Hello all, i felt at one point i was almost addicted to coding and always wanting to get better, and it did feel like i was on the top of my game. The obsession with coding has waned off after so many years, and now Im constantly concerned that other people are better than me. My boss gives a lot of work to the younger guy on the team, who i used to be better than, and i feel like im only getting scraps. My yearly reviews are good, and i want to make sure this is a legitimate fear because its also taking a tole on my self-esteem and mental. My question is it better to focus on repairing my mental health and handling these thoughts and how do i handle the anxiety mentally while also improving my coding skills?
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Mental health is foundational. Definitely put health, both mental and physical, before coding. Besides, you won’t be able to work and learn efficiently without good health.
I assume there are plenty of developers who feel just like you. Coding is a rapidly adapting field, filled with new technologies that come and go all the time. It can make us feel outdated and irrelevant if we don’t catch on to every new trend. But really, the foundational concepts of software architecture will always remain. New languages and technologies are all just different iterations of the same stuff.
Your annual reviews are good, so perhaps you’re doing better than you think. I quite suspect it. As for something to do to build your confidence and sort of break out of your monotony, maybe you could start a few personal projects, if you have the time that is. Something that excites you, or maybe a project for someone else. I don’t know what exactly your coding skills are, but making a game for a relative was something I think I’d find really fulfilling. Or something entirely different. Just an idea.
Hope that helps!
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