Day 25: ### My Journey from Overthinking to Confident Coding
Introduction
When I first started coding, I wasn’t just writing logic—I was overanalyzing every decision. Was I choosing the right variable name? Was my approach optimal? Would someone judge my code if they saw it? This cycle of overthinking slowed me down and made me feel like I wasn’t good enough.
But over time, I learned to break free from this pattern and code with confidence. In this post, I’ll share what held me back, how I overcame it, and practical steps you can take if you’re struggling with the same thing.
The Problem: Overthinking Everything
As a fresh graduate, I found myself stuck in these thought loops:
- “Is my code clean enough?” Instead of focusing on functionality first, I obsessed over writing “perfect” code.
- “What if this isn’t the most efficient solution?” I hesitated to move forward, fearing I wasn’t using the best approach.
- “What will others think of my code?” Code reviews made me anxious, as I worried about being judged.
The result? I spent too much time second-guessing myself instead of actually coding and learning.
What Helped Me Gain Confidence
1. Writing First, Optimizing Later
I learned that getting a working solution first is more important than making it perfect from the start. Now, I follow this approach:
- Write a basic version of the solution.
- Test it and make sure it works.
- Refactor and improve the code.
This shift helped me stop getting stuck in my own head and start making progress.
2. Accepting That Code is Iterative
I used to think great developers wrote perfect code on their first attempt. That’s a myth. Even the best engineers write, refactor, and improve over time. Once I embraced this, I stopped stressing over every line.
3. Learning to Take Feedback Positively
At first, I saw code reviews as a judgment of my abilities. But I realized that feedback is normal, even for senior developers. Instead of fearing it, I started seeing it as a way to grow.
4. Setting a Time Limit on Decisions
To stop myself from overanalyzing, I started setting small deadlines. For example:
- “I’ll spend 30 minutes researching this approach, then I’ll implement the best option I find.”
This forced me to take action instead of endlessly overthinking.
5. Practicing More, Thinking Less
I found that the more I coded, the less I overthought. The best way to gain confidence was simply to build more projects, make mistakes, and learn from them.
Final Thoughts
Breaking free from overthinking didn’t happen overnight, but by focusing on progress over perfection, I became a more confident developer. If you struggle with the same thing, remember:
Write first, optimize later.
Code is meant to be improved over time.
Feedback is your friend.
Set time limits to avoid analysis paralysis.
The more you code, the more confident you’ll become.
Have you ever struggled with overthinking in coding? Let’s talk in the comments!
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