What changed?

Every week, I make a visual map of my learning journey — I share what I learn, how I learned it, and how you can too.

2 years ago: I tried learning Python for a week and then I gave up.

Today: I’m starting my 7th week learning Python 🥳

In the grand scheme of things, 7 weeks isn’t a long time. But for me, every week that passes sets a new personal record, which got me thinking… What changed this time? And are there any tips I can share that could help you stick with your learning journey?

So this post will be a little bit different. Here are the 3 big things that have kept me going.

Want to learn piano because "it sounds nice"? Or learn photography to "take better pictures"?

While those reasons are valid to learn a new skill, weak ambitions might not be enough when you inevitably lose motivation. You need to have ✨a thing✨ that you’re irrationally interested in doing with that new skill — it doesn’t matter how silly, useless, or complex this thing is.

In my Notes app, I keep a running list of things I’m irrationally interested in building with Python. Here’s my craziest idea:

“Is the Pickleball Court Busy” Tracker: I’m a big Pickleball fan and I luckily have a birds-eye view of the court where I play. One of my wild Python goals is to create a program with a small camera that snaps a picture of the court whenever I send an SMS request to check if the court is occupied or not.

As you can tell, these ideas don’t have to be groundbreaking or overwhelmingly useful. They just have to irrationally excite you enough to keep going.

As awkward as it is to post about your learning progress in public, writing this newsletter has played a big role in keeping me accountable. Every Saturday, I need to send a status report to share what I've learned.

If posting online isn't your thing, try creating a “learning” group chat or a private social media page for close friends and family. Set a goal to share a progress report on a weekly basis — whether it’s a quick text, a picture, or a video. You’ll be surprised how useful it is to get a nudge from a friend if you ever miss a progress report.

Yep, AI. Regardless of what you’re learning, think about how to use AI as a resource. If you’re learning how to play guitar 🎵, share the chords you've learned with ChatGPT and ask for song recommendations that use those chords.

While AI isn’t always perfect, it’s been an incredibly useful tutor that has helped me get unstuck over the last 6 weeks.

Above all, be kind to yourself and don’t compare your learning journey to others. Learning takes time, slip-ups will happen, and dips in motivation are all part of the process. I’m rooting for you!