How LeetCode and "Learning How to Learn" Helped Me in My Programming Journey—and How They Can Help You Too

When it comes to self-preparing for a career in programming or IT, the journey can feel overwhelming. With so many resources and concepts to tackle, it’s easy to get lost in the chaos. However, two key tools have been game-changers for me: LeetCode and Barbara Oakley’s "Learning How to Learn" course. Together, they’ve helped me sharpen my problem-solving skills and adopt better learning techniques, which I believe can help anyone aiming to break into the tech world.

LeetCode: Mastering Problem Solving

LeetCode is a fantastic platform for honing your coding skills through algorithmic challenges. Whether you’re preparing for coding interviews or just strengthening your programming fundamentals, LeetCode offers a wide range of problems that cater to all levels—from beginner to advanced. Personally, LeetCode helped me become more comfortable with data structures and algorithms, which are crucial for any programming role, especially in DevOps and cloud engineering.

What’s great about LeetCode is the active community. You can learn from other people's solutions, discuss approaches, and improve your own problem-solving techniques. The best part is that it promotes consistency: solving even a few problems a day can make a huge difference in improving your coding skills over time. If you’re preparing for programming interviews, LeetCode’s practice problems will make you feel more confident and well-prepared.

"Learning How to Learn" by Barbara Oakley: Unlocking the Power of Effective Learning

While technical skills are essential, mastering the art of learning is just as crucial, especially when you’re teaching yourself new concepts. Barbara Oakley’s "Learning How to Learn" course on Coursera gave me powerful insights into how our brains process and retain information.

Through the course, I learned techniques such as chunking (grouping information into smaller, manageable units), using spaced repetition to retain concepts, and the importance of focused vs. diffuse thinking. These methods helped me break down complex topics like cloud architecture or containerization into more digestible pieces, and avoid the frustration of forgetting what I learned after a few days.

The course also emphasizes the value of deliberate practice—something I applied when tackling difficult LeetCode problems. Instead of just skimming through challenges, I focused on understanding the underlying patterns and principles behind each solution. This mindset made learning both more efficient and more enjoyable.

How These Tools Can Help You Too

If you’re self-preparing for a programming or IT career, these tools can help you in several ways:

1. LeetCode provides structured practice with real-world problems, improving your coding skills and preparing you for technical interviews.

2. "Learning How to Learn" gives you the mental tools to approach complex topics more effectively, reduce overwhelm, and improve retention of information.

3. Both help you build discipline and consistency—two key traits for any self-taught programmer or IT professional.

By combining problem-solving with smart learning strategies, you can accelerate your progress and tackle even the most challenging concepts with confidence.

Whether you’re looking to master algorithms, improve your coding skills, or simply learn how to learn better, I highly recommend integrating LeetCode and Barbara Oakley’s course into your study routine. They’ve made a huge difference in my journey, and they could do the same for you!

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Have you used LeetCode or taken the “Learning How to Learn” course? I’d love to hear how they’ve helped you on your journey! Feel free to share in the comments below.