How I Kept My Chill throughout Coding Bootcamp

I am in the second to last week of an immersive 15 week software engineering bootcamp and I am feeling, well, a lot of things. Mostly, though, I feel proud. I am proud of my accomplishments and how much I have learned in such a short period of time but I am also very proud of how I was able to maintain my mental and emotional well-being through this rigorous program. As someone who has experienced a good deal of anxiety throughout my life, this has been a great achievement. But this didn’t just magically happen. There are many things that I have done to make this experience as smooth as possible for myself. I have been reflecting on my experience so I can share some tips for managing your overall well-being while taking on a coding bootcamp.

One thing that I think can make a difference is to make sure this is something you want to do…

Before jumping into a bootcamp it’s a good idea to try out some code and really consider what you think about it. A coding bootcamp is a lot of work so it’s important to know whether or not it’s something you actually care about and are willing to put the work into. There are a lot of free resources online to check out. I started out by learning HTML and CSS and then tried a little bit of JavaScript before making the big decision to dedicate myself to a program. The general feeling I got from trying these things out was excitement. It was so exciting the first time I was able to get my name to display in the browser and my excitement continued with every little skill I learned. I felt so rewarded when I got to JavaScript and was able to solve problems and fix bugs. If you try out code and you genuinely enjoy it, that’s a great start!

There are, of course, other reasons why someone might choose coding beyond just enjoyment. What are those reasons for you? Are they enough to drive you? Does it make sense for you?

After I did my own personal reflection and decided I was ready to make the leap into a completely new career path, I took the time to mentally prepare myself…

I knew that this program was going to be a great undertaking. I was stepping into a completely unfamiliar world, learning a whole new skill in a very short period of time. I knew that the potential for anxiety was there so I tried to prepare for it as best I could. I recalled other times in my life where I took on big challenges and I let self-doubt get in the way of enjoying the experience. I decided that taking on this program was something I was capable of and therefore I was going to try my best not to get in my own way. I decided to put in a great deal of effort to catch myself if I started with the self-doubt and to turn it around. To help this, I also tried to be proactive with positive self talk, telling myself ,“I got this.”

Another way I mentally prepared myself was by getting organized…

I knew that the structure and long hours of the program were going to be very different from what I was use to, so for several weeks prior to the start of the program I started getting up earlier Monday-Friday and scheduling time where I practiced or did the program pre-work. Once in the program, it was very helpful to maintain a schedule too. It’s good to know, or find out what hours you work best during and also making sure to make time for yourself so you can recharge. You won’t have as much time to do all the things you love to do but I think it’s important to make sure you’re not completely depriving yourself of any fun or free time.

It was also extremely helpful to me to maintain my physical health…

Part of my daily routine was to do yoga at the end of every day. It was such a great way to relax and let go of the day. I know yoga may not be for everyone, but I’m sure there’s something you would enjoy that would help you wind down and let go. I also tried to go for walks whenever I was able and I also would put on music during my lunch break and dance (my program was virtual so that may not work for you if yours is in-person). But the point is that anxiety is energy in your body and physical activity helps to release it. Finding an activity that you enjoy and that gets you moving can be so helpful in maintaining your mental well-being.

I also made an effort to eat well during the program. I thought it would be a good idea to eat nutritious foods that would give me energy and not make me feel sluggish. To tie into my last tip about staying organized, although I would make time on the weekends to spend with friends or family, I also made sure to get things done to prepare myself for the week. I would get my weekly grocery shopping done and on Sunday I would meal prep for the entire week so that during the week I would have good, healthy food already prepared and it was one less thing I had to think about. It can get annoying but I like to think of it as doing something nice for your future self. And maybe this isn’t practical for you, maybe you hate to cook, but maybe there’s an alternative method that would work for you.

The last major way I maintained my physical health during the program was by prioritizing sleep. I don’t know about you, but I am useless without an appropriate amount of sleep. Also, something I experienced and heard from my classmates too, was that the mental energy you put in is extremely draining, especially in the first several weeks. In the beginning you may feel like you need more sleep than you normally would to feel rested. This also ties back in to scheduling. I prioritized sleep, so for me it was important to try to be done with coding by a certain time so I could do all the necessary things for myself (yoga, eat, shower) and still have time to wind down and fall asleep at a good time. This wasn’t always possible, there were some days where I couldn’t stick to my ideal schedule, but overall, it felt great to prioritize my health and my well-being while still getting the work done because then I had more energy and a better mindset going into the next day.

Once you’re in the program, the amount of things you have to accomplish can feel overwhelming at times. My best advice for avoiding panic is to take it one step at a time…

This is one that I definitely had to catch myself on a few times. You start to think of all the things that you need to do in the week or month or by the end of the program, or oh no, what about after the program?? The reality is, there’s only so much you can do right now and there’s only so much that really needs your attention right in this moment. Worrying about how you’re gonna handle something a week or a month from now is really just a waste of your time and energy. Trust me, I know this is easier said than done, but it is really so helpful to try to catch yourself when you’re worrying about too many future deadlines. Try to focus on only the immediate concerns. What needs to be done today, in this moment. If you’re able to focus on that, soon it will be another thing you can check off your list.

Finally, the absolutely most important thing you can do to maintain your overall well-being during a coding bootcamp (or any other major challenge) is to BE NICE TO YOURSELF…

I’ve alluded to this point already because it is that important. The way you talk to yourself can determine how enjoyable this experience is and how much you’re able to get out of it. I think in life we are usually the only ones getting in our own way of success because of fear, self-doubt, and negative self-talk. What you’re doing is huge. You’re putting in the time and effort to change your life in just a few months, and yeah, it’s hard, but you’re doing it! You signed up for this program bc you believed it was something you could do. The program is hard enough without having a bully telling you you’re never gonna make it. Try to think of the way you talk to yourself as if you were talking to a friend. Would you ever say such mean things to a friend who was going through the same thing? (I hope not…) What kinds of things would you say to a friend? You would probably be really encouraging and remind them how smart and capable they are. So maybe try to treat yourself with the same kindness and support. Sometimes we all need help, though. I absolutely had times where I needed to reach out to someone for some extra support and encouragement. None of us are superheroes and we all need help sometimes. It’s great if you have someone close to you that you can talk to, and if not, some programs provide free counseling and support. Either way, sometimes you just need to vent or get a little nudge of support to remind yourself, “you got this.”

I know that all of the ways I did things may not work for you but I think that the most important take aways are to mentally prepare for the program, whatever that may look like for you, and to try your hardest to be kind to yourself. If a coding bootcamp is something you really want to do, it’s important to believe that you can do it and that you will.