I don’t have the typical after coding bootcamp story. I was already a month into my new job as a junior software engineer when I graduated from Flatiron School. Disclaimer: This is not the norm. Please don’t feel discouraged if it takes you a while to find employment.

So, what’s life been like as a junior software engineer?

It started off great, and in all honesty, it still is. I’m working at a mid-level start-up that’s growing every day. I was given easy bugs to fix when I got there, which boosted my confidence in my coding abilities. And the tickets or stories (work) steadily increased in difficulty. Everyone was/is helpful. I meet with my director for feedback and help to keep me growing. Plus, we have a hybrid of remote or office work due to the pandemic. But everything wasn’t perfect. Let’s talk about it.

What went wrong?

Spending too much time coding. Working from home during the first few months, I would start coding at 8am. If you’re anything like me, it’s super easy to get sucked into the wonderland of trying to solve a problem. Then finding yourself still coding at midnight. This is not healthy or as productive as it may seem. Once I noticed it happening, I did the following:

• set a hard stop time for 4pm or 5pm depending on when I start my day and meetings

• working in 2 hours-ish sprints and taking breaks to walk around or stretch my body

If you need to, you can set alarms to keep you on track. I was naturally checking the time 2 hours in, so I figured that would be a reasonable time to break. Pick what works for you. Just remember to get a healthy work/life balance going and take breaks. 

Stopped pondering on how to grow as a software engineer. I started off eager to learn how to succeed at my company and grow as an engineer. I asked for the track to success and was checking off boxes in the beginning. Last week, my director asked me how he could help me during our one-on-one, and I didn’t have an answer. Not because I felt like I knew everything, but because I hadn’t reflected on what I was struggling with outside of the current bugs I had been working on. Things like workflow, retaining what I learn after fixing bugs, and getting involved in the tech world outside my company to see the different possibilities and opportunities. That’s where this blog comes into play. I want to use it to reflect, retain, and learn while hopefully helping and encouraging others. 

My personal life changed too.

I’m now making $100k a year. Paid off all my student debt. Moved into a huge house with the oasis backyard and finally got my Cadillac car *cue DreamGirls hit song Cadillac car.*

Maybe one day.

For now, I’m blessed to be able to rent an apartment by myself, pay all my bills and student loans while living comfortably. I was really looking forward to living on my own, but it has been more emotionally challenging than I thought it would be. Let’s talk about how I got through it.

I prayed and called my mama EVERY DAY! 😂 It doesn’t have to be your mama, but having someone to talk to is helpful and comforting. Here are some other ways:

Get active. As a developer, we sit at a computer for hours. Then go sit in front of the tv or back on the computer after we finish working. So shake it up a little at first, then ramp up your level of activity. I started by walking outside during my lunch breaks for about 30 minutes. Added a walk after work. Bought a smartwatch to count my steps. Until I end up getting a trainer at a local gym. The main thing is to move more and enjoy what you’re doing.

Find activities you like to do.  Or want to try or learn. I like to be crafty, so I gave my kitchen a makeover with some DIY projects. I watched SeaLemon on YouTube and learned how to bind my own hardback books to make journals because I also like to write if you haven’t noticed. But you can also go to parks, mountains, trails, and other outdoor stuff. 

Eat healthy foods. OMG. I’m so tired of cooking, but it’s one of the most beneficial and controlled ways to prepare food, so I hear. To spice it up, I’m trying to add more variety and learn some fancy knife moves to show off when I get some friends to visit. But you don’t have to cook. You can start by making healthier choices when you eat out and cut back on junk food. Eating healthily also boosts your mood, energy, and immune system. 

Spend time with loved ones.  Be intentional about it. I make plans with my friends to hang out because adults plan. I visit family mostly every weekend because they aren’t that far or they come to me. Do what works for you and your people. If you don’t have any, find a community or group to join and get involved with. Build relations. 

Make a schedule/routine. Now that we have all these things to do. Why not plan out our week to keep track of everything we want to try incorporating. I have more of a routine at this point because scheduling my day made me feel restricted. I have my Google calendar with meetings and my gym times. To keep it flexible and balanced, I have a list of things I want to do throughout the week and move them around as I need to. 

That’s life for me right now. I think going to a coding bootcamp was the best decision I could have made. After some adjustments here and there I’m enjoying life.

I would love to hear from you down in the comments. Have you faced similar challenges? All tips and helpful hints to life are welcomed.