Ah, January—the magical month where we developers promise ourselves we'll finally refactor that spaghetti code, document our APIs properly, and stop pushing commits titled "final-final-FINAL_version_for_real_this_time".
This year, I’m diving headfirst into my New Year’s resolutions, and I thought, why not share them with you? Not only will this keep me accountable (hello, public accountability pressure), but maybe it'll inspire you to set some awesome goals of your own.
📝 My New Year’s Resolutions as a Developer
1️⃣ Post More About My Work on Social Media
I love seeing other developers share their progress, challenges, and successes online. So this year, I'm stepping up my social media game. Whether it's a cool code snippet, a problem I solved, or just a screenshot of a pixel-perfect UI I’m proud of—I'll be sharing it. Follow along, and feel free to call me out if I start slacking!
2️⃣ Write More Articles Like This One
I’ve realized that writing about what I do not only helps me clarify my thoughts but also gives back to the developer community. Sharing knowledge is how we all grow, so expect more blogs like this one: simple, fun, and (hopefully) helpful.
3️⃣ Finish and Publish One Game
This is the big one. Like many developers, I’ve started countless game projects, only to abandon them halfway through because another shiny idea came along. This year, no more excuses. I will finish and publish one game—even if it’s simple, even if it’s not perfect. Because done is better than perfect.
🚀 How to Set Your Own Developer Resolutions
Okay, enough about me—let’s talk about you! Whether you're a seasoned programmer or just starting out, here are some tips to help you set realistic and motivating New Year’s resolutions.
🎯 1. Be Specific with Your Goals
Don’t just say, "I want to get better at coding." Instead, aim for something like:
- "I’ll build three small projects using React."
- "I’ll contribute to two open-source projects this year."
Specific goals are easier to track and achieve.
🕒 2. Break Big Goals into Smaller Tasks
If your goal is “Build an app from scratch,” break it down:
- Week 1: Plan the features.
- Week 2: Design the UI.
- Week 3: Set up the backend.
Small wins keep motivation high!
📆 3. Set a Timeline
Deadlines aren’t fun, but they work. Instead of "I’ll learn Python this year," try, "I’ll complete an online Python course by March."
🤝 4. Share Your Goals with Others
Tell your friends, your coworkers, or hey, even your Twitter followers. Public accountability can work wonders when motivation starts to dip.
🛠️ 5. Focus on Progress, Not Perfection
Your code might not always be clean, and your projects might have bugs—but that’s okay. Celebrate progress, no matter how small.
🎉 Let’s Crush Those Goals Together!
Whether you want to start a blog, learn a new programming language, or finally figure out what "undefined is not a function" actually means—this is your year.
So, what are your New Year’s resolutions as a developer? Share them in the comments, or tag me on social media. Let’s cheer each other on as we tackle our goals, one commit at a time.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I’ve got some goals to smash. 💻✨