Where to find time to learn functional programming?

It can be really hard to find time to learn a new language or new paradigm. How can you find the time you need? In this episode, I share 5 tips for setting yourself for success when you're learning functional programming.

Transcript

Where can you find time to learn functional programming? By the end of this episode, you will have five tips to pull a learning system/learning environment together to set yourself up for success.

My name is Eric Normand. I help people thrive with functional programming.

The reason this is important is I talk to a lot of people who want to switch their careers from maybe they've been doing object-oriented programming and they want to get into functional programming.

The thing is, the older they are, the further into their careers they are, the harder it becomes. They've got more responsibilities. They're older. They have kids. They have a family. They are used to a higher salary. They don't have as much time. They don't have as much flexibility for switching.

Now, I've talked countless to people who have made the switch but it's harder. It's definitely harder. It's important because you got to start now. It's not going to get easier. No matter how old you are, it's not going to get easier.

If you're just starting out and you're just learning programming, maybe it is too early to specialize into functional programming. Just program. That's enough. But if you're already a programmer and you like what you see in functional programming, the longer you wait, the harder it's going to be.

I have five tips for how to get this set up so that you can find some time. I want to give an analogy. When people talk about starting a running habit, they want to start running, the advice is always about making it easy.

Do all the setup beforehand. You say, "I want to start running tomorrow morning." Well, they say get everything set up tonight. Get your shoes out. Put them by the door. Get your running gear. Get it ready. Set it up so that it's easy to put on.

If you are going to drink some water beforehand, get a bottle and fill it up with the water so that it's ready. Set a time when you're going to leave. OK, I'm going to leave at six o'clock before breakfast. How long are you going to run?

Make all the decisions before because, especially when you starting a new habit, you're going to have a lot of inertia. That is the same thing that you need to set up for learning functional programming.

I was lucky. I started learning functional programming...it took a lot of time. That is clear, for everyone it takes time. It's a big field. There's a lot to learn. I was lucky because I was still in school when I started.

I had plenty of time. I could do my school assignments in it. I asked my professors if it was OK. They said yes. I could choose my electives around it. It was something that I lucked out in because I found that I liked it then, early enough.

Now that I have two kids and a wife, there's just a lot of life stuff. I got a house. I don't think there is time [laughs] to learn a new skill like that. I totally sympathize even though there is. There is time. It's just about making it happen.

Here I've got five tips for getting yourself set up. The same kind of things like putting your shoes by the door the night before. It's the same kind of stuff.

[renatac]

Very nice video, Eric! You explain very well and the audio is so clear. Also, weird compliment but your voice is so soothing, kind of like an ASMR video.