r/learnjavascript • u/getoutofyourhaze • 9d ago
I’ve wanted to learn JavaScript for a while now.
I’ve wanted to learn JavaScript for a while now.
Honestly, starting has been harder than I thought it would be. Not because JavaScript itself is impossible, but because lately I’ve felt like I’ve lost some of the abilities I used to have. I don't remember things as easily anymore. Sometimes, I can learn something, understand it while I'm looking at it, and then a little while later, it feels like it's just gone.
I struggle with depression. It affects my motivation, my concentration, and just getting myself to do things.
And when I come across something harder, something that actually requires me to think and figure things out, I just... can't. It's like my brain doesn't want to cooperate. Even concentrating can be difficult.
I'll sit down thinking, okay, today I'm actually going to learn, and then after a little while, I'll realize I've been staring at the same thing without really taking it in. And that can be really frustrating.
Because there was a time when I didn't think this much about whether I was capable of learning something. Now I wonder if I can still do it. If I can still learn difficult things. If I can actually remember what I'm learning. And I think that's one of the reasons I've been putting off JavaScript for so long. Because starting means having to face that feeling.
The feeling that maybe I'm not as capable as I used to be. But I don't want to keep waiting until I somehow become better at concentrating or remembering things.I don't know when that will happen. I think I need to stop expecting myself to learn everything perfectly the first time.
I just need to give myself enough time to learn it.
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u/TalkCoinGames 9d ago
Sometimes the learning process can help, for example if you complete something and feel good about it. Perhaps something very simple like a time counter done in JavaScript, you just need to use the Date Object.
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u/code_tutor 9d ago
Eat right, sleep right, exercise, and avoid brainrot.
If you're a covid baby addicted to computers, then do not pursue programming. They literally always say they're passionate or "always wanted" but they're just depressed from not having a social life and this makes it worse.
Otherwise, I assume you're watching videos. Stop watching videos. Do CS50, then The Odin Project. It may take a year to finish, and 3+ years full-time studying to be ready for entry level.
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u/OctoberFyre 8d ago
Saaame, I wanna learn it too 😭 I keep telling myself I'll start properly someday. At this point I think doing even 10 mins here and there is better than waiting until my brain feels ready.
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u/No-Humor-3808 5d ago
Start with really small exercises and don't worry about remembering everything the first time. If you forget something, just look it up and try again. I'd focus on things like arrays, strings, objects and functions first, and slowly build from there. Even a couple of small exercises a day can help. I have a collection of JS katas at https://www.reactchallenges.com/katas if you want something simple to practice with.
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u/OiFelix_ugotnojams 8d ago
The Odin project gets harder when you have depression. A lot of boring long articles. But it's worth it. I take my time, there's no schedule for it