How I Made Coding A Habit With This 1 Simple Trick – And You Can, Too!
Motivation without a plan is a plan to fail. I know because I've made daily failures during the course of my coding journey.
I need to code and write every single day. This daily habit is the only way I'll fine-tune my skills and give my clients the best possible customer experience. It's also super fun! However, despite my approach to web development and copywriting being almost effortless (after months of starting and stopping), I have a little secret to my motivation and productivity success.
In this blog post, I will share with you an invaluable secret that will transform your approach to motivation.
Are you ready? Let's gooooo!
Making Coding A Habit Is Easier Than You Think!
What's cool about this simple trick is that it has nothing to do with learning how to code at all. Yes, you read that right.
This trick is NOT about coding, programming, or the latest software to make your coding journey easier. This trick is about the one thing we all keep on losing: T-I-M-E. Getting smarter about time management is the best way to significantly improve how you use what time you have to your advantage.
You can do that with the 2-Minute Rule.
Indeed, the simple trick you need to introduce into your life is the 2-Minute Rule.
The 2-Minute Rule is a super nifty mental practice created by 'Atomic Habits' author James Clear 📚, and it will change how you start tasks and projects.
Plainly put, it's a simple way to knock down the mental walls you have–consciously or unconsciously–erected between yourself and your coding goals.
It's also the perfect way to approach motivation, making the act of getting started so simple that it will become like second nature to you!
For a more detailed explanation of James Clear's incredible concept, watch the video (below) from Better Than Yesterday–one of my all-time favorite YouTube channels. The creator offers viewers practical, everyday mindset hacks to help us cross items off our daily to-do lists and live better lives.
You've Got 2 Minutes To Make The Impossible Possible–GO!
When I first began learning new coding and programming languages, I was overwhelmed by the vast amount of material to cover, and it seemed endless. I knew there had to be a way to overcome my intimidation by something I was fascinated by, but couldn't figure out how until I reflected on the issue.
It took some time, but I realized that I was terrible at starting the process of doing even the most minor things (e.g., picking up a book and reading a chapter, or writing a couple of lines of JavaScript code to see what happens, etc.).
When I figured it out, my dim lil lightbulb flickered fast and furiously, illuminating the walls of my mind. That's when I consulted Google – like you do – and several self-help book results appeared in front of my eyes. No shade to the genre; I just needed something quick and easily digestible.
Fortunately, my forever backup consult is YouTube. It was there that Better Than Yesterday's video, displayed at the top of my search results, changed my mind for the better.
The 2-Minute Rule, conceived by James Clear, has provided me with an invaluable tool that will help budding coders and programmers learn to code consistently on their respective journeys.
I hope that you find it just as enjoyable to instill in your daily routines as I have, Coder.