I've been programming for six years and I consider myself fairly skilled, especially in the game industry. But I often hit these mental roadblocks where my brain just freezes up, even when I know exactly what I need to do. I've tried various strategies to spark my creativity, but they don't seem to help; for instance, using AI to assist me only leads to dependency without tackling the root issues. After some reflection, I think the problems stem from two main factors: trying to tackle entire projects at once instead of breaking them into smaller pieces, and seeking a 'perfect' solution instead of just getting started. I'm really passionate about clean code and design patterns, which complicates things because it makes me hesitant to write anything that feels subpar. I feel like I might need a more experienced programmer to guide me with clear tasks, as I thrived during my internship. How can I learn to create freely without needing external structure or guidelines? I'd appreciate any practical tips, especially ones that avoid the cliché of 'just don't overthink it.'
2 Answers
I totally get where you're coming from. Perfectionism can be a huge roadblock! What helped me was setting a time limit for the initial phase of a project. Like, just aim to write a basic, working version in, say, 20 minutes. No worrying about design patterns or cleaning up. Just get something down on paper, then iterate on that. It can really unblock your creativity when you have something to work with!
One technique you might want to try is called 'ugly proofing.' Essentially, you give yourself permission to create a really rough version of whatever you're working on, without worrying about it being perfectly structured or clean. This way, you begin to make some progress and can refine things later on. It helps to remove some of that pressure you're feeling!
That’s a really interesting approach! I like the idea of a time limit; it feels less daunting.