Hello 2022!!
It’s been a couple of weeks but I’m baaack!
2021 ended on a high note. The year I got into Microsoft, and the year I learnt a lot of hard and soft truths in software engineering. This article is a summary of those lessons that will hopefully help others and that I can come back and look on incase I need a reminder myself.
1. Don’t be ashamed to ask for help. No question is a stupid question.
Sometimes being a newbie can be intimidating. Especially when you’re a newbie in a team of very smart engineers. I felt that intimidation for some time until I realised that just as my team mates learn from each other, I should also learn from them. There’s lots of ways to do that, but asking is the one many people shy away from. Good teammates will always welcome your questions and never make you feel dumb. And in that same spirit, be helpful to someone else as well.
Besides, asking makes tasks go a lot faster according to me.
2. Ask for feedback
Yes I know, this can be utterly uncomfortable the first few times. I categorise all feedback as honest constructive feedback; good or bad. It just makes it easier to swallow because it’s all part of growth and learning. Remember, some feedback can be destructive and you need to be able to tell the difference when your colleague is being a douche or when they’re trying to helpful.
Who to ask for feedback is also important. It has to be the people you work with on a daily and obviously your manager. In my team, all code is peer-reviewed before its merged with the rest of the working bit of the project. Other engineers in the team will leave comments, suggestions for fixes, spot mistakes etc. Some times I have close to 10+ comments to resolve, some are harder than others, and sometimes my pull request goes in without any comments. Feedback is a great avenue for growth. I intend to take full advantage of it this year.
3. Learning is uncomfortable and that’s okay
Need I say more on this. Every year has definitely shown be how unpleasant learning can feel. What I got differently from 2021 was that learning will not always be the most pleasant experience, bit it has to happen. Patience and kindness to yourself are good attributes to practice at this stage. No, it doesn’t get easier, but you get smarter.
Scheduling learning time in an already busy schedule
4. Consistency over motivation
If I were to do stuff based on my level of motivation, then I’d only be productive 1 out of 4 weeks in a month. I am not always motivated. Sometimes I am in such a funk so much so making my bed becomes a win. We all have those days but the best way to get past them is to stick to a routine on the good and the bad days. I do not always feel like working out, cooking, I do not always feel like taking time to learn or work on a personal project, write or edit an article, whatever it may be… 2021 taught me that as along as it’s on my calendar/ to-do list for that day, then I’ll do my best to get it done. Because who else will? Besides, it’s always a mood booster at the end so win-win.
5. REST
I cannot insist on this further. You can only perform your best when you are at your best. I have run myself down more than once in 2021, I do not intend to do the same this year. So far, January has been pretty good on my time management. I’ve managed to come up with probably the best schedule I ever have of having a full time job, personal projects including my blog etc.. and still get a good 7-8hrs sleep. Rest goes hand in hand with eating healthy, hydrating enough and exercising of course.
Take care of your body, it’s all you have 🙂
How to have a good relationship with rest
Feel free to also incorporate these tried and tested lessons into your 2022. See you next time!
