Coding is Play: 7 Mindset Shifts to Rediscover the Fun in Coding

"I don't have time to explore new languages or projects."

"I'm not skilled enough to share my work with others."

"Coding is just to get a job."

These are the limiting beliefs that hold back many programmers every day.

Do you remember your childhood? Those moments when you didn't pursue a goal but acted purely out of curiosity. Running endlessly, jumping, climbing, and exploring without inhibition.

Programming, too, can be a form of play. Bring back that childhood curiosity. You just have to shift your mindset. And trust me, it's easier than you think. Here are 7 mindset shifts that I use daily. You can use them individually or in combination, choosing the ones that resonate with you. The goal is to have fun.

1. The Creator: Create for the sake of creation, not to boost your resume with the latest tech. When was the last time you made something just because YOU wanted to? Next time you're building a project, adopt the persona of a creator. You'll actually learn something. A creator is someone who finds joy in the process of creation itself.

2. The Competitor: DSA is tough, but every time I enter a contest, there's a sense of competition. I adopt the persona of a competitor, trying to perform my best. Solving challenging problems becomes really satisfying. A competitor is someone who takes pleasure in trying their best and winning.

3. The Collector: Think of yourself as a collector. Don't limit yourself to a single language; diversify and increase your skill set. Each language offers unique capabilities. A collector is someone who enjoys exploring different things and incorporate the ones they like.

4. The Explorer: Move beyond web development. Explore different things – build CLI tools, chrome extensions, games, and text editors. Remember, web development ≠ coding. An explorer is someone who enjoys discovering something they've never seen or heard of before.

5. The Storyteller: Share your work, your learnings, and even your failures. Whether through blog posts, tutorials, or social media, let people know what you're doing. Don't think of it as showcasing job opportunities; think of it as telling your unique story in the best way possible. A storyteller is someone who uses their imagination to entertain others.

6. The Director: In programming, you can be the director. Decide what you want in a system, and add new features to popular websites – you have creative control. You can lead or be led. A director is someone who enjoys planning and organizing and can fit into several roles.

7. The Kinesthetic: Ever felt bored during a mundane task such as debugging or repeating stuff? During those times, I like to give myself a challenge of how fast I can type or how fast I can complete a given task. A kinesthetic is someone who finds joy in physical activities.

Coding is fun. Try to incorporate this into your life and share your experience with me.

That's a wrap. Until next time.