HAVE IMPOSTER SYNDROME DON'T MIX THE BOTH..

Have a nice time
Adios

PROGRAMMING AND YOUR MOVIES

Yusuf Saifurahman — Wed, 17 Aug 2022 09:25:43 +0000

I know you were thinking programming is as simple as what you see in series and movies.

Programming is nothing like what they show in Hollywood movies.

Movies usually show someone sitting in front of a laptop, typing like their fingers are on fire, and then everything magically works.

This is why so many people have imposter syndrome, they never feel they know how to code, even though they’ve been programming for a long time.

The way coding is portrayed in the media is why you always feel and think other people know more than you do and in the real sense you are a badass developer.

Programming is, actually, a lot of searching for solutions and asking questions.

Programming is also hard sometimes put that in mind.

A lot of programming is looking up stuff that works for others online, and then transmuting it and taking it and applying it to YOUR project. well done boss you tried well.

Most people, when they run into a problem, they just give up. I was this before, I don't like many challenges and dislike testing out so as not to disrupt what I have.

They'll either ask somebody for an answer, or give up, and then they'll go, "Okay, this project is too hard. I can't do it.

Nope. You need to Google the 💩 out of it.

I promise you the answer is somewhere lurking on GitHub, on Stack Overflow, on a blog far away on page 15 of your search, or in a YouTube tutorial.

You could watch the tutorial and see how they implemented this one feature in their own project. You could take it and then try to implement it into your own project.

It's an incredible ability to have, and the way you develop it is by persevering through a problem and sticking through all the way to the end. 👊.

If you see me code a project, it's not going to be as exciting as you think it is.

I'm not just going to be sitting there and just coding it from scratch. 😴

I'll be looking up stuff, I'll be pulling pieces of code (pull stack developer😊), I'll be trying to think of things, I'll think of ideas... and then I'll keep moving on. 🚀

Just so you know:

You are good at what you do and you can break the limits. Also, know that you could have imposter syndrome and still be incompetent....

That's how you code and overcome imposter syndrome 💯

Have a nice time Adios

CELEBRATING YOUR WINS

Yusuf Saifurahman — Fri, 04 Feb 2022 12:10:32 +0000

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about just how important it is to celebrate your wins when you’re looking back at the previous quarter.

I found that my default was to only remember where I failed or fell short. Even when I did remember something good, I didn’t really take any time to celebrate it or appreciate it. That’s not healthy, though, and it’s certainly not the culture I want for you. Frankly, I don’t want anyone on you to be as hard on themselves as I am on me.

I spend time thinking about why it is so important to celebrate wins and want to share that with you today. See, in addition to making you feel good, there is also a hidden reason to celebrate wins. I’ve found that purposefully looking for progress I’ve made actually improves the accuracy of my self-reporting. I’m biased to overlook those wins and focus on projects I didn’t finish or goals I didn’t hit. That’s not really the full picture of what I accomplished in any given time period, though. Half the time I’m just so buried in work, moving from one project to the next, that I don’t even notice how many things I’ve crossed off my list, let alone celebrate them.

I’m also learning to celebrate that any progress is some progress. I tend to default to an all-or-nothing approach where I only recognize a win as accomplishing the goal I set for myself. These are big wins like finishing a project, shipping a piece of content (or a book!), or hitting a fitness milestone. Those are all great, but they happen over long periods of time and sometimes don’t go as planned. Instead, I’m learning to celebrate progress for what it is. If I only hit 50% of a goal I had, that’s still 50% more than if I had given up. It’s important to celebrate even really small wins like just showing up and giving it a shot.

How to Celebrate Wins

Here’s a process that you might find helpful to start celebrating wins more often.

First, try to periodically gather up and review your wins. I have a few different sources for this. My paper journal is my first source, since I do my reviews and planning on paper first. So I’ll go through those boards along with notes I’ve taken or things I’ve been thinking or feeling. I’ll also go back and reference my calendar to see if there’s anything I’ve missed. Incidentally, this is the same process I use to write up quarterly reports for work. It really makes the process of gathering wins easier.

