If you are a computer science student or plan to start studying something related to this field, consider the following habits
1) Program everyday
As a student (especially a freshman) you’ll need to use Python, Java, C++, and even Assembly (yes, that). You might think, “I’ll never use this later” ha! But you will.
Programming daily, even for just 30 minutes, builds the logical and abstract thinking muscles you’ll need for every other topic in CS: algorithms, data structures, operating systems, AI, all of it.
Do it consistently, and you’ll find yourself coding 3 to 5 hours a day without noticing, as if you were already working in tech.
2) Read code
Reading code is how you develop taste. It’s how you recognize elegant logic, proper naming, and good software architecture.
Read other people’s GitHub repositories. Look at open-source projects. See how others structure files, name variables, and comment (or fail to comment). You’ll learn what to emulate and what to avoid.
Code reading trains your intuition for when something feels off, a sense that every good developer eventually develops.
They won't teach you this at your university courses, unfortunately, so make sure you do this on your own or using your instructor's help and guidance.
3) Solve your math problems everyday
Computer science is applied mathematics. It’s algorithms, logic, proofs, statistics, boolean and linear algebra disguised behind pretty syntax.
So, don’t run from math. Do a few exercises every day, even if they’re simple. It keeps your brain sharp and your logic grounded. When you later face algorithm analysis, probability in AI, or cryptography, you’ll thank your past self.
If your future career involves machine learning, data science, or computer graphics, math will be your most profitable friend.
4) Socialize
Yes, really. Talk to people. The stereotype of the lonely programmer in a dark room is outdated and unhealthy.
CS is a collaborative field. You’ll work in teams, build projects, and have to explain your code to people who might not even code. Communication is a superpower.
Also, networking is how opportunities find you. Many internships, jobs, and research projects happen because of one good conversation.
And make sure you get laid from time to time, for god's sake.
5) Hit the gym
Programming trains your brain, but sitting for hours kills your body. Go lift, run, or at least stretch. Own your routine.
Exercise helps your concentration, mood, and sleep: all critical for debugging at 2 a.m.
A healthy body sustains a creative mind. You’ll also find that lifting weights does wonders for your stress tolerance, and CS can be stressful.
6) Document your code
You might think you’ll remember what your code does next week, but You won’t. Been there, done that.
Documentation is how you make your code readable, maintainable, and respectful to your future self (and your teammates).
Use meaningful comments, README files, and docstrings. Good documentation is what separates professionals from hobbyists. It’s also the first thing interviewers notice when you show them your projects. Believe me, you will document ALL THE TIME, especially when you lead teams: you want to know what Mark did and how he did it, your boss will ask you that.
Bonus habit: infrastructure
A computer scientist asks many questions “Does it work?", “Will it still work with 10,000 users?” and “What happens when it breaks?”
Start thinking about infrastructure early, even as a student. Learn how software scales, how data flows, and how services talk to each other. Read about cloud architecture, APIs, databases, and CI/CD pipelines. Understand why companies use AWS, Docker, Kubernetes, or Terraform, not just how.
Before writing code, sketch the architecture. Know the trade-offs between monoliths and microservices, between SQL and NoSQL, between speed and maintainability.
Good planning saves months of technical debt later, and if you ever lead a team, you’ll realize that the most valuable skill is how to design systems that survive.
Conclusion
The habits above will turn you from a student who studies code into someone who thinks like a computer scientist. So do your homework, hit the gym, socialize and get laid.
Have some fun!
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