On the other end, learning how to properly manage your time, tasks, and day is something you should look into.

Read books like **Atomic habits**. I mean, it wont completely stop you from procrastinating but It’ll help you understand things better like how to approach making a change from the root and not just the surface and how to turn that change into a daily habit. How to trick your brain into thinking something is more fun than it actually is and more.

Another gem to consider is ["THE 12-WEEK YEAR"](https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/10009377). This book unveils strategies to streamline your execution cycle by crafting short and long-term goals, breaking them into actionable steps. The clarity gained makes productivity a breeze. You can find a helpful Notion template for implementing the 12-week year idea here: <https://chambray-fenugreek-23a.notion.site/12-WEEK-YEAR-FREE-template-518711ecd1a74ff98b448c4b4478a6e4>

There was an event with a company Taro partners with called [**Shimmer**](https://www.shimmer.care/?utm_campaign=affiliate&utm_medium=partnership&utm_source=rewardful&via=rahul\)) that helps you understand your strengths, prioritize better, communicate better, build better habits etc. You can also grab a discount code on [Taro's perks page](https://www.jointaro.com/perks/).

Explore Taro's various workshops and meetups targeting these challenges. Follow accounts focused on self-help, ADHD, and related topics for a constant stream of helpful tips.

Remember, take it one day at a time. Be kind to yourself, put in the effort, brace yourself for a challenging yet beautiful transformation, and you'll emerge stronger.

Entry-Level Software Engineer at None

Therapy only helped with my past trauma. It helped me unpack and I was able to get to the bottom of some other issues like being extremely introverted, unmotivated and completely anti social. 

I had to do my own research on some things I was doing that I didn’t like and wanted to change but couldn’t. I did tons of research and kept on seeing different people(therapist, psychologist etc) while at it until finally, I saw a post that recommended seeing a psychiatrist.  

I actually also had to research the different jobs they all did to understand better who and how they could help me. Seeing my psychiatrist made the utmost difference. He understood better, he listened and proffered a very different approach (stimulants and cognitive behavioral therapy). He made me go through loads of tests before we got to that point tho. 

Combining my meds with the therapy has been life changing. Now; I have reduced the amount of stimulants I take and sometimes don’t even take stimulants at all in a month because of all the other ways I have also learned to handle things. 

**Note**: All these took about 2 years altogether before I finally found help that fit. However, if you know what exactly your needs are, and what to look for, you might be able to get there in a much lesser time.

 *I however, wouldn’t advise you go on stimulants.* 

As much as they help, there isn’t much on the internet about the long term effect on your brain. I’m trying to completely get off it and intensify on my ***cognitive behavioral therapy.*** It’s *a m*uch safer option overall. Also, stimulant doses have to be increased every time because your body starts to get used to it. Also, when I’m on it, I have to continuously check my blood pressure, heart beat etc. it affects everything ( I’m generally healthy but my Dr makes me check to be on the safe side). To even get on stimulants, I had to do blood tests, brain activity test, heart rate test etc because of how Powerful it is. They have to make sure your body can handle it. 

Other alternatives that gives me the same stimulation as a stimulant are; coffee and energy drinks. I also don’t take them daily. That way, my body doesn’t get too used to it and it works. 

I hope this helps in giving you some clarity. If you need any further help, don’t hesitate to reach out on slack. 

I’ve been like this all my life and at some point I just thought I wasn’t one of those ‘smart’ peeps. This belief led me to give up on myself until 2020, when I actively sought help and delved into understanding myself. As a network engineer, despite my efforts, I was just never motivated. I aimed to complete tasks and just leave, unintentionally missing meetings and making multiple mistakes. Despite my desire to excel, I found myself on a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) and subsequently terminated—twice in two years.

Undeterred, I committed to turning my life around. Following my second termination, I felt a sense of shame and couldn’t even tell anyone but was determined not to let it define my story. Uncertain about what assistance I needed, I began by cataloging my shortcomings at previous jobs and in general. Reflection revealed I wasn’t enjoying what I was doing, prompting a shift to software engineering ( this happened very randomly). I did a tryout and realized I was spending so much time on it because I genuinely enjoyed it with some days extending beyond 13 hours. Recognizing I was on the right path, I sought ways to improve, delving into activities previously overlooked, like reading.

This transformative period included therapy and then a psychologist which then led to an assessment that led to an ADHD diagnosis as well. This newfound awareness allowed me to seek targeted assistance, making sense of past struggles like losing track of time, making silly mistakes, studying and forgetting, inability to focus on one thing and easily losing interest. All these enabled me have a fresh start in learning by learning how to learn. I adopted strategies, turning tasks into games and also making use of note-taking and the idea of creating a ‘second brain’. I was finally able to help myself. 

Acceptance of my need for extra time and effort changed everything. I stopped the comparisons with others, understanding we operate on different timelines and also understanding that I am a work in progress.

Learning to be kind to myself, celebrating small victories, and treating mistakes as part of the journey became crucial lessons. I realized the parallels between myself and successful individuals in the field. Regardless of the job losses—two attributed to incompetence and one unfortunate situation totally out of my control—I reframed them as opportunities for self-discovery and improvement. Losing three jobs in three years didn't deter me; instead, it fueled a commitment to understanding my strengths, enjoying the learning process, and pursuing continuous growth.

Another pivotal lesson learned was the importance of a supportive manager. Recognizing the value of a conducive work environment, I understood the significance of leaving when it doesn't align with personal well-being and career goals.

While I acknowledge that I'm not yet where I want to be, I strongly believe in myself and my journey and I am committed to doing everything within my power to progress, be successful and find joy in the process.

**Edit**: this is my first time sharing this anywhere, so I guess this is also part of my growth. I know better now and my next job will be my first in over 1 year and some of my goals include staying there long term, be promoted, and ultimately be so good at my job that I become the go to person on my team.

You will get through this 🤗

There will always be bugs, and this only becomes more and more true as your product gets bigger. In this series, we go deep into the often underrated software engineer skill of debugging.