How 10 Minutes of Scrolling Cost Me 2 Weeks of Progress (And What I’m Doing About It)

We’ve all been there. “Just one more reel.” “Just one more YouTube short.” What starts as a 10-minute scroll spirals into hours of mindless consumption. But for me, this habit didn’t just cost time—it derailed my learning journey, pushed me into a cycle of self-doubt, and left me feeling like I’d made zero progress for weeks. If you’ve ever felt stuck, demotivated, or trapped in the endless loop of “learning about learning,” this post is for you.

The Wake-Up Call: How Social Media Algorithms Hijacked My Progress

A few weeks ago, I realized something terrifying: I hadn’t written a single line of meaningful code in 14 days. My plan to “stay updated” by watching tech videos, reading trend reports, and doom-scrolling through programming debates backfired spectacularly. Here’s why:

1. The Illusion of “Learning” vs. Actual Learning
   I convinced myself that watching videos about Flutter updates, React Native vs. Flutter debates, or AI replacing developers counted as “productive” time. Sure, I learned things like:

   • Flutter’s latest features (while also seeing clickbait like “Is Flutter Dead?”),

   • Tools other developers use,

   • Why React Native might be better (until the next video argued the opposite).

But this passive consumption left me overwhelmed, confused, and paralyzed. Every conflicting opinion made me question my choices (“Should I switch to React Native?”), and I wasted days hopping between tutorials without building anything.

2. Life Happens (And Lazy Me Took Over)
   Work routine changes, personal commitments, and unexpected tasks became excuses to procrastinate. The less I coded, the harder it felt to start again. The cycle of guilt and avoidance grew louder: “I’ll do it tomorrow.”

3. Time Management? What’s That?
   Let’s be real—I’m terrible at managing time. I’d schedule “learning hours” but end up scrolling, telling myself, “I’ll just finish this video.” Spoiler: I never did.

The Realization: Tutorial Hell Isn’t Just for Beginners

I’ve been coding for years, yet I fell into the same trap I warn beginners about: tutorial hell. Watching endless videos without applying the knowledge? Check. Jumping between technologies based on trends? Check. Feeling like a fraud despite “knowing” concepts? Double-check.

But here’s the kicker: You don’t learn to swim by watching swimming tutorials.

The Fix: Building My Way Out of the Rut

Enough is enough. I’m done letting algorithms and procrastination dictate my progress. Here’s my plan:

1. The “No More Tutorials” Challenge

• Project First, Tutorials Second: Instead of starting with tutorials, I’m building a basic news app in Flutter. When I hit a roadblock, I’ll look up specific solutions. No more passive watching!

• Focus on Fundamentals: State management, API integration, clean architecture—things I’ve “learned” a dozen times but rarely implemented fully.

2. Public Accountability

Writing this post is my way of saying: “Call me out if I don’t follow through.” I’ll share weekly updates on:

• Progress (or lack thereof),

• Code snippets,

• Lessons learned (and epic fails).

Why a News App?

It’s simple, scalable, and covers critical concepts:

• Fetching data from APIs,

• State management (Provider/Riverpod),

• Caching, error handling, and UI design.
  Plus, I can expand it later with features like user authentication or notifications.

A Message to My Future Self (And You)

If you’re reading this and thinking, “I’ve been there too,” here’s my advice:

• Stop consuming; start building.

• Trends come and go—skills stay.

• Progress > Perfection.

What’s Next?
By next week, I’ll have the app’s skeleton ready. Follow along on my blog for updates, and feel free to roast me if I slack off.

Let’s code.

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P.S. If you’ve ever fallen into the “endless scrolling” trap, reply with your story. Misery loves company—and accountability! 😅