Getting Through Bootcamp
find the balance, don’t forget the grind
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If you are considering a bootcamp, are currently in one or are just dealing with a very full work plate and want to make your mental health more of a priority- read on! Or if any of these scenarios apply to you and you feel that you have a good grasp on your work-life balance, please, leave a comment down below to share your tips, tricks and perspective.
Going into an immersive bootcamp, I knew that the transition would be tough and that there was definitely a rude awakening waiting for me. Before the program began, I tried to stay consistent with extending my working hours to resemble that of a “normal day in the life.” I tried to cover all of the pre-work lessons and labs and ask questions or did deeper for more clarification. I also took a deep dive into youTube to hear of others’ experiences and their advice on how to approach an immersive bootcamp. These were good steps to take, but ultimately I feel that you can’t ever really know what works best for YOU until you’re in it.
I wanted to write this post because, throughout my experience so fat, one of my biggest priorities was to maintain my mental health. I’ve invested a lot of time and energy into (the pursuit of) becoming a better functioning and more well-balanced person. The goal was to manage this extreme schedule and work load with no major set backs in terms of my that… here’s what I’ve noticed so far:
This is the list that I have created for myself to check in with, to help me find my balance throughout the bootcamp. The ‘Mental’ column is geared more towards the “life” side of the balance, while ‘Grind’ is, you guessed it, the “work” side. Let’s dig in a little deeper, starting with the MENTAL:
Reach out to friends & family — staying connected to a support system is vital in going through such an intense program, even a text here and there will make a world of difference to know that you have others behind you in this.
Get active! Start your day with a walk or a stretch, if you’re feeling ambitious, hit the gym after class. Keeping your body moving at whatever capacity will help with the long hours in front of the screen & will get your endorphins pumping!
Set a timer — It’s easy to get sucked into cleaning, watching “an” episode, or catching up with friends, but don’t lose the whole day doing these things, it’s all about balance, remember? Give yourself 30min to step away, then get back to it.
Declutter your space — While working from home, it’s easy to get distracted. Minimize the distractions by cleaning up your work area. A clean space allows for a clear mind.
Journal — Writing out thoughts, frustrations, goals, whatever- the good and the bad can help, big time. Taking the time to step back and reflect can shed new light on old thoughts.
go IRL! I’ve found it necessary for me to get out of my house, and have some in-person interactions. Even if it’s just down the road to work at a coffee shop. I feel noticeably better and get to check out new spots at the same time! OR knock out two birds with one stone and get in some activity outside ✓✓
This is a long list, don’t be overwhelmed trying to tackle many or all of these at once. Give one a try for a week and see how it impacts your well-being. If it doesn’t work, toss it and move on to the next. Just a reminder, these are what help me out, like mentioned before, everyone is different, so do works best for you!
Now that you’ve focused on your personal needs some, let’s switch gears to look at how to stay on that GRIND with your new found energy!
Schedule time to devote to ONLY work — Life can get hectic, and the world doesn’t stop turning because your plate is full. To deal with this, it’s important to set aside some time (outside of class) to do focused work without distractions. Turn off your notifications and set a timer or block it off on your calendar to be completely zoned in.
Get organized! Use a calendar to write out what material you want to complete each day or the amount of time that you want to work for. Having clear goals to reach daily will keep you accountable and motivated — not to mention, you will be able to look back on all of your progress!
Reach out when you are stuck — this one is SO much easier said than done. I constantly fight myself on it, BUT I’m relieved every time I ask for help. It’s one thing to work through something you think you should know or could figure out, but it can quickly become counter-productive. At some point, you have to say ‘it is what it is… I need help.”
Keep your end goal visible — By writing down your end goal and keeping it in sight of your work space, you are constantly reminding yourself what you’re working so hard for. It’s easy to loose sight of the big picture, this will be your guiding light. For some, the end goal could be “making it through the project you’re working on” or “passing the assessment”, whatever it is, keep your eye on it!
youTube it — there are so many helpful videos on youTube to get you more informed, motivated and staying in line with your goals. I like to search for videos on current material, people that have a similar end goal as me, day in the life of a dev, the options are endless. This can be a useful platform as long as you don’t get sucked down one of it’s slippery rabbit holes… so, maybe set a timer 😅
Just to add on, sleep and proper ‘fuel’ is going to help in all aspects of your life. Keep in mind that you’re getting sufficient rest and keeping a proper diet along the way. If you do nothing else from my list, do these two things and reap the benefits!
Please leave any feedback below and let me know if you found any of this particularly helpful. Happy coding!
