How Single-Tasking Boosted My Dev Progress (and Sanity)

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Trying to Learn Everything at Once

A few months ago, I was trying to learn full-stack web and software development, game development in Godot, improve my C++ skills, and explore advanced C++, OpenGL, SFML, Raylib, etc., to create games without an engine. Since I also plan to build my own game engine someday, I even started planning it beforehand. All of that while keeping up with academics, and staying consistent with college and fitness.

It was a lot.

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Context-Switching Burnt Me Out

While journaling, it looked like I was being productive. It was as if I was asking myself constantly:

“Hey, I’m working on everything I care about. Isn’t that a good thing?”

I felt like I was doing a little bit of everything, but very, very slowly. I was barely making progress in any of them. What’s worse is, my brain was constantly switching tasks, leaving me feeling mentally drained and never truly "in the zone".

That's when I decided to try something radically simple: single-tasking. I focused on just one learning area at a time. Here's how that changed everything for me.

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The Shift

Eventually, I had enough. I realized I was spreading myself too thin. I wanted to actually learn and build things, and do it well, not just dabble across areas forever.

So I made a choice: To focus on one area at a time. For now, I've picked full-stack web development, which is something I truly want to master as my core career path.

This meant:

• Putting C++, game dev learning, and everything else on hold (temporarily)

• Focusing fully on JavaScript, CSS, HTML - and building actual learning projects to build a solid foundation (planning to learn MERN next, and then Next.js, and much more down the road)

It felt weird at first. But within days, I started noticing a positive impact on my focus and my productivity.

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The Benefits

Once I cut out all the noise and started to focus on one area at a time:

• I started progressing faster.

• I stopped needing to repeat lessons or “warm up” every time I sat down to code.

• I felt less anxious.

• My mind got clearer. I could think deeply about one topic without distractions.

• I felt motivated again. I saw real improvement, and that felt great.

Ironically, I was doing less but getting more done.

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How I Practice Single-Tasking Now

I now structure my learning in phases. Right now, I’m in my “JavaScript + Its Advanced Frameworks Phase”. Later, I’ll enter my “C++ Power-Up Phase”, and so on, and maybe eventually an "AI/ML Phase" once I get decent in other areas, and I'll keep learning and building as I learn. But I'll only walk one path at a time.

To stay focused, I:

• Keep a “Later List of ideas I want to explore” (but not now) in my notes app

• Focus on just one major learning goal + the things that keep me sane (like lifting and writing)

• Make sure I’m still learning my semester subjects to build well-rounded, industry-ready knowledge

This balance keeps me sane... and keeps me going.

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Final Thoughts

Progress Loves Simplicity.

If you, the person reading this, are trying to learn everything at once, I understand that feeling. We all want to grow fast and learn it all. It is very easy to feel pressured to learn everything quickly when we see other people way ahead of us.

Been there. Done that.

Many people started young, so it's understandable to feel like you're falling behind. I feel that way too. But sometimes, the fastest way forward is to slow down and focus intensely one thing.

That’s how real momentum builds. That’s how confidence grows. That’s how you avoid burnout.

So if you're overwhelmed by 10 tabs and 5 courses - close them.
Pick one thing.
Give it your full attention.
LOCK IN.

You won’t regret it.

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