Don’t neglect the importance of getting better at sharing your wins. This one has always been hard for me, because I was raised to keep quiet about my accomplishments so as not to appear arrogant. The problem is that if no one knows what you’re doing, they’ll assume it’s nothing. There are two key places to do this: with your boss and in public. This article by Kim Maida sums this up really nicely:

Managers want to do right by the contributors on their team, but they aren’t omniscient superheroes. It’s impossible to know every single thing that each team member accomplishes on a daily basis, especially in autonomous, distributed, or remote work environments. Share your wins with your boss and share them often. Your manager will appreciate it, and they will remember and take actions as a result.

And regarding sharing wins publicly:

While this might sound like “shameless self-promotion,” it will get you noticed. Sometimes we all need a little shameless self-promotion. There’s nothing wrong with public validation for the blood, sweat, tears, and tremendously hard work we put into the things we do.

You can share your wins on social media or in blog posts. I’ve also discovered that many Discord communities have a celebrating-wins channel, which is really nice. Having a designated space like that helps relieve people of feeling self-conscious or spammy. I also really love getting to see other people’s wins and celebrate with them!

Lastly, it’s important to actually celebrate wins yourself. Some people do this with a special meal, a bottle of something nice and tasty, or buying themselves something fun. I think what works for me is unplugging a little early for the day or giving myself an extra bit of leisure time. Regardless, it’s surprisingly important to do this.
B.J. Fogg, a behavioral scientist at Stanford who wrote a book called Tiny Habits, has a helpful article about why it’s really important to celebrate every tiny win to help solidify new habits.

Let’s Practice
Let’s make this issue really practical and beneficial to everyone. This week, think of one recent accomplishment you did, no matter how big or small, and take a moment to celebrate it. Write in and
let me know what the win was and what you did to celebrate it

In conclusion
The best way to celebrate your wins is by rembering them and sharing them with the world. No one would know if you can only if you show them.
And that's all.
If you got questions or confusion or anything you are free to hit me up would really love to help out as fast as I can.
Yusuf
Tech enthusiast
Twitter, Instagram: Saifyusuph.

Becoming a Self Mentor

Yusuf Saifurahman — Tue, 16 Nov 2021 04:37:28 +0000

Over the years, I’ve often found myself wishing for a mentor much more often than I’ve actually had one. When I first got started in Tech, I again felt like I needed a mentor, but being remote and mostly autonomous, I had no idea where to find one. Instead of throwing my hands up and hoping for the best, I decided to break down why I was feeling that way and think of creative ways to get similar results.

Let me share with you what I’ve learned.

Why We Want a Mentor
Why is it that we want a mentor? What’s the outcome we’re looking for? For me, it’s usually some combination of the following:

I feel directionless.
I don’t know if I’m learning the right thing.
I don’t know whether the code I’m writing or the work I’m doing is good.
I can’t seem to finish anything.
I’m just down in the dumps.
On top of that, I’m also feeling so overwhelmed that I don’t want to dig in and do the work required to research these answers myself. In short, I’m looking for a silver bullet in human form.

Is that you, too? Often we’re looking for some mythical senior developer or lead architect somewhere to tell us the one thing we need to learn or build that’s going to rocket us to a FAANG job (Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix, Google), a more senior position, or Twitch stardom. Those things don’t happen in one fell swoop, though. They happen over years of focused effort.

So, on a deeper level, what are we looking for when we want a mentor? We generally want:

Direction: We want someone to break down for us what to learn and what not to worry about yet.
Quality Control: We want someone to check our code or content quality to make sure it’s right. As we get a little more advanced, we also want someone to let us know if what we’re doing is a “best practice.”
Accountability: We want someone to check in on us and keep us from falling off the wagon of working towards our goals.
Encouragement: We all want a cheerleader for when we’re running low on motivation. Nothing wrong with that.

Is there a way we can achieve those same results without having one single mentor carrying the burden?

How to Self-Mentor
To self-mentor, we basically need find suitable replacements in all four areas. Here are some things that have been helping me in each of those areas.

