Programming can ruin your life
According to a post over at devizen.com; Programming can ruin your life.
Being a seasoned web developer I'd have to agree. Programming can ruin your life.
I started my career in software development; and after a 12 month stint of intensive programming I was pretty sure I didn't want to continue down that path, at least exclusively, for the rest of my career.
Writing code day-to-day does change the way you think. You become over-analytical; easily frustrated by inelegance and inefficiency; both being situations you will encounter, and must deal with appropriately (if you want to live a happy life) on a daily basis.
These days I find myself in a much more varied, wider scoping role; that of a web developer; and I'm much happier for it. I find the role covers such a wide scope that it's almost impossible to become too far removed from reality. You simply don't have the time.
So, like I said, programming can ruin your life; it's all about balance.
New Year Resolutions?
A year already! How time flies. That's right, 364 days ago, on the 31st of December 2006 I quit smoking tobacco.
"Hooray to health, Boo to the multi-million pound tobacco industry!"
So a year on, my lungs are somewhat healthier but as we rapidly approach the new year I'm left with a bit of a conundrum. What do I quit this year?
Being a competitive lad, the type who enjoys testing himself from time to time, and as I am, as I write this, literally oozing with good intention, I present to you my top 5 list of good intentions / resolutions for 2007...
1. Be more Productive
So in at number one we have the age old cop out "Be more Productive". Yeh yeh... heard it all before, so how am I actually going to be more productive?
What better a way than to start than with a list:
- Make better use of collaborative web applications such as; Base Camp, Backpack and Google Calendar.
- Plan better, learn some good planning techniques. Prototyping?
- Stay positive, keep focused.
- Be more organised
2. Contribute more.
Blog blog blog! That's right, I've got a shiny new web log and you're going to get an ear (eye?) full wheather you like it or not!
Seriously though, I need to contribute more. I mean I'm quite happy to take, take, take but now it's time to give a little something back. Over the years, web logs just like this have been a priceless asset in my web development toolbox, teaching me a significant quantity of my skills, time to pass on some of that knowledge methinks.
And it doesn't stop there, I can contribute (and raise exposure) through many mediums:
3. Learn Learn Learn
That's right, I want to learn as much as possible in every aspect of my life, from web standards, development and design to music production, sports and other life skills.
4. Earn Earn Earn
Earn some serious £££'s. My financial situation is my biggest problem, rinsed those credit cards a bit too hard and now it's time to pay. I want to earn as much money as possible to clear those debts and lift the associated stress.
5. Go on Holiday!
The light at the end of the tunnel. I'm thinking Thailand, or some other South East Asian country for a good month or so soaking up the scenery, sun and socialising. Better get my ass into gear. ;)
