Hey folks, I'm really having a tough time enjoying my studies. I'm the type of person who gets motivated by tangible results, which is why I love coding—I can see what I create in real-time. However, when it comes to other subjects or even tougher coding challenges, studying feels like a chore.
I've tried breaking down tasks into smaller parts, but if I don't solve them right away, my mood really takes a hit. I find it challenging to enjoy the learning process for its own sake; my motivation is heavily tied to performance and outcomes. I want to change this mindset. Lately, studying feels like a drag, and instead of enjoying coding, I'm just pushing through by sheer willpower, which is not as fulfilling as it used to be.
This school year isn't helping either. I've got exams in literature, history, and math looming over me, making it hard to focus on coding projects that I love. The pressure of "I MUST prepare for my exams" is constantly looming, which really dampens my spirit. I'm not a fan of literature, and my teacher isn't helping much either. On top of everything, I had to move away because of the war in Ukraine, and now I need to catch up on subjects I've never studied before. The thought of not passing really stresses me out, especially since I need those grades to get into university.
Math isn't my strong suit, and now my programming course includes a lot of math. I just had a math test where I was crushed by a logic question I couldn't solve, even though it was supposedly easy. I've been learning math from the ground up with Khan Academy, but it feels like it's not enough. There's also this looming anxiety about AI possibly taking over coding jobs, making me question if I chose a secure career path—leading me to consider AI development, but that only adds more competition stress to the mix.
I feel overwhelmed and a bit lost. How do you all manage to train yourselves to enjoy studying, focusing on the journey rather than just the results? Any strategies, routines, or mindset shifts that make learning rewarding even when the material isn't great? What would you suggest I do in my situation?
3 Answers
Surrounding yourself with motivated, like-minded people can really boost your motivation. I did this, and being around 'genius' types pushed me to level up my own game.
Even though it's not what you asked, you could try to align these subjects with your results-driven mindset. Organize your studying like a game where you're tackling topics systematically. Think of it as completing levels in a game—this might help you feel a sense of achievement as you progress.
One thing you can do is create your own problems or challenges that incorporate the tools you want to master. It makes the learning process more engaging!
That sounds great! But how do I find these motivated individuals to connect with? I worry about feeling insecure if they're way ahead of me.