Learning to code can be exciting, rewarding and, at times, incredibly frustrating. One day, you’re solving problems you wouldn’t have understood a few weeks ago. The next, you’re staring at an error message wondering why your code won’t work.
If you’re learning to code for the first time, particularly on an intensive coding bootcamp, these ups and downs are part of the experience. You’re taking in a huge amount of new information, developing a completely different way of thinking and challenging yourself every day.
At Northcoders, our 13-week coding bootcamps are designed to help you develop the skills you need to start a career in tech. It’s an intensive experience, and learning at this pace can sometimes feel overwhelming.
With World Mental Health Day approaching, we’re sharing some practical advice for navigating the more challenging parts of learning to code, looking after your wellbeing and making the most of the support available to you.
1. No one understands everything straight away
When you’re first learning to code, you’ll encounter concepts that seem completely unfamiliar. And just when you think you’ve mastered one topic, something new might come up and throw you off.
It’s tempting to think that everyone else understands what’s going on while you’re the only one struggling. In reality, learning to code involves a lot of trial and error, even for experienced developers. Even senior developers who have been coding for decades get stuck sometimes!
You might need to revisit a concept several times before it clicks, and that’s perfectly normal. Rather than expecting yourself to understand everything immediately, focus on making progress. Think about what you can do today that you couldn’t do last week. Those small improvements add up, even when they aren’t immediately obvious.
2. Don’t struggle in silence
One of the most important skills you can develop as a programmer is knowing when to ask for help. It’s easy to spend hours trying to solve a problem independently, particularly when you feel you should already know the answer, and asking for help feels like admitting defeat. But there’s a difference between giving yourself time to work through a challenge and becoming so frustrated that you can’t move forward.
During your Northcoders bootcamp, you’ll have access to tutors and mentors who are there to support you throughout your learning journey. You’re also surrounded by other people going through a similar experience.
If you’re stuck, try explaining the problem to someone else. Sometimes, talking through your code is enough to help you spot something you’ve missed. Other times, a fresh perspective can help you approach the problem differently.
Software development as a whole has been a huge group project, from shared libraries to projects that build on each other. Every developer out there has benefited from a useful Stack Overflow post or a second pair of eyes. No one is doing it completely on their own. Asking questions, discussing solutions and learning from other developers are all important parts of working in tech.
3. Take breaks, even when you feel you don’t have time
When you’re working through an intensive curriculum, it can feel like every minute should be spent coding. You might be tempted to skip lunch, work through your breaks or spend your entire evening trying to finish a particularly difficult task. However, spending more time in front of your screen doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll make more progress.
If you’ve been looking at the same piece of code for an hour without getting anywhere, step away from your computer. Go for a walk, make yourself a cup of tea or do something completely unrelated to programming. Giving yourself some time away from a problem can help you return with a clearer head.
It’s also important to establish boundaries outside your bootcamp hours. Getting enough sleep, eating properly, exercising and making time for the people and activities you enjoy all contribute to your ability to learn. Your wellbeing should remain a priority, even when your schedule is busy.
4. Try not to compare your progress with everyone else’s
Learning alongside other people is a great benefit of attending a coding bootcamp, but it can also make it tempting to compare yourself with your peers. Perhaps someone in your cohort has previous coding experience, finishes exercises more quickly or seems to understand new concepts immediately.
Everyone arrives at a bootcamp with different experiences, strengths and ways of learning. Someone who finds JavaScript straightforward might struggle with another topic that comes naturally to you. And just because someone finishes an exercise before you doesn’t necessarily mean they’ve understood it more thoroughly. Focus on your own development and celebrate the progress you’re making.
Our advice: keep a record of the things you’ve learnt or the problems you’ve successfully solved. When you’re having a difficult day, looking back at how far you’ve come can be a useful reminder of what you’re capable of. Comparing your present self with your past self is much more productive than comparing yourself to others who may be on a different journey.
5. Break big problems into smaller tasks
One of the biggest challenges when learning to code is figuring out where to start. You might understand the individual concepts you’ve been taught, but struggle to bring them together when faced with a larger project.
Instead of trying to solve everything at once, break the problem down into smaller, more manageable tasks. Start by identifying what you’re trying to achieve, then work out the individual steps needed to get there, tackling one at a time.
For example, if you’re building an application, you might begin by getting a single function working before thinking about how it connects to the rest of your project.
This approach can make difficult tasks feel less overwhelming and gives you opportunities to recognise your progress along the way. It’s also a useful habit to develop for your future career. Professional software developers regularly break complex problems into smaller pieces, test their solutions, and make improvements as they go.
6. Make the most of your cohort
One of the advantages of learning to code on a bootcamp is that you don’t have to do it alone. You’ll be learning alongside people who are facing many of the same challenges, whether that’s understanding a complicated concept, debugging a project or preparing for a career change.
Take advantage of opportunities to work together, share ideas and support one another. Pair programming, for example, gives you the chance to approach problems collaboratively, learn from someone else’s perspective and practise explaining your thought process.
And don’t underestimate the value of having someone to talk to when you’ve had a particularly difficult day. Your cohort can become an important source of encouragement throughout the bootcamp. You’ll have people to celebrate your achievements with, share your frustrations and remind you that you’re all learning together.
7. Speak up when things feel overwhelming
An intensive bootcamp requires commitment, and there may be times when you’re feeling tired, stressed or struggling to keep up. If that happens, don’t wait until things become unmanageable before speaking to someone.
At Northcoders, our tutors and mentors understand the demands of learning to code at an accelerated pace. They’re there to answer technical questions, offer guidance and help you navigate challenges throughout your training. But they can also help if the problem isn’t code.
Whether you’re struggling with a particular topic, feeling overwhelmed by the workload or finding it hard to balance your studies with other responsibilities, let someone know if you’re finding things difficult.
Technical support and personal wellbeing are both equally important. If stress is affecting your mental health, consider speaking to someone you trust or seeking additional support from a qualified professional.
8. Remember why you started
When you’re deep into a challenging project or struggling to understand a new concept, it can be easy to lose sight of the bigger picture. Think back to what motivated you to learn to code in the first place: maybe you’re looking for a career change, want to develop new skills or have always been interested in how technology works. Whatever your reason, remind yourself of what you’re working towards. It can help to have it on a note on your desk as a visual reminder.
It’s also worth recognising how much you’ve already achieved. Starting a coding bootcamp is a significant commitment, and every new concept you learn, every bug you fix and every project you complete represents progress.
You don’t need to feel motivated every single day. Some days will be more difficult than others, and that’s part of taking on a new challenge. Give yourself credit for the work you’re putting in, and remember to celebrate your achievements along the way.
An intensive experience, with support along the way
Learning to code in 13 weeks is a challenge. You’ll be introduced to new concepts, develop practical skills and work through problems that might initially seem impossible to solve. There will be frustrating moments, but there will also be plenty of opportunities to experience the satisfaction of seeing your code work, completing a project or finally understanding something you’ve been struggling with.
At Northcoders, we believe that having the right support makes a real difference. From our experienced tutors and career coaches to the other learners in your cohort, you’ll have people around you to ask questions, share challenges and celebrate your progress. Whether you’re just starting to learn to code or you’re already working through a bootcamp, remember that you don’t have to figure everything out on your own.
And while World Mental Health Day is a useful reminder to talk about wellbeing, looking after yourself and supporting the people around you matters every day of the year.
Thinking about learning to code? Explore our coding courses here and discover how Northcoders can help you develop your coding skills with structured learning, hands-on projects and support throughout your journey.