I've been "learning to code" for longer than I'd like to admit. I've watched countless tutorials, started dozens of courses, and convinced myself that this time would be different. It never was.
But 2026 is going to be different. Here's my plan.
Pick one language and get good at it
I have a bad habit: I juggle too many language tutorials at once. I finish some, forget everything, and start over. It's not working.
In 2026, I'm choosing a single language and sticking with it. No choice is perfect, but the longer I wait, the more time I waste. I'm thinking Rust, Go or Python... any advice?
No more than two weeks to learn the basics
I'm done with tutorial hell. I'll pick one learning resource to get started, then learn by doing. I keep postponing projects because I think I don't know enough. Result? I watch videos endlessly without gaining real experience.
Two weeks max for fundamentals, then I build.
Build at least 3 small projects and 1 big one
I'm going to pick 3 simple projects based on my daily life: automating tasks, nothing fancy, just to get my hands dirty. After that, I'll focus on one big project that solves a meaningful problem I actually care about.
Share and connect to get visibility and feedback
There's no growth without feedback from more experienced developers. I'm going to share every step of my journey: the wins, the mistakes, the confusions, etc.. I want to learn what I could do better.
Find a community to learn from and contribute to
I want to know what people in the industry are building, what problems they're solving, how they think. I'm joining communities of builders and developers to support others and be supported in return.
Be patient, keep working, stay consistent
Nothing worthwhile is built in a day. I know there will be moments when I feel stuck, when my code breaks for the tenth time, when I question if I'm cut out for this. But that's part of the process. Growth doesn't happen in the highlights: it happens in the repetition, in showing up even when progress feels invisible.
I'm committing to patience, consistency, and intentional work. Not perfection, just forward motion.
This is just the start of my journey. I don't have all the answers, and I'll probably make plenty of mistakes along the way. But I'm tired of being stuck in the same cycle. It's time to pick a direction and move.
If you've been where I am (or if you're there right now) I'd love to hear from you. What worked? What didn't? Let's figure this out together.
Top comments (0)