Now that I work fully in software development, I notice that I sometimes find it difficult to grow even more. In addition to what I already do at work.
Often when I open a book about PHP, I notice that the material is quite dry, so that after a day of programming I can no longer really commit to reading books (bring something home with your work). The same goes for playing digital games.
I do notice that when books are explained in story form, I can get through them fairly easily.
If you’re anything like me, when I was in full-time employment programming, the last thing I wanted to do after a full day of it was read about it some more. And some employers consider that they’ve employed you to do a job, and they would like you to carry on doing it. I haven’t worked for other people for more than a decade, and I’d like to think that the concept of CPD (continuing personal development, i.e. developing new skills) is perhaps more of a “thing”.
In case anyone who used to employ me is reading this and has figured out who I am, I should add that wasn’t really a complaint - I didn’t spend much time just doing programming, my role expanded into all sorts of other stuff, no two days were the same, and involved learning a lot of new things just to get a job done. I have an idea that’s called “agile” nowadays, but back then it was just getting it done.
I’m slowly looking at expanding my skills beyond PHP. Guess I’ll have to dig into a react
In addition, I am increasingly shifting from developer to technical partner.
I believe in self-improvement and being the best that you can be at one particular thing. But it is true that after programming the whole day, the last thing I want to do is to read a book about programming.
Or anything else.
I still tried to spend a couple of hours a week learning something new, whether was related to my job or not.
Lately it doesn’t happen that often. I guess I need holidays
