First of all, I want to say that this article is more focused on technology topics, but it could be applied to other contexts. It is just a personal opinion from the point of view of a technology lover ❤️ and, in particular, a Software Engineer 💻.
Some people ask me: what is my strategy to keep learning all the time? well, today I want to share a little about this.
It is very normal that when we need to learn a new topic, the first thing we think is to go to the official documentation, check the Stackoverflow page and watch some videos. But sometimes this could just be a bit boring, so here are the most common things I do when I want to stay focused and learn a new topic in a fun way.
Follow people with common interests.
Participate in a technology community.
Discuss.
Create a test project.
Write an Article.
There are other ways, but these are the ones I usually use the most, and we don't want to extend this article much, right? 😅.
Follow people with common interests. 👤
Photo by Free Walking Tour Salzburg on Unsplash
To keep myself updated and, as a user of different platforms or social networks, I usually follow the content and publications of different people who take the time to share valuable and relevant content of my interest. Some of my favorite content platforms are Github, Linkedin, Medium, Dev community and Twitter. In this way, I can see and compare what I am learning with what other people have already learned and who surely have a higher technical level.
Participate in a technology community
This section is one of my favorites because I like to meet people, get to know different cultures, listen to different opinions, share a bit of my professional experience, and try to help solve doubts and problems that other members have.
I really enjoy being part of tech communities and helping them grow by sharing ideas and topics that I'm learning about that I find interesting and useful to other members of the community.
Discuss 💬
The debate with other people who share similar knowledge is another interesting way to validate what has been learned. This helps to correct ambiguities and, of course, generate new ideas from different points of view. On the other hand, it helps to improve assertive communication, which is essential for our personal and professional growth.
Create a test project 💻
fn main() {
println!("Hello World!");
}
Obviously, for most cases, the above example is too basic, but the main idea is to put into practice the acquired knowledge. Many people say that if it is not put into practice, then it is forgotten, and I believe it 🙂
When I start to learn a new technology, I do a small project to apply the acquired knowledge. It's great fun for me. I feel that it's a hobby and I can spend hours having fun while I learn. I also re-practice previously acquired knowledge 🤓.
Write an article 📖
Wait, wait! Write? We are supposed to want to learn. Well, I think that one of the best ways to keep knowledge active is through writing. It's a fun way to post what we've learned. Honestly, to date, it is a new path that I am putting into practice, and that is why I have decided to write articles about the things that I am learning in the world of technology. The main purpose of this is to spare other people certain complexities that I have gone through in learning certain topics. On the other hand, when we write, we can also create our own record of knowledge.
At the end of the day, there are many ways to maintain your focus while improving your learning experience. The important thing is to apply a strategy to your personal taste that helps you achieve your goal in the most fun way possible. It is also important that you keep in mind that discipline and perseverance are essential for learning to become effective.
If you like my content and want to support my work, you can give me a cup of coffee ☕️ 🥰
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Twitter: @devjcastro