We’ve all seen the advice: “Just code every day and you’ll become a great developer.”
Sounds simple, right? I decided to put it to the test—coding 10 hours a day for 30 days straight. Here’s what actually happened.
Week 1: The Excitement & Burnout
At first, it felt amazing. Every line of code was like a tiny victory. I was learning fast and feeling productive.
…but by day 5, fatigue hit hard. My brain started glitching over simple problems, and I realized motivation alone isn’t sustainable.
Week 2-3: The Plateau
Here’s the hard truth: coding longer hours doesn’t always mean better results. I hit a plateau where I was “doing” a lot but learning less efficiently.
Pro tip: Focused 2-hour deep work sprints are more powerful than marathon sessions.
Week 4: Reflection & Growth
By the last week, I shifted my approach:
- Pair programming with a friend for accountability
- Documenting learnings instead of just coding
- Taking strategic breaks to avoid burnout
The result? I finished the month with more skills, projects, and clarity than I ever would have by mindlessly grinding.
Key Takeaways
- Consistency > Hours – 1–2 focused hours daily beats random all-nighters.
- Document & Reflect – Writing down what you learn accelerates growth.
- Breaks Are Essential – Burnout kills learning faster than failure.
- Collaboration Matters – Pairing with others boosts retention & motivation.
💡 Coding isn’t just about writing lines—it’s about learning, reflecting, and growing.
Your turn: How do you structure your coding routine for maximum growth? Reply below—I’d love to hear your strategies!
Top comments (13)
I don't think I can spend 10 hours a day on anything :)
To be more serious, if I have a heavy coding day at work I tend to avoid it at night and if it's a light day I'll work on personal projects for a little while in the evening.
Thankfully, I find a good balance most days.
Totally fair! Not everyone needs or wants marathon sessions. I love your approach, let work intensity guide how much you code afterward. That balance keeps things enjoyable instead of draining.
My favorite friend to pair-program with is now Cursor AI. With such a tool early on in my now 44-year career, I don't know how that would have affected me, but today I can get a lot done because I already know what I'm doing and Cursor has better short-term recall than I do. It began to relieve me of the tedium once I got over a sense of guilt asking it to do the boilerplate things I find druggery.
That’s such a great perspective. Tools like Cursor really shine when you already understand the fundamentals, they amplify your abilities instead of replacing them. And yes, handing off the repetitive stuff is a productivity unlock, not something to feel guilty about.
I initially tried the marathon method, but after about six weeks, I found that I had become more confused by the material than what I was actually retaining. In fact I had to take a four month break from it and then start completely over again; which is turning out to be a good thing for me.
I have, since returning to my learning process, been studying in two and three hour sessions.
Since shifting to the shorter sessions schedule, I’ve found that I am able to focus more and actually learn more, as a whole.
Totally get you. Restarting isn’t failure, it’s actually one of the most powerful ways to learn with clarity. Those focused 2–3 hour sessions really hit the sweet spot between progress and retention. Glad to hear the new approach is working better for you!
I wonder how productive a 60h-week or "996" is in reality. nobody sustains concentration for 12 hours a day 6 days a week.
Exactly, our brains just aren’t built for that level of sustained focus. After a certain point, more hours actually reduce the quality of learning and output. What really moves the needle is structured deep work + smart recovery. I’ve found that even 2–4 intentional hours can outperform a full day of unfocused grinding.
This entire post is AI-generated, isn't it?
Haha, nope. This one came straight from personal experience. But I do use AI tools to refine structure and clarity sometimes. As long as the insights are real and helpful, I’m cool with mixing both worlds.
Thanks for sharing your experience!
I also tend to code for long hours, so I'll try to take breaks more regularly.
Glad it helped! I realized breaks aren’t wasted time—they actually make the next coding session way more productive. Even a 10–15 minute reset can completely change the quality of your focus. Let me know how it works for you!