Direction
Figuring out the direction you want to go, and whether it’s the right one, is a little bit of art and a little bit of science. There are a few different sources for this you can use:

If you have a development job and a boss, that’s going to set a lot of your direction. We often don’t feel like this is valid because the day job rarely feels cool or exciting enough to feel like we’re making progress. Truthfully, you are making more progress just by racking up experience points. Don’t worry that it’s not in Hip Framework X — the beauty of programming is that experience transfers between technologies.
Seeing what’s trending in both the job market and what people are talking about is another good indicator of a direction you could go. Be wary of chasing every new technology that pops up on Twitter. It’s better to go a little broad at first as you build up experience. A lot of the coolest technologies disappear in a year.
What are people you admire and respect doing? I have a handful of people I follow as “trendsetters” because I trust their judgment. They’re not jumping around between flash-in-the-pan technologies, so I can tell when something is worth my attention.
Here’s another one people overlook: money. If someone is willing to pay you to code in or teach a technology, that’s a good sign you’re doing something right. Money as a direction indicator can come from freelance work, a full time job, or a product like a book or video course. Interestingly, what will bring you money is not always what is trending on Twitter.
Quality Control
This is probably the trickiest of the group because tech is always changing. You’ll need to “triangulate” a few different sources as you work through this.

A lot of coding tutorial websites like AlgoExpert and Execute Program have built-in IDEs that run tests and check your work. This is very helpful for just knowing if your code runs and is syntactically correct.
While conference talks are great for ecosystem news, they can also help you identify patterns and best practices that industry leaders are using.
Courses, articles, and training from high-quality sources can also show you patterns and best practices.
Never underestimate the value of the docs. Docs are meant to not only teach you the nuts and bolts of a technology, but also the best practices.
Accountability
Here are four different places you can find accountability:

Individual accountability: find a friend and commit to each other to do something. Start with short, small commitments (e.g. a small project in a week). It’s like a gym buddy, but for code. An excellent medium for this is Twitch. Live stream building a project together!
Learning in public: Writing out what you’re learning about doubles as a means of accountability. This is even more true if you commit to a regular cadence. Pro tip on that: give yourself an end goal. For example, “Write lessons I learned studying PHP every Friday for four weeks” instead of “Write every week about PHP lessons.” You’re much more likely to stick something with a hard stop. You can always start another round!
Group challenges/learning cohorts: There are various groups challenges that you can get involved with. For example, hashtags like #100DaysOfCode and study groups for things like JavaScript30. There are also groups cropping up as “learning cohorts,” which are kind of like book clubs for coding.
Paying a consultant: This isn’t always an option, but sometimes the shortest path between two points is to just pay someone to help. A few years ago I hurt my back. I had to do a bunch of tedious exercises to get better. Do you think I’d have done them if I wasn’t paying a physical therapist to pester me? Heck no! You can often just offer to pay someone for an hour of their time to pair up with you on something. It might feel expensive, but it also might save you tens or hundreds of hours.
Summary of all is you need:
DIRECTION
QUALITY CONTROL AND
ACCOUNTABILITY.
Hope this piece help and hope to see you as an expert sometimes.
Yusuf

You can catch me on social media at
Twitter: yusuf_software
GitHub:https://github.com/yusuf-saif
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/yusuf-saifur-rahman-939533192

Do have a nice learning process 🙂.

Overall, remember: deadlines and dollars get stuff done!

Encouragement
Don’t neglect this part of the process. We all need support! Sometimes we just need someone to let us know we’re doing alright. Heck, I know I do. We’re also notoriously bad at “feeling” our own progress. Here are some ideas on where to go:

Discord servers. I’ve been so happy to be part of different Discord groups. One that has been particularly welcoming is called Code Cafe Online. A lot of Discord servers also have a “celebrating wins” channel, which is a great idea.
Twitter friends. Sometimes you just need people on the internet to cheer you on.
Slack servers. Some coding groups, meetups, and bootcamps have dedicated Slack servers that can be a great motivation boost.
My email list. Really, feel free to write me whenever you need a boost! It may take me a bit to respond, but I will do my best to send you a note of encouragement.
Your Task for this Week
Use the framework I’ve laid out above to build yourself a system to learn and improve. This unlocks basically an endless list of mentors by proxy. Rather than seeking out the One True Mentor, figure out who you want to be like and observe them. What are they doing well? What is driving their success? You can have endless mentors if you know what to look for and how to harness those observations into action.

Just remember one thing: building a system like this doesn’t happen overnight. Take it one step at a time. This week, first pick the area that you feel like are feeling the most pain. Are you feeling lost? Are you frustrated by your code quality? Are you never able to finish projects? Are you feeling down and ready to give up? Work on these one at a time and don’t get discouraged if the first attempt doesn’t work. Keep at it. Remember: it’s not a failure, it’s a test.

Once you’ve picked your biggest pain point, write me back and let me know your plan to use one of the strategies in this framework to help make it a little bit better.