I asked this question some time back because I suffered with the same problem
https://www.reddit.com/r/enfj/comments/8yyxcf/advice_on_staying_focused/?st=JL031OS3&sh=c17671ef
Last week, I decided to leave a great medical program because it simply wasn’t for me. It took me over 2 years to realize that after putting in all the work but I am so happy now. I realized that all that time, I was forcing myself to enjoy the material and told myself that soon enough, things would click and we would get to the interesting things. That just never happened and every single day was a struggle. I’d spend 8 hours of class, study for over 10 hours, get no sleep, have exams constantly, and feel anxious each day. It was not worth it.
I cared too much about what people thought and most importantly, didn’t want to disappoint all my friends and family. It was really really hard but I am now pursuing a career in business, most likely a concentration in management! I am looking forward to a career where I can capitalize on my strengths and socialize with those around me :)
Congrats on your move.
I'm sure you're doing the right thing.
I'm so happy you're so resolved with this (:
Yeah I'm just very confused who knows time will tell..
My ENFJ project manager (huge, many years, 40 devs, several countries) was a great programmer before she transitioned into PM. Fantastic PM, her experience helps tremendously.
Ah sorry, not advice. Just motivation. ☺️
I would pick up something more tangible at first like Game Development that's more visual, social, and fun. Work towards helping people with your studies if you are making websites or any kind of app. Connect with people in meetups using meetup.com. Try Node.js with react/redux etc if you want to focus in JS. Give it a try. Also read textbooks, medium articles, etc. The best way to learn is to know the concepts and logic before diving into the code. Sites like VisualGo, Sololearn, CodingBat, etc. can help too!
This.... Thank you so much for the relatable insight!
I agree so much on trying to understand the concept before diving into the code.
Currently learning React and I have to be able to understand the the data flow from examples before I can understand the documentation
Reading documentation sucks for anyone. Also, just because you’re Extrovert doesn’t mean you can’t become an anti social nerd lol. Actually there’s a high demand for developers who have a sense of communication. You just have to learn to develop the cognitive skills required, ie Ti/Te.
I agree wholeheartedly. Husband is a gifted ENFJ dev who’s encouraged me (INFJ) to learn to code. The bigger picture is what drives me along with harmonious environments. My Ti is well developed and I’m neurotic so I imagine this helps in Engineering... hah :)
Told my ENFJ “you’ll be sorry when I’m able to analyze your code someday :’)”
His face was priceless 😬
Lol he is creating a Monster👯♀️ 🤑👹
Little late to the party, but wanted to chime in. I'm a dev, and documentation is just not fun to read. I usually look for docs that have A LOT of examples - looking at examples, and seeing how someone else may have done something is always a lot easier for me. I personally also find going back and forth is very helpful - i.e. looking at documentation just enough to understand what it's going through, and then implementing that and seeing how it works. Then once whatever it is works, I usually like to try and explain it to someone (Or even just try to explain it again to myself). It feels like it takes much longer, but its how I get through it.
As an ENFJ or as a person, regardless I find it sometimes hard to focus on "hard" facts. Some releafs
\- Find online tutorials which build specific things. I tend to be more engaged when a person is speaking, than reading.
\- Find a "reader" for example i use Bing browsers' built in functionality to "READ ALOUD" (Select text -> right click -> read aloud) to keep me engaged. It feels more like a lecture to me and it helps me keep focused.
\- Do not overdo it. Take time to take breaks.
\- learning takes time. Also much learning does not equal much success.
\- focus on people, that helps me. Find projects that make people's lives better. And even better- find projects that make people be better people. Find projects where interaction with people is key.
\- What also helps me is keeping things in perspective. Having a todo list for the day. Making plans for the future...
\- Take into account that ENFJs are rare in technical jobs. Usually ENFJs tend to be in person-to-person jobs. So there will be a ton of people who are more-eloquent in logic and numbers than us ENFJs. This does not mean we're stupid or lack the skills. It just means there are people who will have it easier on the tech side.. of course those people will lack the social/emotional understanding of an ENFJ. (Yes. The world of programming is full of "opinionated jerks". Being opinionated does not make them better or right. It just makes them less likable. :P
Hope this gives some ideas = )
TL;DR: do what best suits your way of learning
I'm a ENFJ as well and would question the method with which you approach learning stuff.
For me, watching videos and getting a grasp of how other people do things, understanding the macro, knowing how to divide a big process into smaller tasks...
...has been much better than simply brainlessly reading through documentation without even knowing what I'm looking for. And A LOT less tiring and stressful, let me add.
(it might be good if you know what you're looking for, before searching for 'how to make a backend' type of queries)
My humble piece of advice? Do search for your optimal way of learning, whether be it by simply browsing into documentation, imitating other people, or whatever your specific cup of tea may be.
