Forem: Julia Alexis Diaz

This isn't the Productivity Post You Want but Need to Understand

Julia Alexis Diaz — Wed, 03 Apr 2024 15:52:01 +0000

So, you have hanging responsibilities on the back of your mind--a project to build, documentation to write, API's to research and whatnot. You know you need to do it. You know there will be consequences if you don't. But, you just... can't.

Once the guilt piles up, you go on binge-watching videos to search for tips or hacks that could finally "fix" you. You just need to look for "the one." You find something interesting and you think "this is it. This will work this time around." And surprisingly it does! You build the project and read the documentation. You build a routine that works for you. Until life disrupts you and then suddenly, it doesn't. Things don't feel exciting. You put it off again and again and now "the one" leaves you feeling overwhelmed. You've come back to square one.

Sounds familiar?

This has been my whole life. I tried everything. Name a productivity guru and I can tell you what I learned from them. It's a cycle of hope and action and disappointment and spirals. It is exhausting.

Then, I got diagnosed with PTSD and eventually, ADHD.

You probably get the gist. This isn't a mainstream productivity guide where you buy a planner, schedule tasks, and other one-size-fits-all approaches. Why? It simply doesn’t work for our brains. I learned the hard way that how brains function vary from one to another. Mine is hypervigilant, emotionally dysregulated, struggles in planning and executing tasks, bored and disinterested, among lots of other things. Following a guide which excludes that reality for me, is invalidating my being. I hope you can start seeing it for yourself too. The following section explores exactly how I’ve come to that conclusion.

Why Mainstream Doesn't Work

I've been trying to teach my nephew about how people are different from one another. I keep on telling him that we all come in different shapes and sizes every time he asks why a person looks a particular way. While I was trying to teach him about mental health conditions and why I was so tired all the time, I used the same script. He asked in response, "Tata, is your brain [shaped like] a triangle?" 😲

Brains DO come in different shapes and sizes, just not the way my nephew thought (by the way, I disappointed him biiiig time when I said so). Some brains aren't fully developed even after 25 years, especially in the case of people with ADHD. A wide variety of people get sensory overload when there are too many noises or when the lights are too bright and colorful or they feel all of those at the same time. Another part of the population have executive function challenges which means it's harder for them to plan, organize, manage, and execute actions. It should be fine, since brains are different from one another. But the problem is, society isn't built for people like us neurodivergents.

Instead, we grew up in environments that thrive on competition. The best reaches more opportunities, widening the gap of access to those that are not. And so, productivity gurus focus on how you can survive and succeed in this environment. More often than not, however, they overlook the fact that there are no one-size-fits-all approaches. The "grind" can be debilitating for others and can backfire. I believe that what we need instead is a "progress not perfection" mentality which is centered on self-compassion and a value-driven compass for life.

What does that look like? Well, it varies from person to person. I believed for a long time that I want to be successful, because society dictates that’s how you can gain freedom. It still rings true today, but I now know success comes in different metrics. It’s your responsibility to define what matters for you and align your actions with these values. Embody compassion in every step you take towards your future, and hopefully, you’ll enjoy the process–the present, more than the destination.

P.S. If you’re struggling to think of practical steps that imbibe this mentality, the next post in the series will offer a more solution-oriented approach. We’ll be exploring how you can set yourself up for success, how to start hard tasks, and other helpful suggestions. Take what resonates and try. But for now, let me ask you: how do you stay productive? 😉

Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash

Coding Out Loud: Why I'm Choosing to "Learn in Public"

Julia Alexis Diaz — Thu, 28 Mar 2024 16:27:09 +0000

For years, I struggled with overthinking my career to the point that I got paralyzed and could not do anything at all. I was depressed and anxious and battling a number of life challenges. Everything wrong in my life felt like my fault and I keep on spiraling down. Fortunately, with the help of therapy, medications, and endless support, I got tired* of being stuck and decided to redirect myself.

I've been learning how to code for the past five months and let me tell you, it really is a whirlwind of emotions! After an amazing mentorship that ended too soon, I realized something: I thrive when I learn with others. That's when I found Virtual Coffee, a tech community that uplifts and celebrates wins of all kinds! Just one virtual coffee in, Chris Nowicki, a generous full stack developer in the community, already dropped a goldmine with us--learning and building in public!

It might sound intimidating, I know I felt that way! But even if you're an introvert like me, learning in public sounds so rewarding. Instead of thinking of the industry as a zero-sum game, it's all about helping other people as you mainly help yourself learn. Swyx, a coding guru talks about it in his essay wherein he defines it as "[sharing] what you learn as you learn it. You open source your knowledge. You build a public record of interests and progress, and along the way, you attract a community of mentors, peers, and supporters."

Now, sharing online can be daunting, but let's use those jitters to fuel this journey! I'm taking the plunge and learning in public and here's why...

I want to learn and create again. Perfectionism held me back for so long, but I'm ready to embrace the "finished not perfect" mentality. Imposter syndrome (feeling like you don't belong or deserve success) is a common enemy, but by learning in public, I can overcome self-doubt and build confidence. My main goal is to show up for myself everyday (#nozerodays) but hey, maybe someone will join me in this journey. Either way, it’s gonna be a win-win situation!

On another note, learning in public can accelerate your coding career, but how exactly?

Accountability: Public commitments can motivate you to keep on track with your goals. It adds just the right amount of pressure!
Enhanced Learning: As you share what you learn or build, you're consolidating the ideas you consumed in your long-term memory. You're basically teaching other people. During this process, the gaps in what you've learned show up, you double-check facts and assumptions, and you try to create content that makes sense, which sometimes includes prerequisite concepts.
Personal Growth: Through this process, you get to have feedback more which forces you to grow and course correct earlier. Even if you're scared to make mistakes, just remember that it's normal and human! It will happen and it's gonna be memorable. So, if your response is to accept the feedback and be accountable for what you did, you're less likely to repeat the same mistake twice.
Building a Network: The main purpose of learning in public is to help your past self. Be genuine and eventually, other people on the same path will come across your learning journey! When you keep on offering value upfront, you'll be the first in mind when those people need help.
Opportunities: As your reputation grows, so does the number of opportunities coming your way. You can even gain mentors when you apply, try, or even create from other people's projects (what @swyx calls picking up what others put down). By helping you learn, they're also helping the ones in your network because you're learning in public.

Obviously, I haven't experienced these benefits yet. This is my first attempt to learn in public but I hope that at the very least I can provide some value to you. That's what Chris added as well–everyone has something to offer, even a newbie like me! It’s such a motivating mindset to have. In fact, I’m more excited to learn because I’m also creating something out of it. It’s like I’m building a puzzle out of the ideas I'm putting in my brain!

So, if you're curious about coding but feeling a littleee bit hesitant, you're not alone! I'll be sharing my highs, lows, and in-betweens here and there. Who's in? 😀

*Battling mental illnesses isn’t just a matter of willpower, so if this resonated with you, please consider reaching out for support!

Photo by Emile Perron on Unsplash