Have you said “thank you” to yourself lately?

“What? Say ‘thank you’? What kind of column is this, Greg?”

I am trying to share with you some of the most important things you can be doing as a pro coder, and stopping to thank yourself is pretty high on the list!

When we slug it out, day in and day out, writing code, crafting automated tests, tracking down bugs, and working on releases, there are days when you’re flat out beat. Sometimes at the end of the day, your brain dissolves into goo.

Hopefully, writing the code is loads of fun and very exciting. Doesn’t mean it also doesn’t wear you out.

And so it’s OKAY to stop every now and then. Maybe this hour or the next, and say “thank you” to yourself. But I’m not talking about words. I’m talking about something a little more substantive than that.

• It’s okay to stop and read another chapter of that latest book you’re on. (I’ve been reading Humble Pi by Matt Parker lately.)
• It’s also okay to pause and watch a video from your favorite YouTube channel. (I love physics videos and calculus videos. Go figure!)

I’d mention stopping to check out your favorite social media for a bit, but there is a greater risk you’ll start scrolling and suddenly get sucked in for the next hour!

Taking a few breaks throughout the day and rewarding yourself with something enjoyable (but not TOO long) is OKAY.