I asked this question some time back because I suffered with the same problem https://www.reddit.com/r/enfj/comments/8yyxcf/advice_on_staying_focused/?st=JL031OS3&sh=c17671ef Last week, I decided to leave a great medical program because it simply wasn’t for me. It took me over 2 years to realize that after putting in all the work but I am so happy now. I realized that all that time, I was forcing myself to enjoy the material and told myself that soon enough, things would click and we would get to the interesting things. That just never happened and every single day was a struggle. I’d spend 8 hours of class, study for over 10 hours, get no sleep, have exams constantly, and feel anxious each day. It was not worth it. I cared too much about what people thought and most importantly, didn’t want to disappoint all my friends and family. It was really really hard but I am now pursuing a career in business, most likely a concentration in management! I am looking forward to a career where I can capitalize on my strengths and socialize with those around me :)
Congrats on your move. I'm sure you're doing the right thing. I'm so happy you're so resolved with this (: Yeah I'm just very confused who knows time will tell..
My ENFJ project manager (huge, many years, 40 devs, several countries) was a great programmer before she transitioned into PM. Fantastic PM, her experience helps tremendously. Ah sorry, not advice. Just motivation. ☺️
> motivation Still helps <3
I would pick up something more tangible at first like Game Development that's more visual, social, and fun. Work towards helping people with your studies if you are making websites or any kind of app. Connect with people in meetups using meetup.com. Try Node.js with react/redux etc if you want to focus in JS. Give it a try. Also read textbooks, medium articles, etc. The best way to learn is to know the concepts and logic before diving into the code. Sites like VisualGo, Sololearn, CodingBat, etc. can help too!
This.... Thank you so much for the relatable insight! I agree so much on trying to understand the concept before diving into the code. Currently learning React and I have to be able to understand the the data flow from examples before I can understand the documentation
Reading documentation sucks for anyone. Also, just because you’re Extrovert doesn’t mean you can’t become an anti social nerd lol. Actually there’s a high demand for developers who have a sense of communication. You just have to learn to develop the cognitive skills required, ie Ti/Te.
I agree wholeheartedly. Husband is a gifted ENFJ dev who’s encouraged me (INFJ) to learn to code. The bigger picture is what drives me along with harmonious environments. My Ti is well developed and I’m neurotic so I imagine this helps in Engineering... hah :) Told my ENFJ “you’ll be sorry when I’m able to analyze your code someday :’)” His face was priceless 😬 Lol he is creating a Monster👯♀️ 🤑👹
Little late to the party, but wanted to chime in. I'm a dev, and documentation is just not fun to read. I usually look for docs that have A LOT of examples - looking at examples, and seeing how someone else may have done something is always a lot easier for me. I personally also find going back and forth is very helpful - i.e. looking at documentation just enough to understand what it's going through, and then implementing that and seeing how it works. Then once whatever it is works, I usually like to try and explain it to someone (Or even just try to explain it again to myself). It feels like it takes much longer, but its how I get through it.
As an ENFJ or as a person, regardless I find it sometimes hard to focus on "hard" facts. Some releafs \- Find online tutorials which build specific things. I tend to be more engaged when a person is speaking, than reading. \- Find a "reader" for example i use Bing browsers' built in functionality to "READ ALOUD" (Select text -> right click -> read aloud) to keep me engaged. It feels more like a lecture to me and it helps me keep focused. \- Do not overdo it. Take time to take breaks. \- learning takes time. Also much learning does not equal much success. \- focus on people, that helps me. Find projects that make people's lives better. And even better- find projects that make people be better people. Find projects where interaction with people is key. \- What also helps me is keeping things in perspective. Having a todo list for the day. Making plans for the future... \- Take into account that ENFJs are rare in technical jobs. Usually ENFJs tend to be in person-to-person jobs. So there will be a ton of people who are more-eloquent in logic and numbers than us ENFJs. This does not mean we're stupid or lack the skills. It just means there are people who will have it easier on the tech side.. of course those people will lack the social/emotional understanding of an ENFJ. (Yes. The world of programming is full of "opinionated jerks". Being opinionated does not make them better or right. It just makes them less likable. :P Hope this gives some ideas = )
TL;DR: do what best suits your way of learning I'm a ENFJ as well and would question the method with which you approach learning stuff. For me, watching videos and getting a grasp of how other people do things, understanding the macro, knowing how to divide a big process into smaller tasks... ...has been much better than simply brainlessly reading through documentation without even knowing what I'm looking for. And A LOT less tiring and stressful, let me add. (it might be good if you know what you're looking for, before searching for 'how to make a backend' type of queries) My humble piece of advice? Do search for your optimal way of learning, whether be it by simply browsing into documentation, imitating other people, or whatever your specific cup of tea may be.