There was a time when I’d write a full REST API from scratch before my coffee got cold. Debugging a nasty bug at 2 AM? No problem. Refactoring legacy code on a Monday? Bring it on. But somewhere along the way, AI assistants crept into my workflow—and slowly, I started outsourcing not just code, but thinking itself.
They were helpful, no doubt. A quick code snippet here, a syntax fix there, even an explanation of unfamiliar libraries. But before I knew it, I stopped remembering things. I'd think "Why memorize it when I can just ask?" What started as a shortcut turned into a dependency.
`🧠 “Use it or lose it.” — Old proverb that never felt more real.`
The Rise of AI Co-Pilots and the Fall of Cognitive Load
We live in an age of abundance—of tools, information, and support. Tools like ChatGPT, Copilot, and other AI helpers have flattened the learning curve for developers. It’s amazing. A junior developer can now ship code that would’ve taken me weeks to understand a decade ago.
But there’s a downside nobody warned us about: mental atrophy.
I started noticing it when I couldn’t recall how to write a for-loop in a language I used every week. I wasn’t solving problems anymore; I was prompting solutions. The muscle memory was gone. AI became the brain, and I became the typist.
Burnout Disguised as Ease
Oddly enough, I wasn’t doing more work—I was just doing less thinking. And that made me tired. It was a strange burnout. I wasn’t overworked, just mentally disoriented. The sense of accomplishment after solving a tough bug? Gone. The joy of finally understanding a complex algorithm? Absent.
I wasn’t learning anymore. I was borrowing knowledge, not earning it.
Rebuilding the Coding Brain — One Neuron at a Time
So, I made a decision: I was going to rebuild my coding brain.
Not to reject AI, but to reclaim agency. Here’s how I’m doing it:
1. Delayed AI Usage
I force myself to try solving the problem without AI first. If I can’t figure it out in 30 minutes, then I use AI—but only to validate or guide.
2. Code from Scratch Weekly
I set aside time every week to build something without copy-pasting, even if it’s small. A to-do app. A weather widget. Something.
3. Paper Thinking
Before I write code, I sketch logic on paper. It helps lock in concepts and avoid that habit of jumping into code blindly.
4. Pair Programming With Myself
I narrate my logic out loud. Yes, it feels silly. But it activates the parts of my brain that think critically. It’s like rubber-duck debugging, but the duck is me.
5. Write, Teach, Repeat
Writing blog posts (like this one!) or making tutorials forces me to understand deeply. Teaching is still the best form of learning.
AI as a Tool, Not a Crutch
Let’s be clear—AI isn’t the villain. It’s a powerful partner. But it should enhance your thinking, not replace it. Use AI like you'd use a calculator: helpful, fast, but not a substitute for knowing how to do basic math.
The key is intentional usage. Don’t just ask AI for answers—ask it to challenge you, to explain why, to give you just enough to grow.
In the End: Becoming a Human-Centered Coder Again
I’m not coding faster than before—but I’m coding better. I remember what I learn. I enjoy the struggle. I sleep with that tiny satisfaction that my brain did the heavy lifting.
If AI killed my coding brain, then maybe it also taught me something: what kind of developer I really want to be.
Top comments (1)
I still don't understand how this is different from copy-pasting code from StackOverflow or a tutorial. Yet, nobody complained that StackOverflow kills their coding skills.