It doesnât matter if youâre just getting started, if youâre a couple of months in, or even if youâve been coding for years. One thing is certain and that's the fact that learning to code can be extremely difficult for most people.
But why is this? Why is coding hard to learn for some, but simple for others?
None of the above!
The reality is, these people simply know something that most people donât:
Simple right?
Which is why in today's article, I'm going to pull back the curtain and share the 7 major roadblocks that make learning to code so difficult so you can understand why youâre struggling.
More importantly, I'll then give you 3 core principles that you can use to blast through those roadblocks to make learning to code far easier and faster than ever before.
More of an audio / visual person? Check out the video version below and watch along instead.
In it, former ZTM student and YouTuber, Aldo, shares his own coding journey, his struggles, and the âaha momentsâ and systems that he used to make learning to code easier and push past the major roadblocks.
Or simply keep reading to learn moreâŚ
Here at ZTM, we truly believe that anyone can learn to code, no matter your age or background, as long as you're given the right tools and systems.
Itâs why we donât just teach specific languages and frameworks, but we also teach you how to actually learn more effectively, as well as other important soft skills.
Why are these skills so important?
Well, when we break it down and chat with previous students and their own issues, we find that there are usually 7 roadblocks that are causing you to struggle to learn to code, and almost everyone struggles with one or more, without even realizing the issue at the time.
There are literally millions of videos and articles out there, not to mention thousands of platforms and options when trying to learn to code.
Which is best for you? What's actually relevant to learn? What content is up-to-date or even well-made?
Itâs hard to know where to even begin, and itâs incredibly daunting, so most people never get past this first step.
Then, when you do decide on a way to learn, it can be scary and uncomfortable trying to learn something new.
Even if you're understanding the concepts, they don't always quite sink in as fast as you want or you reach a point where you're struggling on the same concept for hours or days.
That's when you start getting that desire to run to the hills.
Or maybe youâre the opposite? When something is hard, you stick to it because you need to be the best.
Each new thing you're learning opens your eyes up to 10 more things you don't know and you feel like you need to learn them all. But there's so much that it just seems impossible.
This fear of needing to know everything stops you from moving forward.
Itâs a type of imposter syndrome, where youâre trying to cover your tracks just in case you donât know something and people realize that you have gaps in your knowledge.
Or maybe you're one of the people who start learning the topics in a less than ideal order and struggle to understand things that you should already know.
For example:
Skipping JavaScript fundamentals and trying to learn a framework like React, Vue, or Angular, without the prior JS knowledge.
There isn't a "perfect" order to learn things in, but you can definitely make learning to code a lot easier by following a logical roadmap.
Even worse. If you donât have a path or structure, it's very easy to second guess everything and end up in âtutorial hellâ, where youâre just constantly learning random bits from various topics, but never moving forward because you donât know the path to follow.
This is sometimes combined with Roadblock #2 where you end up watching tutorials on the same topics over and over but it feels good and productive.
And then when you do find a path? Well, it can be so exciting to start making progress towards your goal of learning to code but you dive head-first into it and attempt to learn at a pace that's not sustainable.
You get exhausted and struggle to learn, and then that perfectionism creeps in again, and you want to give up because itâs not working exactly as you want it to!
Finally, youâve kept a sane pace for work and you're following a clear roadmap, but youâre not quite grasping the core ideas.
Often this is because instead of taking the time to understand the why behind what you're learning, youâre really just memorizing things.
Itâs like remembering the ingredients for a cake, but not knowing that if you donât add them in a specific order, it wonât rise and will taste awful!
This is why you need to slow down and help yourself grasp these things. Donât simply memorize like you did in school for tests.
Instead, take a bit more time to truly understand and actually apply what youâre learning by building projects. Applying information is the best way to understand and retain new skills, while also building a portfolio to get hired or even promoted.
Hands up if you were nodding your head along as you read these issues đââď¸đââď¸
I know Iâve suffered from them multiple times when learning anything new, and weâre all guilty of them at some point.
So, now that we know these common problems that stop us from learning to code (or learn anything really), how do we get past them?
We dive deeper into how to actually learn more efficiently as one of the first courses that we suggest our students take before even starting to learn to code.
We've also written a free guide on how to learn anything in detail, but let me simplify 3 of the core concepts that can make a huge difference for you and really help tackle a lot of the roadblocks we outlined.
If you can add in some:
Then youâll find the entire learning to code experience far easier and less difficult.
Letâs break them downâŚ
Most people rely on motivation to learn or do something new, which is great at first.
Theyâre excited to learn and dive in, but when the excitement starts to drop off and the learning becomes more difficult, they often lose that motivation and simply stop.
For example
The gym is fun in the first week of Jan, but sucks by week 3 when you havenât seen the results that you want yet right!?
Thatâs where discipline comes in, and itâs arguably the most important skill or habit to build.
Why? Because when you have discipline, you move away from the results and start instead following a routine. Itâs less about asking yourself âHave I learned to code yet?â and more like âDid I complete 5 lessons this week?â.
Once you can start tracking that habit, then you donât need motivation. Instead, you simply make sure that you donât miss a day and before you know it, youâve learned this entirely new thing. All while keeping to a reasonable level of output each day.
Keep doing this for long enough and it all starts to compound and get even easier, as everything youâre learning builds on the previous.
By following that disciplined routine and staying patient and not wanting it to be over as soon as possible, you can start to follow a more consistent, less burn out prone path and actually enjoy what youâre learning.
Not only does it make the entire process more enjoyable, but it also increases your chances that youâll follow through on it.
Finally, because youâre following a structured path to achieve your goals, youâre no longer stuck in tutorial hell, or facing information overload. You learn exactly what you need to learn, at the right time, and in the correct order.
I cannot overstate the importance of this, and it seems like I'm being salesy because, of course, we sell training programs right?
But no joke, following a tested path by someone who has done what you want to do, is the easiest way to achieve the same results or better.
Of course it is. But the same can be said for any skill that is worth learning.
But as long as youâre aware of the common roadblocks and know how to get past them, you realize that it's completely achieveable. Plus it's totally worth it.
Once in a while, make sure to stop and take a step back to reflect on your learning progress.
Are you noticing yourself encountering any of the common roadblocks?
Amazing. Noticing it is the first step.
Then come back to this post and remind yourself of how to get through the roadblocks and re-adjust accordingly, and suddenly, learning to code isn't as difficult as it first seems.
Honestly, it really does feel like cheating when trying to learn something new and you follow these concepts, simply because of how much easier it makes that entire process:
Easy!
Will you become a Web Developer? Or maybe youâll learn a popular language, build large-scale apps, look to the future of the Web, learn to simplify and automate areas of your current job, or perhaps become a Cyber Security expert?
The world is your oyster.
And if you're looking to break into the tech industry but don't have that clear path yet or aren't sure where to start, check our tech career path quiz where we'll give you a personalized roadmap.
Simply answer the questions and weâll help you find the best option for you and provide you with a clear career path roadmap that you can use to go from complete beginner to getting that dream job this year!