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Lindsay Iveson
Lindsay Iveson

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Stuff I've Learned About Managing My Anxiety While Learning to Code

A little blog post about mental health, coding, and being kind to yourself.

I’ve been at a Bootcamp for about 4 months. It’s been rewarding, a struggle, and very humbling.

As a person who has anxiety, Bootcamp has been an uphill battle; yet it’s also taught me ways to manage my mental health. There are some of you out there who also struggle with this, and don’t want to share, but I’m here to help y’all out! (Because I was also one of those people).

Here are some things that I’ve learned recently, and have helped me so much. I want to share ‘em, even it only helps one person.

So, in the words of Mario, here we go!

One thing I’ve found that works wonders is having a designated space for coding. This helps get into - and out of - the coding zone. I would usually work in my bedroom or living room since it’s where I hang out the most. But, it’s important to have a space that is for you to relax and enjoy your time with family, friends, and Netflix.

It’s okay to take a break

It's not useful to stress about your app not working, or getting frustrated by not being able to solve a problem. Clear your head, change the scenery (!), and grab a drink of your favorite beverage (mine is Coca Cola). What has helped me out a lot is meditation. This doesn’t have to be a long 20-minute session with crystals and incense. It only takes 5 minutes to help you relax and calm that anxiety and frustration! I usually use a guided meditation, and my favorite app for this is Stop, Breathe & Think!

Remember that everyone is on their own coding journey

It might take you longer than others to understand constructors (guilty!), or figuring out how CSS positions work (also extremely guilty!). I know as a newbie, I compare myself to my peers far more than I should. And I have to remind myself every day that coding is a journey and not a destination (very corny but true!).

So, I hope this helps you out! Remember, be kind to yourself; you got this!

Top comments (9)

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gksander profile image
Grant Sander

As someone who also deals with anxiety, I often have to remind myself, "no job is worth your sanity". When I'm feeling overwhelmed, I take a step back and appreciate that my mental health is worth more to me than any job.

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kayla profile image
Kayla Sween

🙌

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karlredman profile image
Karl N. Redman • Edited

Great article!

You make several really good points here.

My favorite statement, of several, is "coding is a journey and not a destination". That's the kind of advice I wish I'd had when I started out -and something I'll continue to repeat to myself often. I'll do my best to give credit when possible :D

I think the most impact-full aspect of your article is that of defining specific spaces (and times) for various activities. Work happens in the work space, family interaction happens in the family space, etc. Compartmentalization is one of the things that most of us neglect and yet, it's so vital to having balance in our lives.

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Seth Lilly

Lindsay, this is a great reminder and something useful not only for beginners but for seasoned professionals as well. The anxiety of learning new languages and frameworks or dealing with stressful situations doesn't subside after leaving bootcamp. It persists into your career. Knowing how to deal with it early on gives you a solid foundation on which to grow. Thanks for sharing!

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jess profile image
Jess Lee

Great tips, Lindsay! Good luck with the rest of your bootcamp!

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codingmindfully profile image
Daragh Byrne

Fellow meditator here - you might be interested in the meditation articles I've posted on this site and at codingmindfully.com.

The comparing mind is a tricky one, but worth learning to work with - sounds like you're doing a great job overall!

Thanks for this post, I am passionate about raising awareness of mental health stuff in the dev world, it's more prevalent than most of us realise.

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Patrick Charles-Lundaahl

The one about taking a break is so huge! Best of luck with your bootcamp!

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Daragh Byrne

Learning how to rest is soooooo essential!

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atwak profile image
atwak • Edited

Wish you a good journey, wherever it will take you!